ESSER I, II, & III

In March 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Socioeconomic Security Act, also known as the CARES Act, was signed into law. In the CARES Act, $13.2 billion was dedicated for K-12 schools through Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds. This grant is known as CARES Act ESSER I. The intent and purpose of the CARES Act ESSER I education funding is to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus. These funds are available March 13, 2020 through September 30, 2022.

In July 2020, Houston ISD applied to receive their allocation of the CARES Act ESSER I funds and received their fully awarded Notice of Grant Award in August 2020. Houston ISD’s CARES Act ESSER I allocation is $81,977,178. These funds are not additional to Houston ISD, instead, they are being used by TEA to offset the loss of average daily attendance (ADA) through the Foundation School Program (FSP) under Texas school finance.

With the CARES Act ESSER I funds, Houston ISD is required, by statute, to provide equitable services to participating private non-profit schools. Of the $81,977,178 allocated to Houston ISD, private non-profits received $2,260,139. Houston ISD used their internal allocation of $79,717,039 for teacher salaries at Title I, Part A campuses and indirect costs.

CARES Act ESSER I - Use of Funds Survey Results

In December 2020, the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, also known as CRRSA, was signed into law. In CRRSA, $54.3 billion was dedicated to the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds. This grant is known as CRRSA ESSER II. The intent and purpose of CRRSA ESSER II education funding is to prevent, prepare for, or respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, including its impact on the social, emotional, and mental health, and academic needs of students. The funds are available from March 13, 2020, through September 30, 2023.

In July 2021, Houston ISD applied to receive their allocation of the CRRSA ESSER II funds and received their fully awarded Notice of Grant Award (NOGA) in August 2021. Houston ISD's CRRSA ESSER II allocation is $358,195,503.

With CRRSA ESSER II funds, Houston ISD is not required to provide equitable services to participating private non-profit schools. Private non-profits will receive separate funding from Texas under the Emergency Assistance for Non-Public Schools (EANS) I grant.

CRRSA ESSER II - Use of Funds Survey: Community Members 
CRRSA ESSER II - Use of Funds Survey: HISD Staff 
CRRSA ESSER II - Use of Funds Survey: HISD Students 
CRRSA ESSER II - Use of Funds Survey: Multiple Roles
CRRSA ESSER II - Use of Funds Survey: Parents

In March 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act, also known as the ARP Act, was signed into law. In the ARP Act, $122 billion was dedicated to the Elementary and Secondary School Education Relief (ESSER) funds. This grant is known as ARP Act ESSER III. The intent and purpose of the ARP Act ESSER III education funding are to help safely reopen and sustain the safe operation of schools and address the impact of coronavirus on students.

In July 2021, Houston ISD applied to receive their allocation of the ARP Act ESSER III funds and received their fully awarded Notice of Grant Award (NOGA) in August 2021. Houston ISD’s ARP Act ESSER III allocation is $804,716,108. In September 2024, Houston ISD received additional ARP Act ESSER funds in the amount of $96,797. The additional funds were a result of the United States Department of Education (USDE) allowing the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to reallocate un-awarded formula funds under ARP Act ESSER III. The additional funds that Houston ISD received resulted in Houston ISD’s ARP Act ESSER III new allocation to be $804,812,905. ARP Act ESSER III fund are additional funds to Houston ISD for Houston ISD to use to address the impact that COVID-19 has had, and continues to have, on elementary and secondary schools.

With the ARP Act ESSER III funds, Houston ISD is not required to provide equitable services to participating private non-profit schools. Private non-profits will receive separate funding from Texas under the Emergency Assistance for Non-Public Schools (EANS) II grant.

Houston ISD will utilize its ARP Act ESSER III funds to address issues that have arisen due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the ARP Act ESSER III funds, Houston ISD is required, by statute, to set aside 20% of their total allocation, in the amount of $160,891,243, to address learning loss and to develop two plans: Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan and Use of Funds Plan. These plans are linked below and will be reviewed and revised as necessary every six months, if not completed sooner.
 

ESSER 2023-2024 Program Allocations
ESSER 2022-2023 Program Allocations
ESSER 2021-2022 Program Allocations

Campus-Based ESSER Programs 2023-2024 Allocations: English
Campus-Based ESSER Programs 2023-2024 Allocations: Spanish
Campus-Based ESSER Programs 2023-2024 Detailed Allocations: English
Campus-Based ESSER Programs 2023-2024 Detailed Allocations: Spanish
Campus-Based ESSER Programs 2022-2023 Allocations: English
Campus-Based ESSER Programs 2022-2023 Allocations: Spanish
Campus-Based ESSER Programs 2022-2023 Detailed Allocations: English
Campus-Based ESSER Programs 2022-2023 Detailed Allocations: Spanish
Campus-Based ESSER Programs 2021-2022 Allocations: English
Campus-Based ESSER Programs 2021-2022 Allocations: Spanish
Campus-Based ESSER Programs 2021-2022 Detailed Allocations: English
Campus-Based ESSER Programs 2021-2022 Detailed Allocations: Spanish

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States Department of Education released three grants for local education agencies (LEAs) to apply for through the Texas Education Agency (TEA). These grants are known as the CARES Act ESSER I, CRRSA ESSER II, and ARP Act ESSER III. Houston ISD applied for the CARES Act ESSER I, CRRSA ESSER II, and the ARP Act ESSER III grants.

This site was created to display ESSER II and III Program Evaluations conducted in Houston ISD. The Final 2021-2022 Program Evaluation is presented below. The Evaluation is comprised of three components. The components include a Memorandum detailing analyses of student performance over time, ESSER Program Summaries, and ESSER Campus Programs Dashboards. Each component provides insight into how Houston ISD developed innovative methods, achieved targeted outcomes, and tracked student performance. Budget allocations and expenditures were disaggregated by program. Additionally, the evaluation included stakeholder input regarding their use of ESSER II and ESSER III funds.

ESSER II and III Program Evaluation Components

ESSER Memorandum
Part I: ESSER Program Summaries
Part II: ESSER Campus Programs Dashboards

Allowable Activities Under CARES Act ESSER I, CRRSA ESSER II, and ARP Act ESSER III
TEA's ESSER I, II and III Side-by-Side Comparison
TEA’s Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Funds Website