ESSER Newsletter - April 2022

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Greetings, school leaders!

As we head towards the end of the school year, many of us are gearing up for summer learning. Each year, ADE is proud to support the high-quality summer learning happening at our public charter and district schools. This year, ESSER set-aside funding provided to the State has provided even more opportunities for LEAs. 

Educators, students, and families can visit Discovery Education's Summer Learning Activities Channel to find ready-to-use activities that cover a range of topics, subjects, and grades. This is part of Discovery Education's Summer of Learning, which Arizona teachers, students, and parents can access for free, thanks to federal recovery dollars. 

Through our partners at Arizona's Center for Recruitment and Retention of Mathematics Educators (CRR), the Re-Engaging Aspirational Learners program (Getting REAL) is offering summer school programming to provide exciting mathematic experiences that work alongside ELA and Science summer school curricula. The CRR will provide free program materials, training, and curriculum sessions for 1-6 weeks for summer school lengths. Contact Melissa Hosten at [email protected] to bring this exciting math program to your summer learners. 

Finally, LEAs are encouraged to apply for Governor Ducey's On Track Summer Camp grant funding to support summer learning activities at your school. Read a quick FAQ about this funding and apply through AZ OnTrack Summer Camp. The application closes on Monday, April 18. 

ESSER Updates and Deadlines

ESSER I, II, and III Data Collection – Due Friday, April 22.

This is a friendly reminder that LEAs must submit their ESSER data reports by Friday, April 22, as required by the US Department of Education (ED).

Please visit www.azed.gov/ESSER-Data for step-by-step information and resources to support you with this data reporting process. The ESSER Reporting Supplement may be accessed through the ADE Grants Management system at gme.azed.gov. The Supplement is named 'ESSER Reporting' and can be found under Fiscal Year 2022.

ESSER l, ll, and lll Programmatic Monitoring

Over the last few years, ADE has been proud to support the delivery of ESSER I, II, and III funding to our local education agencies. We know the process has involved many steps –-and we would like to learn more about where our LEAs are in their implementation journey!

 On May 4, ADE will notify sixty-two randomly selected LEAs of their participation via email. ED requires programmatic monitoring. These sixty-two LEAs represent all 15 counties, districts, and charters, small, mid-size, large, rural, and urban LEAs.

Initial monitoring will cover ESSER I, II, and III funded activities that have been implemented or planned through summer 2022. During June, July, and September, our team will meet virtually with the LEA teams to learn more about your LEA's implementation journey, the decision-making process, stakeholder involvement, and how the funds address current needs and impact immediate and long-term student outcomes. Most importantly, we want to know what strategies or activities you are most proud of. 

We look forward to these conversations! If you have any questions, please contact Devon Isherwood at [email protected], Allison Barbor at [email protected], or [email protected].

ESSER III

Thank you to all our administrators and school leaders who applied for your LEAs ESSER III allocation by the federal deadline of February 1, 2022.

If you have not yet submitted your application, please do so as soon as possible. 

Safe Return to In-Person Learning

Safe Return to In-Person Learning Plans are due in EMAC by May 6, 2022.  Thank you to those LEAs that have already submitted their plan.

How to access EMAC

1. Sign into ADEConnect (adeconnect.azed.gov)
2. Go to View Applications
3. Click Applications
4. Click EMAC from your ADEConnect application menu

How to assign a user role

1. Go to azed.gov
2. Select the EMAC Link
3. Then follow the directions in this link How to add new users in EMAC or in the EMAC application, select Support/Help (upper right-hand corner of the home screen), and watch the video on how to assign roles

How to complete the task

Once someone in your LEA is assigned the EMAC role, please complete the Safe Return to In-Person Learning task.  It is a form that needs to be completed in EMAC.  Once completed, please make sure to click the submit button.  Your specialist will then be able to review your plan. 

Resources: EMAC Portal User Guide

LEA Assigned Specialist Alphabetical by LEA Name and Group Number

If you need further assistance, please email Allison Barbor or call at  602-542-3068. 

Upcoming ESSER Set-Aside Opportunities

The following opportunities are funded and supported by the Arizona Department of Education’s ESSER set aside investments:

UArizona’s CRR’s Re-Engaging Aspirational Learners (Getting REAL) Before and After School Programming

The goal of this before and after school program is to re-engage learners and reconnect them to their education community, support their developing understanding of foundational mathematics, and provide the basic needs for these learners to thrive. The CRR will provide participating schools with:

• Program materials and training to reengage these learners
• Each session begins with a nutritious snack and community connection activity
• Mathematical exploration activities or problems that are culturally relevant and interesting

This program is targeted at students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Please contact Melissa Hosten at [email protected] to enroll.

ASU Math Momentum

ASU Math Momentum program elevates math achievement by partnering with the Arizona school communities to address both schools that have strong math teachers and would like to improve student performance and schools that have math staffing gaps.

ASU Math Momentum is offering live, virtual sessions after school and on Saturdays. Some featured sessions we are running include Trauma-Informed Teaching, Financial Literacy, Fostering College Readiness, Engaging Students in Collaboration and Fostering a Growth Mindset. Late April will also feature our Saturday Workshop Series on Promoting Equity and Access. 

Additionally, ASU Math Momentum offers asynchronous training courses and resources that teachers can access at any time. Educators can register for a free account here https://training.asuprepdigital.org/ and earn professional development hours.

Arizona’s PAX Good Behavior Game

Are your teachers overwhelmed? Do your students have difficulty readjusting to the classroom? Is a lack of focus and attention hurting academic outcomes?

The Arizona Department of Education is providing training in the evidence-based, trauma-informed PAX Good Behavior Game to all Arizona educators at no cost. The PAX Good Behavior Game provides educators with proven and effective strategies to improve SEL outcomes, student behavior, academic outcomes, and teacher wellness. 

PAX Good Behavior Game training is offered in virtual and self-paced online formats for your entire staff. All participants receive certificates for 6 contact hours of professional development.

Please contact [email protected] to schedule a site-specific training for your staff.