Nearly one-third of federal COVID funding for Clark County schools has already been spent – The Nevada Independent

This note has been translated into Spanish and changed from a English version.

The Clark County School District (CCSD) is close to spending or pledging its nearly $ 778 million in federal aid for pandemic relief.

During a board meeting last Thursday, district officials presented a annual report on the use of funds from the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief Act (ARP ESSER III) that were awarded last year.

The report shows that the CCSD has spent or committed $ 255 million in five areas: student success; teachers, principals and staff; ongoing mitigation and response to COVID-19; support from parents and the community; and balanced governance and leadership.

Most of that $ 255 million was earmarked to help 300,000 CCSD students recover academically, socially and emotionally from the effects of the pandemic.

These student investments include $ 204 million in classroom technology, such as laptops. Chromebook, iPad and interactive flat screens; $ 74 million for student learning opportunities in the coming summers; approximately $ 28 million for mental health resources provided by district partners such as Hazelnut health; and a $ 4.3 million Free English Language Student (ELL) Diploma Initiative for teachers, so they can better serve students who are learning English at school.

ESSER funds have also enabled the district to purchase science teaching materials for students from kindergarten through grade eight. The district is also gaining approval from the Nevada Department of Education to purchase English-language arts teaching materials. Costs for such teaching materials are estimated to be over $ 153 million.

The district’s focus on students comes as test results published late last month by the National Assessment of Educational Progress, which shows a national decline in reading and math skills among fourth- and eighth-graders since 2019, the last time the national standardized test was administered.

Nevada was no exception. Average scores for local fourth- and eighth-graders in mathematics have dropped below the national average and state scores for 2019. Nevada he also experienced a decline in average reading scores among fourth- and eighth-graders, but his eighth-grade average reading score was on par with the national average.

Meanwhile, the average scores in math and reading The CCSD scores for fourth- and eighth-graders were not far below the average scores for other large urban school districts serving a similar student population.

However, the data shows a decline in math skills for those grades. The reading skills of fourth grade pupils also declined. But the reading ability rate among eighth grade students, 27%, has remained stable since 2019.

The district is also investing nearly $ 95 million in federal funds to increase its workforce by hiring, retaining and developing teachers, administrators and staff. Most of these funds are used for retention bonuses for all current full-time employees. Other efforts include increasing the number of teachers in the district.

Less than 10% of the $ 255 million the district has spent or committed to date has been devoted to projects focused on COVID-19 mitigation, parental and community support, and balanced governance and leadership projects.

The district has until September 30, 2024 to spend the rest of the $ 777 million or pledge the funds by signing a purchase order or spending agreement.

Vicki Kreidel, a teacher in Clark County and chair of the teachers ‘union for the National Education Association of Southern Nevada, urged the district to consider targeting more ESSER funding towards students’ mental health needs as a way to address negative student behaviors.

“I urge you to use some of that money to support the mental health and social and emotional well-being of our students,” Kreidel said.

While district leaders expressed hope for the impact of these investments, they also shared concerns about what will happen when ESSER III funds run out.

Kellie Kowal-Paul, district chief strategy officer, noted that when this happens, the district can draw on its general fund, individual school budgets, or even apply for additional state funding to keep some of these projects afloat, if the district is individual schools decide they are worth continuing.