ESSER III (ARP ESSER) State Plan

On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021. The ARP Act includes nearly $122 billion for the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER III) Fund that allows state and local education agencies to take additional steps to safely reopen schools for in-person instruction and keep them open, and to address disruptions to teaching and learning resulting from the pandemic.

The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) was allocated $1.121 billion from the U.S. Department of Education (USED) to support safe and sustained reopening of schools. The ARP Act directs the Department to award 90% of the ESSER III funds ($1,008,925,861) as grants to Local Education Agencies (LEAs or districts) in the proportion they received funds under Part A of Title I of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) in fiscal year 2020. It is important to note that these funds do not follow the Title I-A spending rules. ESSER III Fund grants can be used to reimburse eligible expenses incurred between March 13, 2020 and September 30, 2024. Unlike ESSER I and II, all school districts that receive grants with the 90% funding will be required to reserve no less than 20% of their funding to address unfinished learning activities.

Although the ESSER III uses of funds are similar to those for ESSER I and II, there are important distinctions between ESSER III, ESSER II, and ESSER I programs, including the period of funds availability, equitable services to non-public schools, maintenance of effort and equity, and a report on efforts to measure and address unfinished learning.

News and Updates

• December 8, 2021 ESSER III Set Aside Investment Plan Release
  
• August 5, 2021 ESSER III District Supplemental Plans Deadline Extended
  
• July 22, 2021 ESSER III District Plan Requirements and Templates Release
  
• July 15, 2021 ESSER III State Plan Approval and District Plan Requirements
  
• June 9, 2021 ESSER III (ARP ESSER) State Plan Presentation
  • Presentation Recording
    
  • PowerPoint Presentation
    
  • District Template Community Letter
    
• April 30, 2021 School District Allocations for ESSER III
  

State ESSER III Plan Details

State Plan

Oregon's ESSER III State Plan was submitted to the U.S. Department of Education (USED) on June 7, 2021, updated in response to USED feedback on June 30, 2021 and approved on July 15, 2021. On January 14, 2022, the Plan was updated to include the Set Aside Investment Plan and submitted to the USED.

Oregon ARP ESSER III State Plan

• Appendix A School Operating Status
  
• Appendix E Ready Schools Safe Learners 2020-21 Guidance
  
• Appendix H SIA Comprehensive Guidance
  
• Appendix I Data Collections Catalog
  
• Appendix J Oregon's Kitchen Table - ESSER Set Aside Investments Refinement Roundtable
  
• Appendix K ESSER III Set Aside Investment Plan
  

State Plan Engagement

The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) submitted a state plan to the USED on June 7, 2021. To ensure the state plan reflects the needs of those who have experienced a disproportionate impact of COVID-19, ODE has incorporated, and will continue to incorporate, input received during the pandemic from families, community groups, teachers, school districts, school leaders, and education partner organizations.

State Plan Timeline

• March 11, 2021 - American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act was signed into law
  
• March 24, 2021 - ODE received two-thirds of the ARP ESSER III Funds
  
• April 21, 2021 - ESSER III Application Letter to Chief State School Officers
  
• April 30, 2021 - ODE communicated district allocations and Oregon Invests & Envisions Equity in Education Framework to guide district and state investments under the ESSER III allowable uses
• May 24, 2021 - ODE made LEA allocations of ESSER III available to districts
  
• June 7, 2021 - ESSER III State Plan Submitted
  
• July 15, 2021 - USED Approval of State Plan
  
• July 22, 2021 - ODE provided templates for the District ESSER III Funding Plans and the Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plans
  
• July 22, 2021 - ODE provided a self-certification from for Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity Plans
  
• August 27, 2021 - Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plans due to ODE
  
• October 20, 2021 - District ESSER III Funding Plans due to ODE
  
• November 17, 2021 - State and Local engagement with community
  
• December 8, 2021 - ODE released the ESSER III Set Aside Investment Plan
  
• September 30, 2023 - Last date to obligate ESSER III funds
  
• September 30, 2024 - Last date to expend ESSER III funds
  

ESSER III and Public 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.

Information on the District ESSER III Plans, including plan templates, submission instructions, and links to completed plans, can be found on the ESSER III webpage.