ESSER Funding
What is ESSER?
ESSER stands for Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund.
Under the ESSER relief fund, the US Department of Education awards grants to State Educational Agencies (SEAs) for the purpose of providing Local Education Agencies (LEAs), like Middletown City School District, with emergency relief funds to address the impact that COVID-19 has had, and continues to have on elementary and secondary schools across the nation.
ESSER I and II
Middletown City School District has been able to address the impact of COVID-19 on our students by leveraging ESSER I ($3,000,000) and II ($12,000,000) funds in the following ways (see below). The supports have been in place serving students since the start of the 2021-22 school year.
6 Elementary Counselors
8 Additional Literacy Tutors
5 Additional ESL Tutors
7 Kindergarten Assistants
3 Literacy Instructional Assistants
1 Bilingual ESL Psychologist
2,000 plus Chromebooks
2 years of hotspots
Purchasing PPE
ESSER III
Middletown City School District received approximately $26 million in ESSER III funds to address the pandemic’s negative impact on students. The district has strategically worked to address a number of key areas in the package.
The table below contains the $6.22 million ESSER III commitments the Board of Education approved at the end of the year 2021.
Board ESSER III Commitments & Allocated Amount
Community Center/MCSD Preschool: $4,000,000.00
Enhanced College Supplement: $150,000.00
Professional Development (micro-credentials): $320,000.00
COVID Stipend: $1,200,000.00
Passport to Tomorrow Platform (ABRE): $556,452
Total Estimated Allocation: $6,226,452.00
At the February 14, 2022 Board of Education meeting, the board approved $12.4 million ESSER 3 funds to invest in the students.
Board ESSER III Commitments & Allocated Amount
Instructional Resources: $4,600,000.00
Learning Recovery & Extended Learning Plan: $6,000,000.00
Community Based Youth Initiatives: $100,00.00
Passport to Tomorrow K-12 Pathways: $1,000,000.00
Total Estimated Allocation: $11,700,000.00
