ÁñÁ«ÊÓÆÁ

Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Grant Programs

ESSER grant funding is authorized in three pieces of legislation. As a result, the ESSER programs are administered by ÁñÁ«ÊÓÆÁ as separate grant programs. An ESSER side-by-side is under development.

The ESSER I, CRRSA ESSER II, and ARP ESSER III grant programs run concurrently. During the overlap in periods of availability, grantees may expend funds from any of the grant programs.

Grant Allocations

The Entitlements page lists ESSER amounts allocated to eligible LEAs by LEA and ESC.

Refer to the ESSER Fund Allocation Procedures for details on ÁñÁ«ÊÓÆÁ's method for allocating ESSER funds.

USDE Annual Performance Reporting

ÁñÁ«ÊÓÆÁ has developed the following USDE Annual Performance Reporting resources:

• Education Stabilization Fund/ESSER Fund Data Collection Timelines

ESSER Compliance 

ESSER II

The ESSER Compliance Team is validating a group of 200 LEAs and reviewing the selected checkboxes that were identified in Section C. of the CRRSA ESSER II application. The team is validating to ensure that the LEAs selected for validation has documentation to verify that the LEA followed a process for determining need for the district, and how the LEA determined types of processes the LEA followed in prioritizing what activities would be funded with ESSER II funds. 

ESSER III

An LEA that receives ESSER III grant funding is required to develop the following plans and post them online:

• A plan for safe return to in-person instruction and continuity of services, per ARP Section 2001(i)
• An ESSER III use of funds plan

For all LEAs that receive ESSER III grant funding, ÁñÁ«ÊÓÆÁ is required to supply USDE with the URLs for these two plans.

The ESSER Compliance Team is validating a group of 200 LEAs to ensure their return to in-person instruction plans are up to date, posted appropriately, contain required elements, and that the current links are working.

Districts selected for ESSER validation will submit documentation via the

ÁñÁ«ÊÓÆÁ Resources

ÁñÁ«ÊÓÆÁ has developed the following ESSER resources:

• ESSER side-by-Side: The ESSER Side-by-Side Requirements Document provides an overview of the three ESSER grants.
• FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions are listed in the . The FAQ will be updated regularly. Use the form to submit new ESSER questions to ÁñÁ«ÊÓÆÁ staff. 

ESSER Forms

To meet ESSER requirements, ÁñÁ«ÊÓÆÁ has developed the following forms:

• Justification/Documentation of Allowable Use of ESSER Funds: Complete this form to document activities funded with ESSER grant funds. The form is maintained locally and provided to ÁñÁ«ÊÓÆÁ only upon request.
• : Renovations and repairs that require pre-approval include HVAC, ventilation, and air quality costs. As of 12/19/2022, this form will be submitted via the .

ESSER Planning Resources

The Resilient Schools Support Program (RSSP), one of ÁñÁ«ÊÓÆÁ's Strong Start Resources, has developed a COVID Recovery ESSER Planning Template (Excel and accessible PDF). This template is not a mandatory tool but an optional one you may use to align your funding plan to your LEA learning acceleration strategy.

A more extensive Learning Acceleration Planning Workbook tool is used by 75-plus LEAs in the RSSP. The RSSP is currently supporting LEAs in developing stakeholder-informed learning acceleration plans based on data and is providing technical assistance to implement learning acceleration strategies (e.g., improved instructional strategies, interventions, high dosage tutoring, etc.). To learn more about the planning workbook, the learning acceleration strategies, or the RSSP, email RSSP@tea.texas.gov.