ESSER III - ARP

Tomball ISD’s Plan for Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services

Pursuant to the Federal American Rescue Plan Act, Section 2001(i)

Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER)

 

Introduction and Background

President Biden signed the Federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act, Public Law 117-2, into law. The ARP Act provides an additional $122 billion in Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) to States and school districts to help safely reopen, sustain the safe operation of schools, and address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the nation’s students. The State of Texas received over $12,000,000,000 for public education, including over $11,000,000,000 directly to Local Education Agencies (school districts). The Texas Education Agency (TEA) awarded Tomball ISD $5,202,729 (two-thirds) on June 28, 2021 and $2,601,364 (one-third) on January 28, 2022. The total award amount granted by the Notice of Grant Award (NOGA) for Tomball ISD is $7,804,093.

 

As with the previous ESSER funds available under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, and the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA), the purpose of the additional funding is to support local educational agencies (LEAs) in preparing for and responding to the impacts of COVID-19 on educators, students, and families. For more information, please visit TEA’s ARP ESSER III Grant Program, Coronavirus (COVID-19) Support and Guidance, and the ESSER comparison document.

 

Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan (Safe Return Plan)

Section 2001(i)(1) of the ARP Act requires each school district to develop a safe return to in-person instruction and continuity of services plan (Safe Return Plan) and make publicly available on the district website no later than 30 days after receiving the Notice of Grant Award (NOGA).  This mandate applies to all fund recipients, regardless if the school district has already returned to in-person instruction.

 

Section 2001(i)(2) of the ARP Act further requires that school districts seek and consider stakeholder input in the decision-making of the Safe Return Plan.  Under the interim final requirements published in Volume 86, No. 76 of the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE), an LEA must periodically, but no less frequently than every six months through September 30, 2023, review and, as appropriate, revise its Safe Return Plan.

 

Pursuant to those requirements, Tomball ISD received the ESSER III NOGA on 6/28/2021 and must publicly share and post its Safe Return Plan by 7/28/2021. This document incorporates the federally required components of the Safe Return Plan and the Use of Funds Plan for the 2020-2023 ARP ESSER III federal grant.

 

Contact

For support or additional information, please contact the Department of Federal Programs at GrantSupport@tomballisd.net