D67 ESSER Grants
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Lake Forest Elementary District 67
ESSER III Return to School Continuity Plan 2022-2023
ESSER 1, ESSER II, and ESSER III GrantsIn response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States Department of Education has released three grants for which local education agencies can apply. These grants, known as ESSER I, ESSER II, and ESSER III, were authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act
On March 11, 2021, the American Rescue Plans (ARP) was signed into law. As part of ESSER III, the U.S. Department of Education allocated an additional $121.9 billion for the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER III Fund). Lake Forest Elementary District 67 was allotted a total of $708,959 in ESSER III (ARP) with a requirement that 20% of that amount be spent to address learning loss. Additionally, funds were allocated for state level reservations for learning loss, summer enrichment and after school activities in amounts of $1128, $226, and $226, respectively.
District 67 continues to provide full in-person learning for the 2022-2023 school year. We are excited to welcome all students back to school on August 24, 2022. Our Return to School Continuity Plan describes how D67 will provide the safe return to in-person instruction and continuity of services for all schools, including those that have already returned to in-person instruction. This report template complies with all reporting requirements of the ARP Act (Public Law 117-2), the ESSER III grant terms, conditions, and assurances (CFDA Number 84.425U, and the interim final rule established by the United States Department of Education, 86 FR 21195.
D67 provided the public the opportunity to provide input on the development of the plan and took such input into account when developing this plan at School Board meetings and our annual Timely Meaningful Consultation Meetings.
The District’s Return to School Plan is intended to be a living document that outlines efforts to support all students and evolves to meet the needs of those whose educational progress is most in jeopardy as a result of the negative impact of the pandemic.
READ D67’s Return to School Continuity Plan HERE
The intent and purpose of ESSER III is to help safely reopen and sustain the safe operation of schools and address the impact of the coronavirus on students.
District 67 will utilize ESSER III funds to address issues that have risen due to the COVID-19 pandemic. ESSER III funds can be used to cover expenses incurred March 13, 2020, through September 30, 2024. The chart below provides an overview of how D67 will spend its remaining funds during the 2022-2023 school year.
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ESSER I
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ESSER II
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ESSER III
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Grant Questions
Safe Return Plan
The LEA sent the Safe to Return information to all parents and staff on August 8, 2022. In alignment with the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), District 67 supports the return to full in-person learning for the 2022-2023 school year. Home/Hospital Instruction (HHI) will be provided to students who are unable to attend in a school setting due to medical reasons. The District has an ongoing COVID-19 Metrics Advisory Council which is composed of parents, community members, health care workers, teachers and school administration who meet on an ongoing basis to provide insight and input into the reopening plan. Our 2022-2023 Risk Mitigation Plan reflects a layered approach and is built to flex between less restrictive and more restrictive practices based upon current local, state, and national data. The District 67 Board of Education has reviewed the plan and provided feedback that has been incorporated accordingly. At our August 23, 2022 Board meeting, parents and community members provided input. The plan will be reviewed on an ongoing basis by our administration, including our Director of School Improvement, as well as any time new information is shared by the CDC, IDPH, and the Lake County Health Department. Screening testing will be available for any symptomatic students and staff. Please see linked document for our full plan: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pnd5ms_Po7MVVtgtbToqXs4FSgPUBep2Fkxf-awtcT4/edit?usp=sharing
ESSER Fund Plan
ESSER III funds will continue to be utilized to safely reopen schools and address learning loss during the 2022-2023 school year and to pay for costs that occurred during the 2020-2021, 2021-2022 and the 2022-2023 school year related to COVID-19. Funds were used to pay for contracted special education staff, PPE, Professional Development, summer school transportation and onsite screening during the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 school years. The remaining funds will be used to pay for supplies, professional development opportunities, and Covid expenses to address learning loss for the 2022-2023 school year. Please see our proposed spending plan linked here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/10fO1JuEzf2EMsW8kUM8hl_ZxmfiCFbFuaJgo1HhR-os/edit?usp=sharing
At our August 23, 2022 Board of Education meeting, parents and community members will be able to provide input during public comment.
Use of Funds Questions
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District 67 has administered several surveys to our faculty and staff regarding their learning experiences during the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 school years. Additionally, we solicited input from parents, students, and community members at our Timely Meaningful Consultation, which was held in May 2022.We have collected and monitored student achievement outcomes by examining grades, engagement, social and emotionally related services and supports, and student services and accommodations. We will also continue to use the knowledge that we already have about targeted groups of students who need additional services and support in the traditional format of school and who have been identified as needing the support as a result of the impact of COVID-19.
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We are utilizing a variety of data sources from the last two school years. We determined learning gaps through screeners and standardized assessments such as FastBridge, NWEA MAP, and the IAR. We contract with ECRA to analyze our data and provide reports about student achievement from the past year. We also use local assessments from our curriculum to determine areas in which students will need support in the upcoming school year. District and building administrators, teachers, and support staff utilize this data to determine how to address learning gaps in the upcoming school year through class placement, interventions, and curricular modifications.
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June 2021-August 2021: The District 67 summer school program was expanded to provide instructional support to students whose families were concerned about learning loss.
August 2021-May 2023: Teachers, support staff, social workers, and administrators will provide academic, social, emotional, and behavioral supports proactively to students, families, and staff who have struggled since the inception of COVID-19.
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Not applicable
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Not applicable
Funds were used to pay for PPE, summer school transportation and supplies, professional development opportunities, and resources to address learning loss for the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 school year. The remaining funds will be used to pay for professional learning, supplies to address learning loss, and Covid-19 related expenses during the 2022-2023 school year. Please see our proposed spending plan linked here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/10fO1JuEzf2EMsW8kUM8hl_ZxmfiCFbFuaJgo1HhR-os/edit?usp=sharing
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