ESSER
Elementary & Secondary School Emergency Relief
Data show the pandemic has had a significant impact on student learning. To help combat the impact of the pandemic, the following Acts have been developed to allocate Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds to school districts across the nation:
March 2020: Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES Act) - ESSER I
December 2020: Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA Act) - ESSER II
March 2021: American Resue Plan (ARP Act) - ESSER III
June 2021: ESSER Supplemental (Texas Educ. Agency's Discretionary ESSER III) - ESSER - SUPP
ESSER I ($3.2 M) and a portion ($5.1 M) of ESSER II funds were supplanted by the State (i.e., Texas reduced state funding [Foundation School Program / FSP] to districts), so that what districts received from FSP + ESSER equaled what we would have received in FSP funding had we not been impacted by COVID-19.
A portion ($10.4 M) of ESSER II, and all of ESSER III ($34.9 M) and ESSER-SUPP ($1.7 M) were supplemental funds provided to the district to respond to the pandemic and minimize learning loss.
Based on needs assessment data and stakeholder input, as documented below these funds were budgeted as follows:
ESSER I funds ($3.2 M) were budgeted for:
Instructional support materials to support instruction and minimize the academic impact of lost instructional time resulting from the pandemic (e.g., Math and Literacy Instructional/Intervention materials).
Professional Learning to support the implementation of instructional and intervention materials.
Instructional Technology to support instruction and minimize the academic impact of lost instructional time resulting from the pandemic (e.g., Cleartouch, iPads, Chromebooks).
Tutoring to address accelerated instruction for learning loss and the academic impact of lost instructional time.
ESSER II funds ($15.5 M) were budgeted for:
Instructional technology to support online instruction (e.g. Chromebooks and wireless hot spots).
Implementing public health protocols and coordinated response procedures for the reopening and operation of school facilities, including purchasing supplies to sanitize and clean the facilities (e.g. contact tracers, COVID testers, maintenance and custodial supplies, desk shields/panels, hands-free water fill stations, communications support staff, and web dashboard reporting to users)
Improving the indoor air quality in school facilities (e.g. air scrubbers/machines, filters, extra time running on every campus)
Activities necessary to maintain the operation of and continuity of services (e.g. tents/tables/fans, virtual teachers, master scheduling software for virtual/F2F scheduling, COVID testing staff, fees, and claims, COVID premium pay to transportation and custodial staff, guest teachers, and athletic event works, and ESSER program support).
Services and supports for addressing learning loss and mental health for students and staff (e.g. counselors, clinic therapist, mental health officer, and Outdoor Eat-Play-Learn Phase II)
School facility repairs and improvements to enable operation of schools to reduce the risk of virus transmission and exposure to environmental health hazards and to support student health needs (e.g. Outdoor Eat-Play-Learn Phase II)
ESSER - SUPP funds ($1.7 M) were budgeted for:
Summer School to address accelerated instruction for learning loss and the academic impact of lost instructional time.
Chromebooks to support instruction and minimize the academic impact of lost instructional time resulting from the pandemic.
HVAC - Bipolar Ionization to reduce the risk of virus transmission and exposure to environmental health hazards, neutralize viruses, and improve air quality.
ESSER III is the single largest investment in federal elementary and secondary education in the nation’s history. This allotment was passed on from the state to school districts.
ESSER III provides resources for critical one-time investments; time-limited programming to respond to the pandemic; and innovation that can redefine student learning, acceleration, and development to address learning loss and mental health needs.
Humble ISD has been allocated $34,955,428 in ESSER III funding and is applying to the Texas Education Agency to access the funds.
We apply first for the first 2/3s of funding ($23,303,619 - July 2021), and later the Texas Education Agency will allow us to apply for the final 1/3 of funding ($11,651,809).
The supplemental funds can be used for allowable expenses occurring between March 13, 2020 (when the national emergency was declared) and September 30, 2023 (plus a one-year Tydings Amendment - September 30, 2024).
Districts will be required to follow all federal, state and local regulations and requirements for federal grant administration and fiscal spending of these funds.
We sought feedback from stakeholders when developing our Humble ISD - ESSER III:
USE OF FUNDS PLAN (reviewed/revised as needed)
Revised Plan (July 2022)
Use of Funds Plan (Posted July 25, 2022) [Program Schedules unchanged]
Plan de uso de fondos ESSER III - Humble ISD (Posted July 28, 2022) [horarios de programas sin cambios]
Revised Plan (January 2022)
Use of Funds Plan (Posted January 12, 2022)
Plan de uso de fondos ESSER III - Humble ISD (Posted March 8, 2022)
ESSER III - Program Schedules (Posted January 12, 2022)
ESSER III - Horarios del programa (Posted March 8, 2022)
Initial Plan (July 2021)
Use of Funds Plan (Posted July 21, 2021)
Plan de uso de fondos ESSER III - Humble ISD (Posted Sept. 15, 2021)
ESSER III - Program Schedules (Posted Sept. 27, 2021)
ESSER III - Horarios del programa (Posted Oct. 11, 2021)
SAFE RETURN TO IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION AND CONTINUITY OF SERVICES PLAN
(reviewed/revised at least every 6 months)
Revised Plan (May 2023)
Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan (Posted June 13, 2023)
Revised Plan (January 2023)
Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan (Posted January 31, 2023)
Revised Plan (July 2022)
Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan (Posted July 25, 2022)
Revised Plan (January 2022)
Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan (Posted January 12, 2022)
Initial Plan (July 2021)
Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan (Posted July 20, 2021)
TRANSLATION POLICY (reviewed/revised as needed)
Translation Policy (Posted July 21, 2021)
ESSER Documentos Traducción Procedimiento - Humble ISD (Posted Sept. 16, 2021)
STAKEHOLER INPUT, NEEDS ASSESSMENT/PRIORITIZATION
Stakeholder Input was received via surveys and public meetings.
Input was sought and received from: teachers, parents, students, business partners, community members, professional staff, paraprofessional staff, school and district administrators (including special education administrators).
Input included feedback from stakeholders representing the interests of children with disabilities, English language learners, children experiencing homelessness, children in foster care, migrant students, children who are incarcerated, and other underserved students.
Our district reached out and received feedback from organizations/individuals representing civil and disability rights.
Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan Input May 2021
Timeline of meetings and feedback:
Humble ISD Board Finance Committee Meeting - May 6, 2021
Student Advisory Committee Meeting - May 20, 2021
District Decision Making Committee Public Meeting (e.g., teachers, parents, community members, business partners, etc.) - May 24, 2021
Administrator and Public feedback - May - June 2021
Humble ISD Budget Hearing - June 15, 2021
School Board Public Meeting - July 20, 2021
District Decision Making Committee Public Review & Input (e.g., teachers, parents, community members, business partners, etc.) - December 15, 2021
School Board Public Meeting - January 11, 2022
District Decision Making Committee Public Review & Input (e.g., teachers, parents, community members, business partners, etc.) - May 19, 2022
School Board Public Meeting - June 14, 2022
District Decision Making Committee Public Review & Input (e.g., teachers, parents, community members, business partners, etc.) - July 13, 2022
School Board Public Meeting - August 09, 2022
Based on stakeholder feedback and an analysis of prioritized needs, Humble ISD's Use of Funds Plan focuses on:
Mental Health Needs (students and staff)
Staff Retention Stipends
Virtual Learning (training and services)
Learning Platforms and Curriculum
Extended Learning Opportunities (Summer School, Extended Learning Camps)
Systems to improve air quality and reduce the risk of infection (HVAC and ionization fans, Outdoor Eat/Learn/Play areas)
Help Us Identify and Stop Coronovirus Response Fraud
We all have a responsibility to help deter fraud, waste, and abuse and report it when discovered. If you suspect fraud or something that could be fraud, please report it to OIG's Investigation Services. Working together is the best way to stop those who seek to enrich themselves with pandemic relief funds. Together we can help ensure this funding is used as intended: helping our schools and students impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Please find below the OIG’s hotline contact information so that any individual who observes, detects, or suspects improper use of taxpayer funds can easily report such improper use. (2 C.F.R. Part 200)
You may report identified or suspected fraud on the OIG website at http://oighotline.ed.gov. You may also call toll-free or write the Office of Inspector General. How to Report Fraud Inspector General Hotline 1-800-MISUSED (1-800-647-8733) Inspector General Hotline U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General 400 Maryland Ave., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20202.
Details for reporting fraud, waste, or abuse to the State Auditor's Office (SAO) and the Texas Education Agency (TEA) may be found at https://tea.texas.gov/about-tea/contact-us/reporting-fraud-waste-or-abuse-in-texas
Information for reporting fraud to the Humble ISD's Office of the Internal Auditor.