ESSER Investments

Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding is aimed at helping schools nationwide recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Congress has sent one-time federal funding to school districts to meet immediate, short-term needs for health and safety improvements, learning enhancements and supports, and programs that help students get back on track with their learning. $70,851,866 in ARP ESSER funding has been allocated to TPS for use through the 2023-24 school year. 100% of funds are planned and support priority investments in learning acceleration, safety, continuity of operations, whole child and educator supports, educational technology, and facility improvements.

If we provide additional security support staff in our secondary schools, it will lead to fewer disruptions in student learning and support nurturing learning environments.

If we provide staff and leaders with additional support and resources to promote mental health and wellness, it will positively impact their ability to serve students and model healthy mental health and wellness practices for students.

If we provide students with interventions based on academic data in their language of instruction (Spanish), we will target academic gaps and provide an essential component in building an equitable education system.

If we dedicate resources to reengage youth ages 16-21, it will increase graduation rates and equitable access to high-quality education.  

If we provide additional substitute teacher capacity in response to teacher absences, we will increase the continuity of school operations and ensure students can engage in consistent high-quality learning. 

If we staff our schools with music and physical education specialists and teacher librarians, it will improve learning outcomes and increase engagement for all students.

If we provide students access to museum experiences connected to instructional learning, it will enable equitable opportunities for all students to apply their learning to real world experiences. 

If we provide additional human resources capacity to respond to COVID-19 protocols and teacher absences, we will increase the continuity of school operations, improve health and safety at school sites, and decrease the burden of COVID-19 protocol compliance for our school staff.

If we provide our K-12 students with engaging, high-quality, rigorous, and relevant digital and printed core and supplemental curriculum, it will increase literacy and overall student academic outcomes  

If we increase custodian staffing and cleaning resources to address pandemic related sanitation needs, it will reduce community risk of exposure to COVID-19, increase the health and safety of our learning environments, and minimize disruption to in-person learning.

If we consistently provide robust, meaningful, and high-quality communication to families, we will have stronger partnerships leading to improved outcomes for students. 

If we create physical spaces that support robust and personalized online teaching and learning, we will create and have the capacity to sustain a flexible, innovative, high quality virtual education option that allows Tacoma students K-12 to learn anytime, anywhere.

If we update and increase the number of instruments available at all of our schools, it will create equitable access to high quality, functioning instruments and an enriching, well-rounded educational experience for all students.

If we offer hiring and referral bonuses, it will increase the number of qualified applicants for our district jobs resulting in fewer vacancies, fewer disruptions to school operations, and improved student outcomes.

If we provide the proper support structures for the International Baccalaureate World schools, it will promote and improve student learning opportunities. These improvements will result from increased teacher and leader capacity, time on task for student projects, better organizational structures that promote enrichment, and well-being for the staff and students that align with the global learning philosophy. 

If we engage teachers in high-quality professional learning and coaching in digital learning and math, it will increase math achievement, 1:1 digital learning, and inclusive and equitable practices in schools.

If we create school-based health centers, it will improve student access to vital health care services and mental health supports, positively impacting our students and our community.

If we tap into the interest of students and non-teaching staff to become certified teachers through affordable pathways, we can address our looming teacher shortage and create a more diverse and local group of educators. 

If we maintain pre-pandemic staffing levels despite decreased student enrollment, it will improve our ability to address the pandemic’s impact on student learning and social-emotional well-being.

If we provide and maintain modern technology devices for all students, we will provide students access to flexible learning opportunities and ensure equitable access to online learning resources. 

If we hire additional support staff for tasks related to COVID-19 safety, we will have healthier and safer schools and relieve the burden on current school staff.

If we provide tutoring services for students, then we will accelerate the academic growth of our students and increase their engagement in school. 

If we create and curate high-quality digital instructional content, we will equip teachers with the resources they need to meet student needs and provide families and students access to customized support. 

If we hire and retain high quality nursing staff, we will further reduce the spread of COVID-19, increase care to the TPS community, and facilitate the navigation of health protocols. 

If we provide students with updated and culturally relevant library books, students will grow their understanding of the world around them. 

If we provide students with opportunities to experience and explore a variety of career pathways, we will enable students to find their passion and experience success post-graduation. 

If we streamline communication around COVID-19 for school personnel, students, and families, we will build a stronger response system that reduces the spread of COVID-19. 

If we provide students with programming that fosters caring adult-student relationships and sparks passion among students, we will support and develop our students’ social and emotional regulation, increase their engagement, and build their understanding of their interests. 

If we upgrade school HVAC systems, we can provide students with healthy learning environments that optimize comfort and indoor air quality.