December 2023
Kentucky Department of Education uses ESSER pandemic relief money to support digital learning coaches
The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) has been helping districts with digital learning coaches, spending $3.2 million dollars of funding from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) fund to either help districts hire digital learning coaches or supplement what they have already been doing.
KDE accepting public comments on amended ARP ESSER plan
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) – which included more than $2 billion for Kentucky public schools – authorized a third ESSER fund that was signed into law on March 11, 2021, which is known as ARP ESSER.
August 2023
Letcher County schools use ESSER money to host K-8 summer camp
The purpose of the summer camp was to provide academic and social-emotional support and enrichment opportunities for Letcher County students to accelerate and extend learning for the 2023-2024 school year.
Barbourville Independent uses ESSER funds to purchase high-quality instructional resources
Barbourville Independent was one of nine school districts selected for a two-year pilot program using $2 million in federal American Rescue Plan and Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) funds to help them implement high-quality instructional resources aligned with Kentucky's academic standards and include research-based materials.
Superintendents hear update on literacy efforts, ESSER funds during Superintendents Webcast
Officials with the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) provided an update on the department’s efforts to bolster literacy education during the Superintendents Webcast on Aug. 15.
July 2023
KDE provides ARP ESSER funding to support tutoring programs in Jefferson and Fayette counties
The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) is providing two out-of-school programs in Jefferson and Fayette counties with $500,000 each in federal funds this summer.
At Kentucky Governor’s Scholars Program, ESSER funds help students find community in diversity
When students meet each other for the first time at the Kentucky Governor’s Scholars Program and ask where they’re from, they turn their hands sideways and curl in their thumb, creating a rough shape of the state. “If you were from Centre College, you'd be in the middle,” explained Marshall County native Sarah Umbarger, pointing to her palm. “Or if you're from Lexington, maybe a little over here, and it's just where you are on the map, and it helps just like visualize like where people are at in Kentucky.”
ESSER funds enhance summer program for English language learners in Daviess County
Camp Curiosity is offered to all English language learners in Owensboro in the summer. It has found new light in recent years with the help of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding from the federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act.
Paducah Independent uses ESSER funding to promote diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging
Paducah Independent schools are using Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding to increase diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging for all students and staff.
Kentucky Department of Education uses ESSER funding to support youth facing homelessness
While the COVID-19 pandemic impacted learning for students across the country, those who are identified as homeless or housing insecure faced even more obstacles to keeping their education on track.