Groesbeck ISD has created the Return to School Safely Plan to guide the return to in-person instruction. As school begins, we are looking forward to seeing everyone! We recognize that many questions still exist and are working to provide answers. Your child's teacher and campus principal will have the most up-to-date and specific information for your student.

Groesbeck ISD follows the guidance and expertise of national and local health officials to help protect our students and staff from all communicable diseases. The district is aware that The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is monitoring an outbreak of respiratory illness (COVID-19) caused by a novel (new) coronavirus. Families are encouraged to visit the CDC website for more information.

Changes to the public health situation over the course of the school year may necessitate changes to the Groesbeck ISD Return to School Safely Plan.

The Groesbeck ISD ESSER III use of funds plan was developed in conjunction with Groesbeck ISD stakeholders.  Stakeholders include district and campus-level staff, students, parents, community members, and the school board.  Groesbeck ISD conducted surveys, and there was a public comment opportunity at the regular board meeting held on May 17, 2021.

Addressing Academic Learning Loss and Social-Emotional/Mental Health Needs

A minimum of 20% of the grant award must be set aside for learning loss mitigation.  Groesbeck ISD has planned for $820,122 (20%) of the grant award to target specific learning loss activities.

• Purchasing educational technology (hardware, software, and connectivity) for students that aid in regular/substantive educational interaction between students and instructors, including before and after-school tutorials and summer school learning.

• Providing software and curriculum to address students' learning loss and social-emotional needs with high-quality assessments and intervention programs.

• Employment of an Intervention Coordinator to coordinate and address achievement gaps and loss of learning due to COVID-19 through high-intensive classroom instruction and tutoring.

• The NWEA MAPS assessment system will be used for students in grades 1-12 for reading and math and for students in grades 7-9 in science. A coordinated multi-tiered system of support will be provided to identify and meet student needs. Emphasis will be placed on providing quality tier-one instruction and more specific interventions as needed.

• After-school tutoring and summer instruction will be provided to address specific learning needs of students.

• An agreement with Communities in Schools will be undertaken to provide a social worker on each campus. This individual will work in concert with the school counselor to identify and meet the needs of students.

Additional Activities

• Providing mental health services and supports through the use of campus counselors and Communities in School of Heart of Texas representative for each of our 4 campuses.

• Provide high-quality training to allow instructional staff to meet comprehensive needs.

• Payroll, staff retention, and staff fulfillment costs to ensure a high-quality staff for addressing learning loss, maintaining operations, and ensuring continued employment.

• Purchasing supplies to sanitize and clean the facilities.

Total Anticipated Expenditures: $2,500,865.00

What is ESSER? In 2020 and 2021, Congress passed three stimulus bills that provided nearly $190.5 billion to the Elementary and Secondary Emergency Education Relief (ESSER) Fund. Each state’s funding is based on the same proportion share that they receive under the ESEA, Title-I, Part A. While other COVID-related funding has been available to districts, the three stimulus bills, which represent the majority of the funding, include:

• The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was passed in March 2020 and provided approximately $1.157 billion to Texas school districts.

• The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER II) Fund was passed in December 2020 the under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act. ESSER II is expected to provide $4.977 billion to Texas school districts.

• The American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER or ESSER III) Fund was passed in March 2021 under the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021. ESSER III is expected to provide approximately $11.177 billion to Texas school districts.

While the main focus of ESSER I was for preventing, preparing for, and responding to COVID-19; ESSER II and ESSER III focus on school districts reopening and operating safely, as well as addressing the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on students.