ESSER Investments

Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding is aimed at helping school districts nationwide recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Congress has sent one-time federal funding to school districts. School districts need immediate, short-term funds for health and safety improvements, learning enhancements and support and other programs that help students get back on track with their learning.
 
ESSER funding does have limitations. School districts get the money once and can spend it over three years. School districts cannot cover current, routine district costs. Because the money runs out, school districts cannot use the funding for expenses that will last beyond three years.
 
Stay tuned: Additional projects are being added to this page.

ESSER III Investments

First page of the PDF file: ESSER_Presentation051321

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.

Campus security talking with a Baker student
  • Educator Supports

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.

Teacher at the front of the classroom, sitting in a chair
  • Educator Supports

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.

Multilingual Learners
  • Accelerated Learning

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.

Reengagement
  • Accelerated Learning

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

Staff interacting with elementary students at lunch
  • Accelerated Learning

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. 

Student selecting food  to add to a tray for lunch
  • Continuous Operations

If we create a comprehensive study evaluating a centralized kitchen and centralized services, it will allow us to increase the quality of food and procurement opportunities. 

Digital Learning
  • Accelerated 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.

Digital Learning
  • Accelerated Learning

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. 

Staff interacting with elementary students at lunch
  • Continuous Operations

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.

Digital Learning
  • Accelerated Learning

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  

TPS Staff maintaining HVAC system
  • COVID-19 Safety

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.

Staff interacting with elementary students at lunch
  • COVID-19 Safety

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

TPS Staff maintaining HVAC system
  • Facility Repair & Improvement

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.

Hilltop Heritage Drumline
  • Accelerated Learning

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.

Staff interacting with elementary students at lunch
  • Continuous Operations

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.

 International Baccalaureate Program
  • Accelerated Learning

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. 

Digital Learning
  • Accelerated Learning

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.

Mount Tahoma Health Clinic
  • Facility Repair & Improvement

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.

Staff interacting with elementary students at lunch
  • Continuous Operations

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. 

Staff interacting with elementary students at lunch
  • Continuous Operations

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.

Staff interacting with elementary students at lunch
  • Whole Child

If we invest time and resources in developing our staff in diversity, equity, and inclusion practices, it will translate into more equitable systems, experiences, and outcomes for students.

School nursing support staff learning how to bandage a wrist
  • Educational Technology

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. 

School nursing support staff learning how to bandage a wrist
  • Educator Supports

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.

Digital Learning
  • Accelerated Learning

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

Teacher at the front of the classroom, sitting in a chair
  • Whole Child

If we increase the number of quality mental health providers in schools, we will be able to increase the number of students served, ensuring that all students have access to quality mental health care. 

Digital Learning
  • Accelerated Learning

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. 

zone check in
  • Whole Child

If we adopt and implement high quality SEL curricula at all grade levels, we will be more effective at teaching students essential life skills to support their social, emotional, and academic growth.

Staff interacting with elementary students at lunch
  • Whole Child

If we provide community based support programs and expanded learning opportunities for students and families, we will disrupt racial and socio-economic disparities in learning and achievement exacerbated by the pandemic.

School nursing support staff learning how to bandage a wrist
  • COVID-19 Safety

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. 

Staff interacting with elementary students at lunch
  • Accelerated Learning

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

Staff interacting with elementary students at lunch
  • Accelerated Learning

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. 

Mount Tahoma Health Clinic
  • COVID-19 Safety

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. 

Staff interacting with elementary students at lunch
  • Accelerated Learning

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. 

School nursing support staff learning how to bandage a wrist
  • Whole Child

If we provide our counselors with professional development, ongoing coaching, and supplemental resources to grow their skills, it will improve the quality of services we provide to students.

Lincoln Women's Soccer Team
  • Whole Child

If we continue to improve athletic and activity choices in Tacoma Public Schools, we will enable students more opportunities to re-engage with the school community, increasing their sense of belonging and ownership.

TPS Staff maintaining HVAC system
  • Facility Repair & Improvement

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

ESSER III Spending as of December 2023

Esser investments graph

Contact Us

Business & Finance
601 S 8th St
Tacoma, WA 98402
(253) 571-1201
CFO@tacoma.k12.wa.us

ESSER Overview Video