ESSER Closeout

Congratulations to our schools for successfully obligating the ESSER funds by the deadline of September 30, 2024! OPI and the ESSER Team thanks everyone for successful annual reporting over the past two years and kudos to the 115 districts who have completed their ESSER Closeout/Exit Interview process. OPI recognizes the school staff's work and effort to close out the grant and appreciates all the hard work.

OPI recognizes the hard work that everyone is doing to close out ESSER. The obligation period for ESSER III has ended. However, based on several factors, OPI has implemented an ESSER Grace Period allowing ESSER E-Grants description change only for Amendments and Cash Requests to be processed until November 30, 2024. The Final Expenditure Reports will then be due by December 10, 2024. This grace period is intended for continued work on ESSER during the closeout period.

 ESSER Community Discussion: 

OPI held a virtual meeting on September 5, 2024 with Dr. Carly Urban & Dr. Christina Stoddard from MSU to discuss how ESSER dollars were and are being used in Montana. You can find information on the meeting below. 

Agenda | Meeting Recording | MSU Presentation | Administrative ESSER Summary

 

Superintendent Elsie Arntzen is proud to serve our Montana families, students, and teachers through the administration of the ESSER education funding of just over $605 million. Each district was awarded ESSER funding based on Title I student count. Across the state, Districts are using ESSER funding in innovative, valuable ways, enabling schools and their partners to implement highly effective and beneficial programs. The countdown is here with ESSER I (CARES) expiring 2022, ESSER II (CRRSA) expiring 2023, and ESSER III (ARP) expiring 2024 (comparison chart p.4). OPI has established a system of support to ensure grant funding compliance and provide advocacy in use of funds. 

 

ESSER Resources

Resources, FAQ, and Guidances

General

ESSER Training

 

Specific

 

Content Area One-Pagers

 

Allowable Use of Funds

Communication

 

Allocation and Status Updates

Allocation Updates

Status Updates

 

ESSER State and District Plan

On August 5, 2021, the U.S. Department of Education approved the ARP ESSER State Plan for Montana. This gave OPI an approved roadmap for helping our great Montana schools and communities use this large influx of Federal funding to innovate and improve instruction for our Montana students. The Montana State Plan recognizes local control, removes obstacles and barriers for schools, and enhances accountability.

Montana State and District Plans

 

District ESSER Stories

ESSER District Consolidated Stories

LE Name ELO History ELO Funding Student Participation Average Weekly Participation Program Topic
Panther Math and Reading Program Afterschool 21' - 23'
Summer 24'		 $97,423 26 7 Math
Afterschool Club House Afterschool & Summer
21' - 24'		 $173,382 767 10 Reading
Real World Book Club Afterschool & Summer
21' - 24'		 $177,999 288 28 Math/Reading
Hamilton Players Summer 23' - 24' $50,000     Reading
Get Your Game On Afterschool 21' - 23'
Summer 23' - 24'		 $136,256 3115 3 Math
Mango Math Afterschool & Summer
21' - 24'		 $157,269 363 28 Math
Code Girls United Afterschool & Summer
21' - 24'		 $152,784 336 4 Math
Educatio Learning Studio Afterschool '21
Afterschool & Summer 22' - 24'		 $146,293 230 5 Math
Missoula Children's Theater Summer '24 $25,000 483 43 Reading
Summer Welding Program Summer '24 $25,000 20 10 Math

Manuals and Tip Sheets

Other Resources & Archived

General

Specific

 

ESSER Training

Guidance

 

 

Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER)

   

Montana Schools  

COVID-Related Funding Received for Public and Non-Public Schools Graphic: Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief ESSER I (CARES), Expires 2022 = $41,295,230; ESSER II (CRRSA), Expires 2023 = $170,099,465; ESSER III (ARP), Expires 2024= $382,019,236; Emergency Assistance for Non-Public Schools (EANS) = $24,679,709; Total Funds = $605,318,735  

 

Nationally 

COVID Related Funding Received Nationally; ESSER I (CARES) expires 2022 $13.23 Billion; ESSER II (CRRSA) expired 2023 $54.31 Billion; ESSER III (ARP) expires 2024 $121.97 Billion