What is ESSER?

As part of the American Rescue Plan, the $122 Billion Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) is administered through the U.S. Department of Education and is intended to support efforts by states and school districts to safely reopen and sustain the safe operation of schools as well as address the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on students.

Federal Programs Spending Overview - 2023-2024 School Year

With extensive input and engagement from our AGCS community and stakeholders, we're developing an Academic Acceleration Plan for the use of ESSER funds. This will help us address the significant impact on student learning as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and help our students to excel.

CRRSA Act ESSER II

The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act dedicated funds to the Elementary and Secondary Relief grant. With input from our stakeholders, we are in the process of developing an active AGCS ESSER II Use of Funds Plan.

• ESSER II Spending Overview

ARP Act ESSER III

The American Rescue Plan (ARP) Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER 3.0) is providing funding to the state of Pennsylvania and schools to address COVID-19 recovery.

AGCS will receive a portion of these funds, but it does come with strict guidelines for how it can be used.

ESSER III funding is available to help safely reopen schools and address the impacts of the pandemic on students’ academic, social, emotional and mental health needs, including interventions to address “learning loss” — delays in students' academic progress related to the pandemic — and support equity with services and supports for student populations that have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.

AGCS is seeking feedback from stakeholders, such as parents, students, employees and community members, to assist in developing its plan, and specifically the use of these funds.

We kindly ask you to complete the short ARP Act ESSER III Stakeholder Input Survey in order to gather feedback on how we can use ESSER III Funds in a meaningful way.

Also, AGCS has developed two plans, which will be reviewed and revised (if necessary) every 6-months. Stakeholders are welcome to review the plans and provide input.

Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services 

AGCS's Return to School Health and Safety Plan serves as the school’s forward-facing health and safety plan. In it are the school’s core mitigation efforts, procedures, and policies related to the safe operation of its instructional plan.  

We've developed a robust Protocol for Continuity of Instruction for quarantined and COVID-19 positive students or close contact with unvaccinated students. This will ensure that all of our students have the best opportunity to succeed in this challenging academic environment.

ARP Act ESSER III Use of Funds Plan

Based on stakeholder input, AGCS has developed the plans listed below, to support our safe return to school and continuity of educational services.  The plans include ARP ESSER allocations, as well as, the ARP ESSER set-asides.  

ARP ESSER Snapshot

• • ARP ESSER Spending Overview 
  • ARP ESSER 7% Set-aside for Learning Loss
  • ARP ESSER IDEA Spending Overview
  • ARP ESSER Homeless Children & Youth II Spending Overview
  • ARP ESSER 20% Set-aside for Vulnerable Populations

ARP ESSER Full Report

• • ARP ESSER Grant Submission
  • ARP ESSER 7% Set-aside-Learning Loss
  • ARP ESSER 7% Set-aside- After School
  • ARP ESSER 7% Set-aside- Summer School