ESSA News - Federal Program Updates
July 21, 2021
ESSER III - Due Date July 27, 2021
ESSER III
Application Opened ~ April 29, 2021
Application Due Date ~ July 27, 2021
Fund Code ~ 282
Grant period - March 31, 2020 - September 30, 2023
(with carryover ~ September 30, 2024)
No offset of FSP
LEAs are not responsible for Equitable Services to Private/NP Schools
ESSER III Allocation Amounts by LEA
Here are some things to consider prior to completing your application.
ESSER III Program Guidelines
Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan
- Must be posted on LEA website 30 days after receiving your NOGA.
- Must seek public comment on the plan
- Plan must be reviewed every 6 months and updated as applicable.
A previously developed plan meeting all the statutory requirements may meet this plan requirement. A direct web link to your LEA's plan on your district webpage will need to be included in the application as well as a brief description of the LEA's planning process on the use of funds.
Use of Funds Plan
- Must be posted on the LEA website 30 days after receiving your NOGA.
- Provided to public in an understandable and uniform format
Maintenance of Equity - More info to come
A minimum of 20% of your funding must be spent on learning loss:
- Evidence-based interventions, such as summer learning, extended-day and comprehensive after-school programs, or extended school year programs; and
- Ensure interventions respond to students' academic, social, and emotional needs and address disproportionate impact of coronavirus on student populations as defined in ESEA Tile I, Part A, students experiencing homelessness, and youth in foster care.
Public opportunity for input
ESEA SEC. 8306 Other General Assurances:...before the application was submitted, the applicant afforded a reasonable opportunity for public comment on the application and considered such comment.
- Application
- Evaluations
- Program reports
- Program plans
Ideas on how to collect public comment:
- Public school board meeting with agenda item - Intent to apply and a general description of how the allocation will be utilized.
- Newspaper
- LEA website under specific Public Notice tab
Please ensure you have and follow your local policy regarding public notice.
ESSER II
- The ESSER II Application is now available in eGrants.
- Application Opened - June 3, 2021
- Application Due Date - September 2, 2021
- Fund Code - 281
- Grant period - March 13, 2020 - September 30, 2023 (carryover - September 30, 2023)
- LEAs are not responsible for Equitable Services to Private/NP Schools.
- Application training webinar will be available on the TEA website soon.
- Please click on the button below for more information.
If you are an ACE district, your ACE consultant will be contacting you soon to schedule an appointment to assist you with your ESSER II Applications.
ESSER I, II and III Comparison Document
Please utilize this SmartSheet to submit all questions regarding ESSER Funding
ESSER III Justification Form
Complete the form below to document activities funded with ESSER grant funds. The form is maintained locally and provided to TEA only upon request.
State Compensatory Education Submission Deadline Approaching - July 31, 2021
Click on the link below if your district receives $750,000 or more in SCE funding
EDGAR Updates - LEA action required by July 1, 2021
TEA Statewide Training
TEA has announced their upcoming training series.
Click here for registration info!
https://tea.texas.gov/finance-and-grants/grants/essa-program/statewide-training-series
Topics include:
- 2020-2021 ESSA Consolidated Compliance Report Training
- 2021-2022 ESSA Consolidated Application Training
- Collaborative Comprehensive Needs Assessment (CCNA) – Overview and Frequently Asked Questions
- Comparability, Indirect Cost Rates & General Updates
- How to Avoid Audit Findings
- Private School Equitable Services Program Overview
- Title I, Part A (Improving Basic Programs) – Program Overview; Use of Funds; and Within-LEA Allocations & 2021-2022 SC5000 Title I, Part A Campus Selection Schedule
- Title I, Part C (Education of Migratory Children) - Program Overview and Maximizing Service Coordination and Collaboration for Migratory Children
- Title I, Part D Subpart 2 (Prevention and Intervention for Delinquent, Neglected, and At-Risk Youth) - Program Overview
- Title II, Part A (Supporting Effective Instruction) - Program Overview and Hot Topics
- Title IV, Part A (Student Support and Academic Enrichment) - Program Overview and Allowable Activities and Use of Funds
- Title V, Part B (Rural Education Initiative or REAP) - Program Overview
Title IV, Part A Updates
- Title IVA Funds, 2021-2022
- Currently, there are no approved Title IV, Part A waivers for next year.
- Therefore, LEAs should plan to meet all Title IVA content area minimums and needs assessment requirements (if the allocation is greater than $30K) and adhere to the 15% technology infrastructure limit in 2021-2022.
- See the TEA Title IVA Program Guide for more details.
- Required Title IVA Stakeholders
- During the design and development of the Title IV, Part A, Subpart 1 program, an LEA or consortium of LEAs must engage in consultation with stakeholders in the area served by the LEA. (ESEA section 4106(c)(1).
- Regardless of allocation amount, LEAs must document the inclusion of all Title IV, Part A required stakeholders in the planning process before making LEA program decisions for 2021-2022 on the ESSA Consolidated Application.
- See the TEA Title IVA Program Guide for more details.
ESSA Waiver Requests to USDE
ESSA Waiver Requests to USDE
- Title I, Part A Carryover: To allow fiscal year (FY) 2021 Title I, Part A funds (i.e., the Title I, Part A funds that will become carryover funds on October 1, 2021) to exceed the 15% statutory limitation.
- Period of Availability: To extend the period of availability of FY 2020 funds (i.e., the funds that would expire September 30, 2021) for 12 additional months for the programs included below:
- a. Title I, Part A, including Section 1003 school improvement, Section 1003A direct student services, if applicable, and Title I, Part D, Subpart 2
- b. Title I, Part B
- c. Title I, Part C
- d. Title I, Part D, Subpart 1
- e. Title II, Part A
- f. Title III, Part A
- g. Title IV, Part A
- h. Title IV, Part B
- i. Title V, Part B, Subpart 2
- Professional Development: To include virtual training in the definition of professional development allowable under ESSA programs for the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 school years.
Note: The authority available to TEA to request these waivers exists only under the ESSA statute. There is no corresponding waiver authority for IDEA or Perkins CTE programs.
Please submit any comments on these proposed waivers electronically by 5:00 p.m., June 30, 2021, to be included in the state’s waiver application to USDE.
Grant Resources
In order to help schools implement compliant programs, TEA has published frequently asked questions for various program areas. They plan to update these monthly. For your convenience, we have compiled them here.
Title I-A FAQ (2/26/21)
Title II-A FAQ (2/26/21)
Title IV-A FAQ (2/26/21)
ESSA Private NonProfit Equitable Services FAQ (2/26/21)
CARES Act Equitable Services FAQ (12/3/20)
Equitable Services TEA Webpage
Coronavirus Relief Fund FAQ for Prior Purchase Reimbursement Program (PPRP) (1/11/21)
Parent & Family Engagement Updates

2021-2022 Parent & Family Engagement Compliance Calendar
ACE Resources
Title IV, Part A School Safety State Initiative | Parent & Family Engagement Statewide Initiative | Title I, Part A Statewide Capacity Building Initiative |
Destiny Chavarria dchavarria@esc17.net (806) 281-5882 | Francisco Rodriguez frodriguez@esc17.net (806) 281-5890 | Camie Holcombe cholcombe@esc17.net (806) 281-5808 |