Plans for the Use of ESSER III Funds:
(link to full document)

The United States Department of Education (USED) is requiring two plans from all recipients of ESSER III funds:

     1)  A plan for the safe return to in-person instruction and continuity of services
The requirement for this plan is likely met by your District Reopening Plan submitted to DESE in August of 2020, along with any subsequent amendments (see Tab 3 Assurances). It will need to be revisited and revised as necessary every 6 months, including soliciting stakeholder input and considering changes to CDC guidance.
2)  A plan for the Use of ESSER III Funds, based on broad stakeholder input, and addressing the following:
• The district's prevention and mitigation strategies, including extent district has adopted CDC recommendations ( Step 4.4)
•  How the district will use its 20% reservation of ESSER III funds to address loss of instructional time with evidence-based interventions (Step 4.2 and Tab 6, Budget)
•  How the district will spend the remainder of its ESSER III funds for allowable expenditures (Tab 5) and budget (Tab 6)
•  How the use of ESSER III funds will respond to the academic, social, emotional and mental health needs of all students, especially those disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic (Tab 4.2, Tab 4.3), including:

                            •  students from low-income families
                            •  students of color
                            •  English learners
                            •  students with disabilities
                            •  students experiencing homelessness
                            •  students in foster care
                            •  migratory students
                            •  students who are incarcerated
                            •  other underserved students

     This application, when fully and thoughtfully completed, along with your District Reopening
Plans, will constitute the plans required by USED. These plans must be published on your website and must be accessible to families in a language they understand, either translated in writing or orally, as well as in an accessible format for those with disabilities.

     You should expect that DESE will be collecting data and other information from you as a result of implementation of your plans for and use of ESSER funds.