ESSER Funds

Federal stimulus relief funds called Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds have been allocated by Congress to state education agencies and local school districts to help with the unexpected expenses from the COVID-19 pandemic. Visit the Colorado Department of Education CARES Act webpage to learn more.

How is Jeffco Using ESSER Funds?

Jeffco Public Schools strategically invested ESSER funds to improve student performance outcomes and address impacts from COVID-19. Jeffco allocated funds on investments that directly impact its culture of instructional excellence and extraordinary student experiences.

ESSER Fund Guiding Principles

ESSER Fund Guiding Principles

ESSER Funding Support

In December 2021, Jeffco was awarded an additional $68M as part of ESSER III. The US Department of Education and Colorado Department of Education provided funding to local school districts based on the Title I formula.

Through community and staff feedback and data analysis, Jeffco implemented the following programs, resources and materials with these additional ESSER funds.

ESSER III Priority Investment Areas

As a result of ongoing determination of district needs, ESSER III investment areas have evolved. School allocations total over $7 million. Charter school allocations total $6.9 million.

Our Learners. Our Future.

Supporting academic and social-emotional growth

Our Community. Our Legacy.

Supporting family engagement

Our People. Our Strength.

Supporting staffing and resources

Our Learners. Our Future.

Academic and social-emotional initiatives addressed the impact of lost instructional time through evidence-based interventions that address the academic, social, emotional and mental health needs of all students.

Learning advancement programs in Jeffco include:

Jeffco Remote Learning program
Jeffco Summer of Early Learning program
Secondary summer enrichment programs
Orton Gillingham reading intervention training and implementation

Additional initiatives

Math curriculum
Mental health - extra school supports
Social emotional learning screener
Data Dashboard to track academic and social emotional learning metrics
High Dosage Tutoring
Essential equipment for art, music and physical education

Our Community. Our Legacy.

Family engagement and enrollment initiatives implemented prevention and mitigation strategies consistent with the most recent CDC guidance on continuous and safe school operation. These initiatives increase student enrollment and achievement.

In Jeffco, this includes:

Expanding the 1:1 TechForEd device program and software

Additional initiatives

Telehealth services
Student and family survey resources
Family partnership and student outreach for students at risk of dropout
School changes to respond to declining enrollment and to improve programming

Our People. Our Strength.

Staffing initiatives included talent recruitment initiatives, strategic resource allocation and program evaluation.

In Jeffco, this includes:

Resources for moving paraprofessionals into teaching roles
Increased base pay for substitutes and full-time substitutes at high-needs schools
Campus safety supervisors to enhance safety at middle schools
Temporary staff to address added workload for purchasing, grant accounting and evaluation
Communications tasks related to ESSER
Professional development for teachers on the district strategic plan
Recruitment and retention for special education staff
Support for paraprofessionals

Proposed and Reconsidered Initiatives

Monitoring and Measuring Progress

Jeffco used interim and summative assessments, climate surveys, social-emotional behavior data, and student usage/participation to monitor the impact of ESSER-funded projects. Please refer to the following resources for more information:

Spending by Initiative

Academic & Social Emotional Growth

Academic & Social Emotional Growth	Spending
School Allocations	$9,798,200
High Dosage Tutoring - Literacy & Math*	$10,325,900
Math Contextual Learning - Geometry In Construction and AMPED on Algebra*	$1,957,100
Jeffco Remote Learning Program*	$3,986,900
Jeffco READS*	$1,622,500
Secondary Summer Enrichment Program*	$1,146,300
Orton Gillingham Reading Intervention Training for Paraprofessionals	$778,900
Math Curriculum*	$3,715,900
Mental Health - extra school supports	$662,600
Social Emotional Learning Screener	$681,100
Data Dashboard	$3,403,100

* Initiatives that address learning loss.

Student & Family Engagement/Enrollment

Student & Family Engagement/Enrollment	Spending
Expanded Family Engagement Programs	$844,100
Expanded 1:1 TechForEd Devices/Software Program*	$5,340,500
Hazel Health Physical & Mental Telehealth Services	$1,546,800
Student and Family Survey Resources	$476,600
Family Partnership and Student Outreach for students at-risk of dropout	$890,700
School changes to respond to declining enrollment and to improve programming	$1,203,400

* Initiatives that address learning loss.

Staffing Resources

Staffing Resources	Spending
Communication tasks related to ESSER	$66,800
Resources for moving Paraprofessionals into teaching roles	-
Increased base pay for substitutes and full time substitutes at high needs schools	$6,937,200
Campus Safety Supervisors to enhance safety at middle schools	$758,900
Temporary/contracted staff to address added workload for Purchasing, Grant Accounting and Evaluation	$687,300
Art, Music and Physical Education equipment	$2,201,600
Strategic Planning Leadership Training	$22,600
Special Education Staff Recruitment/Retention Initiative	$126,000
Behavior Action Team support for paraprofessionals	-
Expansion of instructional time for Universal Preschool	$1,818,900

Charters

Charters	Spending
Charters Passthrough* ($2,702,412 is for lost learning)	$7,267,254

* Initiatives that address learning loss.

ESSER Funds Graph — *Graph shows ESSER 1 funds complete at $7.04 million. ESSER 2 funds complete at $30.38 million and ESSER III funds complete at $68.26 million.*