ESSER III Charter School and ESD Information

ESSER III and Charter Schools

The ARP Act does not directly address allocation of district ESSER III funds to district-sponsored public charter schools that are not standalone LEAs. The clear legislative intent, however, is to benefit all public schools and students regardless of school type. ODE asks that districts include their charter schools on equal footing with other district schools, when determining the most important educational needs as a result of COVID-19, consistent with the intent of the ARP Act. LEAs must meaningfully engage all school leaders, including charter school leaders, in determining their plans for using ESSER III funds. Districts that sponsor public charter schools may also plan to pass through a proportionate share of the ESSER III funds. Public charter schools that receive ESSER III funds must comply with the same allowable uses and 20% fund designation requirements as districts.

ESSER III and ESDs

The ARP Act does not directly address allocation of district ESSER III funds to ESDs and no funds from the ESSER III set aside have been awarded to ESDs at this time. As such, ESDs are not required to complete the Assurances and Certifications or the District ESSER III Plans.

ESDs are also not required to submit Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plans, per State Board rule. However, to keep both students and staff healthy and safe, it is going to be important for ESDs, particularly those who have schools or who have students on site, to have the kind of Communicable Disease Management Plan for the coming school year that they’ve had in the past year.