All federal funding (with the exception of FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) was awarded in the same proportion as each state received funds under Part A of Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended, in the fiscal year 2019.

March 2020 – ESSER I

December 2020 – ESSER II

March 2021 – ESSER III 
ESSER I was established as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.  ESSER I provided direct funding to states and school districts to address the impact COVID-19 has had, and continues to have, on elementary and secondary schools across the nation. ESSER II was created through the enactment of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA).  As with ESSER I, the core purpose of the ESSER II Fund is to provide funds to states and districts to address the areas most impacted by the disruption and closure of schools caused by COVID-19. The American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) Fund was enacted.  ARP ESSER (ESSER III) provides direct aid to states and districts to help safely reopen and sustain the safe operation of schools and address the impact of COVID-19 on schools. ESSER III requires each public school unit to use at least 20% of their allotment for addressing learning loss.

Waukee ESSER III Plan

Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER Cares Funding)

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act represents the largest emergency relief package ever passed into law in the United States.  Roughly two trillion dollars was appropriated to provide relief across multiple economic sectors, including $30.75 billion in K-12 education and higher education.  Iowa received $71.6 million under the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) portion of this act, $64.4 million of which went to Iowa school districts for the purpose of mitigating the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Waukee Community School District was awarded $273,977.

Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER II Funding)

Iowa received $344,864,294 from the ESSER II fund and allocated $310,377,865 to school districts.

Waukee Community School District was awarded $831,221.

  • ESSER I/CARES Funding – $273,977
    • Apple laptops and iPads for online learning
    • Canvas, Seesaw software
  • ESSER II Funding – $831,221
    • Apple Professional Learning for staff
    • Google Enterprise Suite for Education
    • Seesaw software 
    • Happy Fox – IT help desk software 
    • Buoy Health – COVID symptom checker app for staff 
    • Electives for online middle school students – FY20/21
    • HVAC study
    • Online social studies curriculum K-5

American Rescue Plan Act-Elementary and Secondary Emergency School Relief (ESSER III Funding) Waukee Community School District was awarded $1,866,8044. The ARP Act authorized a third round of emergency coronavirus relief to schools through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund.  Iowa will receive $774,516,216 from this fund with 90% ($697,064,594) going to school districts.

  • ESSER III – $1,866,804
    • $373,361 – Required 20% reservation to address learning gaps – will use entire amount in FY21/22
      • Adding math lab teachers at each elementary school
    • $1,493,443
      • Full time substitute teachers, lead nurse for FY20/21
      • iTopia software
      • Seesaw
      • Tableau Software – data analytics
      • AV site survey – district wide
      • HVAC/IT audit
      • ParentSquare software
      • Apple TV’s
      • JAMF software
      • Online HS economics curriculum licences
      • FileWave software
      • Malwarebytes software

What can ESSER II and ESSER III Funding support?

  • ESSER Funds can support activities such as:

    • Addressing Learning Loss
    • Long-term Closure Activities
    • Education Technology
    • Mental Health Services
    • Summer Learning
    • Other Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Activities
    • Providing Principals/Leaders with Resources (ESSER II only)
    • Addressing Unique Needs of Special Populations

    ESSER Funds can also support improvements or modifications that help prevent transmission of the COVID-19 virus:

    • Improving Preparedness and Response
    • Training to Minimize Virus Transmission
    • Supplies to Sanitize and Clean
    • Facility Repairs/Improvement to Minimize Virus Transmission
    • Improve Air Quality
    • Coordination of Preparedness and Response

Community Feedback

All members of the Waukee Community are welcome to submit their input. To submit feedback or ask questions related to funding please email CFO, Sarak Kautz by August. 13, 2021.

WCSD has the ability to amend its ESSER Plan and budget as needed.