Virginia’s 132 school divisions are invited to apply for $107 million in federal pandemic-relief funds to move the commonwealth’s students onward and upward in their journey out of the pandemic by providing targeted math and literacy support to students, in addition to addressing their other academic and mental health needs, according to Superintendent of Public Instruction James Lane.
These “Onward and Upward VA” grants are funded from the American Rescue Plan Act and include support for programs during the school year, before- and after-school programs, and summer learning.
“School divisions face multiple challenges as they maintain safe environments for in-person learning, continue to mitigate the effects of COVID-19, recruit critical staff and provide the instruction students need to make up unfinished learning,” Lane said. “These student-focused grants will support programs to help our students catch up, particularly in literacy and mathematics, and achieve their academic goals, while also assessing and addressing their mental health needs.”
The American Rescue Plan awarded Virginia approximately $2.1 billion from the act’s Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund — known as ESSER III — to differentiate the latest funding from that provided by two previous federal pandemic relief bills. Ninety percent of Virginia’s ESSER III funds have been made available to school divisions, which have until September 2024 to seek reimbursements from their allotments.
From ESSER III funds reserved to support state-level programs and initiatives, the Virginia Department of Education will award up to $107 million to school divisions through three competitive grant opportunities, as part of its “Onward and Upward VA” pandemic relief effort. The grants focus on supporting a wide variety of programs that address student needs primarily in literacy and mathematics, with targeted support for learners most impacted by pandemic disruptions, including students with disabilities, English learners, students who are economically disadvantaged, early learners, and those who are underperforming. Each grant has a unique area of focus as follows:
Up to $65 million for division-level initiatives to address unfinished learning among all students. Allowable expenditures include, but are not limited to, programs to meet the instruction needs of quarantined students, programs to reduce student-teacher ratios, and the hiring of tutors and paraprofessionals. Allowable expenditures also include support for in-person and virtual programs to address the behavioral and mental health needs of students.
Up to $21 million to support before- and after-school programs — including weekend and virtual programs — for all students. Allowable expenditures include, but are not limited to, recruitment and hiring of tutors and other staff, technology and transportation for participating students. Allowable expenditures also include support for in-person and virtual programs to address the behavioral and mental health needs of students.
Up to $21 million to support summer programs that are at least four days per week, four hours per day, and at least eight weeks in duration. Allowable expenditures include, but are not limited to, recruitment and hiring of tutors and other staff, technology and transportation for participating students. Allowable expenditures also include support for in-person and virtual programs to address the behavioral and mental health needs of students.
School divisions may apply for one, two or all three grants. The deadline for applying is November 23.
The Virginia Department of Education has created a website for its federal pandemic recovery efforts, Onward and Upward VA, which will show what funds have been allocated directly to school divisions and where they will be focused to support students and teachers. More information will be added to this site as it is developed.
