Skip to Main Content

Search Our Site

COVID-19 RELIEF FUNDS

By the end of May 2021, Alabama public schools will have received over $2 billion in federal COVID-19 pandemic relief funding. States are required to provide a plan to the United States Department of Education (USDOE) that includes details for the effective use of these funds.

AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN (ARP) ESSER 2021

DEFINITIONS

CARES Act I & II
- Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
- Passed by Congress and signed into law by President Trump on March 27, 2020. (Public Law 116-136)
- The CARES Act provides education funding to state education agencies and local education agencies and schools as they are dealing with the effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
- Under Round 1 of the CARES Act three major funds were released: ESSER I, GEER, and CRF.
- Under Round 2 of the CARES Act, two major funds were released: ESSER II and GEER II
ARP
- Americans Rescue Plan Act of 2021
- Passed by Congress and signed into law by President Biden on March 11, 2021. (H.R. 1319)
- The ARP Act provides educational funding to state education and local education agencies and schools to assist in safely reopening schools in-person instruction, sustain the safe operation of schools, and address the impact of the coronavirus.
- Under the ARP one major fund was released: ESSER III
Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER I) Funds
- Applications released to LEAs on May 20, 2020.
- Can be spent from March 13, 2020 to September 30, 2022
- Pre-Award cost to the ESSER fund will be used for allowable costs incurred on or after March 13, 2020.
- Equitable Services to private schools must be offered and provided if accepted by the private school.
Allowable Activities for ESSER I
- Any activities authorized under ESSA, IDEA, Perkins, McKinney-Vento, AEFLA
- Coordinate Emergency Response
- Support Local Leaders
- Activities that address unique populations and needs
- Ensure Preparedness and Coordination
- Purchase of Cleaning Supplies
- Purchase of Educational Technology
- Mental Health Support
- Summer Learning
- Professional Development
- Distance Learning
Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund
- Applications were released on July 23, 2020
- Can be spent from March 13, 2020 to September 30, 2022
- Pre-Award cost to the GEER fund could be used for the allowable costs incurred on or after March 13, 2020.
- Equitable Services to private schools must be offered and provided if accepted by the private school. Letters of intent have been sent out to private schools within our geographical area but no responses at this time.
- Total Allocation:
Allowable Activities for GEER I
- Equip school buses with Wi-fi capabilities to increase connectivity and help bridge the digital divide within the LEA.
- Provide additional academic support to bridge the learning and achievement gaps of students within the LEA.
  - Reading & Math Family Engagement/At-Home Learning Resources
  - Dyscalculia Screener
  - Dyslexia-specific screener
  - Vulnerable Populations Supports
- Provide before and after school tutoring as defined in the Alabama Literacy Act for learning and remediation in schools within the LEA.
Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF)
- Governor Ivey awarded $170 million to Alabama Schools on July 20, 2020.
  - 70 million for Education Health and Wellness grant program
  - 100 million for Educational Remote Learning Device grant program
- Can be spent from March 13, 2020 to December 15, 2020
- Pre-Award cost to the CRF fund will be allowed for allowable costs incurred on or after March 13, 2020.
- Equitable Services are not offered under CRF
- Total Allocations:
Allowable Activities for CRF
- Education Health & Wellness Grant:
  - Fund wages for health care professionals to provide COVID-19 response or care
  - Contract for specimen collection and testing of COVID-19
  - Creation of temporary facility improvements and supplies for nurses’ work areas for COVID-19 response
  - Creation of isolation areas for symptomatic students
  - Purchase screening equipment to check body temperature
  - Modify school transportation vehicles to mitigate or isolate the spread of COVID-19
- Educational Remote Learning Devices Grant:
  - Electronic devices and software
  - Related training and maintenance services
Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER II) Funds
- Applications released to LEAs on March 3, 2021
- Can be spent from March 13, 2020 to September 30, 2022
- Pre-Award cost to the ESSER fund will be used for allowable costs incurred on or after March 13, 2020.
- Equitable Services to private schools must be offered if accepted by the private school. The intent to participate was issued by the Alabama State department of Education.
- Areas of force that the LEAs should consider when conducting a needs assessment.
  - High-Quality Instructional Materials
  - High Quality Professional Development
  - Unfinished Learning Supports
  - Facility Needs
- Total Allocation:
Allowable Activities for ESSER II
- Any activities authorized under ESSA, IDEA, Perkins, McKinney-Vento, AEFLA
- Includes the hiring of new staff and supplement purposes to avoid layoffs
- Coordinate with public health departments
- Activities that address unique populations and needs
- Summer learning, and supplemental after school programs
- Providing meal services
- Address learning loss
- School facility repairs to reduce risk of virus transmissions and support student health
- Ensure Preparedness and Coordination
- Additional language allows for inspection, testing, maintenance, repair, replacement, and upgrades projects to improve the indoor air quality in school facilities
- Learning Loss Set Aside: LEAs must use at least 20% of the ARP to address learning loss
- Purchase of Cleaning Supplies
- Purchase of Educational Technology
- Mental Health Support
- Professional Development
Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER III) Funds
- Applications will be released to LEAs on July 1, 2021
- Can be spent from March 13, 2020 to September 30, 2024
- Pre-Award cost to the ESSER fund will be used for allowable costs incurred on or after March 13, 2020.
- Equitable Services to private schools must be offered if accepted by the private school. The intent to participate was issued by the Alabama State Department of Education.
- Requirements that LEAs must adhere to the following to receive the funds:
  - Return In-Person Plan
    
    The plan must include specific information that addresses how it will maintain student and staff health and safety and how it will ensure continuity of services for academic and social-emotional needs.
    
    LEAs must address how it meets CDC guidance, to the extent practicable, regarding the following:
    
    Universal and correct wearing of masks;
    
    Modifying facilities to allow for physical distancing
    
    Handwashing and respiratory etiquette;
    
    Cleaning and maintaining healthy facilities, including improving ventilation;
    
    Contact tracing in combination with isolation and quarantine in coloration with the health department
    
    Diagnostic and screening attesting
    
    Appropriate accommodations for children with disabilities with respect to health and safety policies;
    
    Coordination with State and local health officials to provide vaccinations to school communities.
- - Each LEA that receives ARP ESSER funds must develop, submit to the ALSDE, and make publicly available on the LEA’s website, a plan for the LEA’s use of ARP ESSER funds. To the extent to which and how the funds will be used to implement prevention and mitigation strategies that are to the greatest extent practicable, in line with the most recent CDC guidance, in order to continuously and safely operate schools for in-person learning.
- Total Allocation:
Allowable Activities for ESSER III
- Any activities authorized under ESSA, IDEA, Perkins, McKinney-Vento, AEFLA
- Includes the hiring of new staff and supplement purposes to avoid layoffs
- Coordinate with public health departments
- Activities that address unique populations and needs
- Summer learning, and supplemental after school programs
- Providing meal services
- Address learning loss (LEAs must use at least 20% of the ARP to address learning loss)
- School facility repairs to reduce risk of virus transmissions and support student health
- Ensure Preparedness and Coordination
- Additional language allows for inspection, testing, maintenance, repair, replacement, and upgrades projects to improve the indoor air quality in school facilities
- Learning Loss Set Aside:
- Purchase of Cleaning Supplies
- Purchase of Educational Technology
- Mental Health Support
- Professional Development

OZARK CITY SCHOOLS IN-PERSON REOPENING PLAN

We have created this plan to aid in navigating the reestablishment of our school where employees, students, and families feel safe and to reduce the impact of COVID-19 conditions upon returning to in-person instruction. The guidelines referenced in this plan are based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), the Alabama Governor's Office, and the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE). This plan may be modified to meet the requirements established by the local health department, the Alabama High School Athletic Association, or the Alabama Department of Public Health.

Click here to download OCS In-Person ReOpening Plan

CLOSE

CLOSE