Funding Opportunities – Washington Edition

With the recent passage of the $2 trillion American Rescue Plan, Washington’s K-12 schools are poised to receive $1.85 billion in assistance, far and away the largest of the three COVID-19-related relief acts (CARES Act, CRRSA), of which at least 20% – upwards of $333 million – must be spent on activities and programs that mitigate learning loss.

ESSER, ESSER II & ARP ESSER

• Brolly assists in the COVID-19 response for special education teachers and service providers, who have seen their service model disrupted by the current pandemic.
• With the app, providers can document and share both virtual and in-person services, service attempts, attendance and student progress.
• The data gathered and presented through Brolly can be vital to determining the scope of learning loss for special education students, one of the hardest-hit groups during the pandemic, and documenting all attempts to serve students in all phases of school closure and reopening.
• The service provision data created and maintained within Brolly can bolster the required detailed district and state accounting and reporting of the use of ESSER, ESSER II and ARP ESSER funds, with a focus on how the State is using funds to measure and address learning loss among students disproportionately affected by the coronavirus and school closures, including children with disabilities. Streamlining progress and service data gives providers more time to deliver targeted, high quality intervention to students with the most need.

Learn more about ESSER, ESSER II and other federal funding

Washington Funding Notes

• Washington will pay ESSER I, II and III funds to districts by reimbursement through I-Grants of allowable expenditures per federal law. Districts must first receive OSPI approval of their reopening plan, complete an FP120 Application and Budget matrix, then submit monthly grant claims, first for ESSER I funds, then ESSER II funds.
• Released last year, OSPI’s Priorities for ESSER Funds set statewide emphasis on four statewide initiatives and encouraged them in district work: Support students furthest from educational justice, prepare for health and safety, invest in connectivity and hardware, and leverage local expertise and provide training.
• The state has also released detailed guidance about Special Education services, delivery and reporting through the end of the 2020-2021 school year.