Seven Things You Should Know

The 2022-23 school year is in full swing, and the Oregon Department of Education (ODE)'s ESSER Team hopes your school year is off to a great start. ODE continues to be thankful for all the hard work and attention districts have given to the planning and implementing of the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief III (ESSER III) Fund. As the new school year begins, here are seven (7) things of which you should be aware.

If you have any questions or technical assistance needs regarding ESSER funds, please contact the ESSER inbox at ODE.ESSER@ode.oregon.gov  

Reminder: District Data Collection Expectation Changes

Starting this school year (2022-23), districts are federally required to track, collect and prepare to report data within these three categories:  Student Participation Data  School Staffing  Expenditure Reporting  More information about these federal reporting requirements, including information that was shared during several recent ESSER Office hours can be found here. ODE is seeking your feedback, via this survey, on how best to support districts and gather the necessary information in compliance with the US Education Department’s reporting expectations. This survey will remain open until Friday, October 14th.

ESSER Funding Timeline and Liquidation Reminder

If your district has ESSER I expenses that have not yet been processed, please make a claim in ODE’s Electronic Grants Management System (EGMS) and file reimbursement forms immediately. If your district has an ESSER I fund balance but have not yet submitted a claim, please consider submitting a claim.  

As a reminder, funds must be spent by 9/30/23 (for ESSER II) and 9/30/24 (for ESSER III). Districts will be able to submit reimbursement requests during the liquidation period, but all expenditures and work paid for through ESSER funds must be completed by the 9/30 deadlines. Districts are encouraged to start their ODE-approved capital expenditure projects as soon as possible. Please contact us immediately if you have a capital expenditure project that is in danger of not being completed by the above dates. 

ESSER Transparency Dashboard

To enhance transparency, ODE has created a publicly accessible ESSER Expenditure Dashboard. The dashboard shows the district reimbursement requests that ODE has processed for all three rounds of ESSER funding. Users can use the dashboard to view ESSER funds at statewide and district-by-district levels, and users can view each district’s submitted reimbursements by object and function coding.  As ODE processes district reimbursement requests for ESSER funds, the ESSER Expenditure Dashboard will continue to be updated to assist the public in understanding when and how the funds are spent.  To access the dashboard, please visit the ODE ESSER Transparency webpage.

State ESSER Set Aside Corner

We are excited to highlight one of the 12 projects Oregon has designated as an ESSER III Set-Aside Investment. Oregon’s full plan for the state’s allocation of ESSER III Set-Aside funds can be found here.  

A student pauses to share a big smile during Jump Start class in Lincoln County School District.

With Jump Start Kindergarten, Nearly 1,500 Oregon Preschool Kids Were Ready to Spring Into Action. Click here to read the full article.  

Spotlight on Innovative Activities

Middle school students at Winston-Dillard district enjoy trying out their new instruments purchased using ESSER III funds.

Winston-Dillard Fills Its Halls with Sound of Music Thanks to ESSER III Funds. Click here to read the full article. 

The Gladstone School District installed UV-C lights in school HVAC systems to virtually eliminate viruses and bacteria from airflow.

Gladstone's Hospital-Quality Air Standards are a First for Oregon Schools. Click here to read the full article.  

New ESSER Story Curation Tool Launched

ODE is curating stories from across our state. We want to help the public understand how you've utilized these funds to shape the academic experience and opportunities for students and communities. How have pandemic relief funds benefitted your students? Please click on this ESSER Story Curation Tool link to share your district’s story with us. 

Welcome ESSER Staff Hannah Sullivan

Hannah Sullivan (hannah.sullivan@ode.oregon.gov) has joined the ODE ESSER team as a Research Analyst supporting federal data collection and monitoring activities for the ESSER team.

About the Oregon Department of Education’s Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief III (ESSER III) Fund: The American Rescue Plan Act, 2021 (ARP Act or ARPA) provides an additional $122 billion for the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund III (ESSER III or ARP ESSER). $1.1 billion was awarded to Oregon. ESSER III grants were awarded to LEAs in the proportion they received funds under Part A of Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) in the fiscal year 2020. ESSER III Fund grants can be used to reimburse eligible expenses incurred between March 13, 2020, and September 30, 2024. We send out newsletters on a quarterly basis, so keep an eye out to stay up to date on ESSER III information.