By CSBA Principal Research Manager Jeremy Anderson and Communications Chief Troy Flint
Sept. 30 marked a significant date in education funding. It was the deadline for local educational agencies to allocate the third round of the federal government’s historical infusion of pandemic-era relief funds called the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund, or ESSER III.
This was the final package passed by Congress in 2021 as a part of the American Rescue Plan and was by far the most significant amount of relief funding, with over $15 billion coming to California and $12.7 billion going to LEAs. ESSER III was more than the first two funding rounds of ESSER dollars combined. Statewide, LEAs had spent about 86 percent of ESSER III, and 89 percent of ESSER III dollars allocated to the impact of lost instructional time had been spent by June 30 of this year. That represents roughly $1.7 billion unspent.
While this funding was historic, it was also one-time with various rolling deadlines that placed constraints on how educational leaders could use the money. The end of ESSER is the end of an era — and it could mean saying goodbye to programs that are popular in school communities.
At the very least, it means school districts and county offices of education will have to make tough choices about what they can afford now that pandemic relief funds are set to expire. Through research and ongoing monitoring, CSBA has heard from members across the state about the transformational power of this funding for students through many different types of programming and capital upgrades.
School board members, superintendents and school communications staff should be ready to communicate what the loss of this funding means for their LEAs. There are no easy answers, but CSBA is providing tips for communication around this difficult topic:
Educate on ESSER
Four years after the pandemic, many people are still unaware of how COVID relief funds work or that they even exist. LEA leaders should be prepared to educate the LEA community on what ESSER funds are and what they were designed to do — without getting too academic.
It’s important to let people know that this was short-term emergency funding designed to support pupils during the most trying period for K-12 students in living memory. The most effective interventions, such as high-dosage tutoring, pull-out classes and before- and after-school programs, were labor intensive and high cost.
Sample messaging: ESSER funds were provided to support schools during the COVID-19 crisis, helping to address learning gaps, enhance safety, and support the mental health and wellness of students and staff.
Localize impact
Be specific about how ESSER funds were used in school districts or county offices of education. What programs, interventions or staff positions were paid for with ESSER funds? What were these initiatives designed to do and what benefits did they offer students, families and staff?
Sample messaging: Since 2020, ESSER funds have provided vital resources that directly benefited students, allowing for learning recovery, expanded tutoring, mental health services, technology enhancements and facility improvements. Note: Expand on this message as appropriate for your school district or county office of education.
Provide context
Explain that schools face a number of major financial challenges. Many people have heard about the additional funding schools have received in recent years and think schools are flush with cash. What they may not realize is that California underfunded schools for 40 years, and as recently as a decade ago, the state ranked in the bottom 10 nationally for per-pupil funding. So, there is a lot of ground to make up. On top of that, schools deal with rising costs associated with healthcare, pensions, utilities and many other expenses at a time when ESSER funds are expiring — something has to give.
Sample messaging: ESSER funding is a temporary support that is set to expire, meaning LEAs will no longer have this additional financial assistance to cover many essential services implemented during the pandemic. At the same time, California continues to rebuild from 40 years of underfunding and contend with rising costs for utilities, healthcare, pensions and other benefits. Budget gaps are inevitable.
The expiration of ESSER funds could result in difficult decisions, including potential cutbacks on essential programs, larger class sizes and fewer resources for addressing students’ academic and mental health needs. And without replacement funding, programs like tutoring, counseling, technology initiatives and school safety improvements may be reduced or eliminated.
Engage and advocate
Make sure the community understands it will have the opportunity to influence the decisions that will be required as ESSER funds expire and schools grapple with state funding challenges. Emphasize that through the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) process, school board meetings, surveys, town halls and others means, the public will be able to help establish priorities and weigh tradeoffs.
Let the community know that the school board will fight to preserve as much of the staffing, support, programs and services as possible — and ask them to join in the fight!
Sample messaging: The community’s understanding and support are crucial as we transition away from ESSER funds. Engaged and informed community members can help explore sustainable funding options. With community involvement, we can find alternative solutions to maintain essential services or soften the impact of expiring ESSER funding. The district/COE will explore local funding initiatives, partnerships with nonprofits, and increased advocacy for state and federal funding for the initiatives that have the strongest connection to positive student outcomes. Working together, we can provide a strong foundation for student success, even during challenging times.
Develop an ESSER communications campaign
- Host in-person and virtual forums where district leaders present information on ESSER funding and its impact and answer questions from the community.
- Create a dedicated ESSER webpage and resource hub with comprehensive information about ESSER funding, how it was used, what changes may occur as it expires and FAQs.
- Build an advocacy toolkit for parents and community members interested in advocating for sustainable funding solutions.
- Perform direct outreach targeted to key stakeholders like PTA members, staff leaders, nonprofits, local businesses, community leaders and elected officials to engage them on the issue and gain their support.
- Develop newsletter content like a special section on ESSER funding highlighting how the funds have been used, potential impacts and steps the LEA is taking to manage the transition.
- Launch a social media campaign to share digestible information on the impact of ESSER funds and encourage community participation in events and forums.
- Work with local media outlets to share stories about the positive impact of ESSER-funded programs and the potential impact of the expiration.
Above all, be authentic, consistent and transparent about what lies ahead and engage your community in collaborative solutions. ESSER may be the end of era, but the work of supporting students is ongoing!
