Pflugerville ISD advances on plans for federal ESSER III funding

One of the methods toward determination was administration of a survey to teachers, students and parents, said Brandy Baker, PfISD's chief academic and innovations officer.

Baker presented iinitial findings of the survey during the district’s June 18 meeting.

Regarding the mitigation of learning loss described in ESSER III requirements, respondents most favored supplemental after school programs, additional staff for class size ratios, software license fees for academic support and more support for low-income students, students with disabilities and English learning students.

During a July 15 meeting, Baker said allowable expenditures will include grants, the mitigation of learning loss, health and safety, human resources and maintenance operations.

ESSER III guidelines mandate that $5.9 million or more of PfISD's allocation must be spent on learning loss, Baker said, adding much of that will go toward additional tutoring.

The process for using the funding will involve campus principals or leaders consulting with their stakeholders, and then requesting funding from the district. Baker said those requests will then go to a smaller district committee for consideration.

"This is a one-time fund for us, so after September 2024 we are going to have to make sure we make decisions ... that don't put us at a deficit," Baker said, referring to the time when ESSER III funding expires.

District staff will meet with campus leaders on July 26 to help them with the process of engaging their stakeholders regarding funding requests, Baker said.