ESSER - 2020-2023

2020-2023 ARP ESSER III Grant - American Rescue Plan (ARP) Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief III (ESSER III) American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief III (ESSER III) Funds will be used to respond to the pandemic and to address student learning loss as a result of COVID-19.

ILTexas is currently in the process of gathering data from multiple stakeholders to guide and support the instructional and expenditure plan. Meaningful consultations with stakeholders will be implemented through the course of the academic year. Ongoing consultation through focus group meetings and data review will take place throughout the life of the grant.

ILTexas values the input of our stakeholders. If you have suggestions for program planning, please use the following link to provide us with your feedback: ILTexas ESSER Continuity of Service and Use of Funds Survey.

In an effort to ensure maximum participation from all key and public stakeholders the ESSER safe return to in-person instruction and continuity of services discussion and updates will be included in the ESSER Financial updates during monthly public Board meetings. All stakeholders are invited to attend and participate in-person or via Zoom. For upcoming board meeting dates or access to the public Zoom, visit our Board of Directors page.

Our COVID-19 Taskforce will be reviewing our Plan for Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services. If you would like to add input, please submit it through the ILTexas ESSER Continuity of Service and Use of Funds Survey or email us at Communications@ILTexas.org. Please include "ESSER/RIPIC feedback" in the subject line.

ESSER RESOURCES

2020-2023 ARP ESSER III FEDERAL GRANT APPLICATION

USE OF ARP ESSER III FUNDS PLAN

International Leadership of Texas

ESSER III Use of Funds Plan

The intent and purpose of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021 ESSER III funding is to help safely reopen and sustain the safe operation of schools and address the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on students.

ILTexas received an initial allocation of $39,303,474. During the 2021-2022 School Year $11,727,574 were spent addressing the learning loss due to COVID-19 leaving a remaining allocation of $27,575,898.

The allowable window for use of these funds is March 13, 2020 – September 30, 2024.

Pre-award
2021-2022, including summer 2022
2022-2023, including summer 2023
2023-2024, including summer 2024 (carryover period)

ILTexas stakeholders discussed the following to address the learning loss due to Covid-19:

Loss of learning
- Additional teachers for Accelerated Learning
- Additional Staff to support Teachers
- Professional Development
- Instructional Materials
Social and emotional support for students and Staff
Increased Nursing as a need for staff and students

Based on the outcome of the meetings, ILTexas intends to use the full initial allocation of ESSER III Funds for the following years for all categories listed below:

Any activity authorized under Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)

Planning for, coordinating, and implementing activities during long-term closures, … including providing technology for online learning to all students

Purchasing educational technology (hardware, software, and connectivity) for students … that aids in regular/substantive educational interaction between students and instructors, including low-income students and SWD, which may include assistive technology or adaptive equipment

Providing mental health services and supports, including through implementation of evidence based full-service community schools

Addressing learning loss among LEA students, including low-income students, SWD, English learners, racial & ethnic minorities, students experiencing homelessness, & children in foster care -- Administering and using high-quality assessments

Other activities that are necessary to maintain the operation of and continuity of services in the LEA

Description	Initial Budget	Spent in 2021-2022	Remaining - 9/30/2024
Payroll: Staff, Stipends, Supplemental Pay	$30,000,000	$8,928,327	$27,071,672
Contracted Services: Professional Development, Consultants, etc.	$750,000	$ 337,574	$412,425
Instructional Materials: Educational Supplies, Books, Resources, etc.	$2,578,166	$913,493	$1,664,672
Other Operating Costs: Travel, Misc. Fees			$ -
Capital Outlay			$ -
Indirect Cost*	$5,975,307	$1,548,179	$4,427,127
Total Funds Available	$39,303,473	$11,727,574	$27,575,898

* Costs incurred for a common or joint purpose benefitting more than one cost objective, and not readily assignable to the cost objectives specifically benefited, without effort disproportionate to the results achieved.

ILTexas values the input of our stakeholders. If you have suggestions for program planning contact the Executive Director of Federal Programs, Krystal Lovato at KLovato@ILTexas.org.

ESSER FINANCIAL REPORTS

PLAN FOR SAFE RETURN TO IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION AND CONTINUITY OF SERVICES

STAKEHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS

Stakeholder Communications

International Leadership of Texas launched a comprehensive plan to engage in meaningful consultation with stakeholders and gave the public the opportunity to provide input in the development of its plan.

Public Board Meetings:

Beginning in March of 2020 as COVID-19 became a full blown pandemic, COVID-19 was regularly a topic of conversation at our Public Board Meetings and International Leadership of Texas was widely recognized as being among the best in the United States at responding to the educational needs of our students. A large part of this was the ongoing conversation we had with our parents at our Public Board Meetings. Below is an excerpt of critical conversations that we engaged in with the public as we continued to modify and update our response and put the safety and instruction of students first and foremost.

March 25, 2020

June 17, 2020

July 15, 2020

August 19, 2020

March 10, 2021

June 16, 2021

July 21, 2021

August 18, 2021

August 25, 2021

Information and Q&A Interactive Sessions:

Additionally, we had many virtual Q&A sessions with students, parents, and all levels of staff throughout our organization. These were not simply one-way engagements. We engaged in Q&A and offered potential solutions to parents to provide feedback in real-time and afterwards by sending questions and concerns to communications@iltexas.org.

Parents and Students:

Webinar - July 16^th, 2020, 6:00 PM – Webinar

Webinars - September 5^th, 2020; 10:00 AM; 2:00 PM; 6:00 PM

Webinar – September 17^th, 2020; 6:30 PM

Webinar – October 6^th, 2020; 6:00 PM

Webinar – October 28^th, 2020; 4:00 PM

Webinar – April 14^th, 2021; 6:00 PM

Webinar – June 17^th, 2021; 6:00 PM

Webinar – August 11^th, 2021; 7:00 PM

Staff Only:

Webinar Q&A Session – August 11^th, 2020; 6:00 PM

Webinar – October 6^th, 2020; 5:00 PM

Webinar – August 5^th, 2021; 6:00 PM

Esser Feedback Prompt

Email from Mr. Conger

RIPIC taskforce:

Beginning on March 20, 2020 we had sessions with each of our Principals, Assistant Principals, Area Superintendents, Deputy Superintendents, Cabinet Members, Executive Directors, and our Superintendent to put out the latest information and gather immediate feedback. In addition to the people listed above, many others throughout our organization attended as well.

As we began to implement our COVID-19 responses, these meetings eventually decreased in frequency to twice per week, then once per week, and now we continue to meet every other Thursday from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM.

Additionally, we had a team of people who met regularly to discuss and update our COVID-19 Response Plan.

RIPIC Team:
Regina Jones, Chief Equity Officer
Aaron Thorson, Chief of Staff
Thomas Seaberry, Deputy Superintendent of School Leadership
Tim Brightman, Chief Legal Officer
Karen Canady Barnes, Director of Nursing
Jerry McCreight, Chief Administrative Officer
Valerie Layne, Principal

March 22, 2021

April 20, 2021

May 17, 2021

September 7, 2021

This team solicited feedback, questions, and input from all levels of the organization paying particular attention to parent concerns addressed to communications@iltexas.org. After each meeting we updated our official RIPIC Plan, posted the latest revision to our website, emailed it out to all of stakeholders, and depending on the scope of the changes we also sent out voicemails to all parents and staff and conducted some of the webinars listed above to keep our stakeholders engaged.

Surveys:

ILTexas 20-21 School Year Plans

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