The DPI issued a list on August 12 of items it will be financing using “set aside” funds from the state’s ESSER pandemic relief money provided by Congress.

Be aware, these “set-aside” funded items are in addition to individual programming and services private schools should get from their local public school district. There are 12 allowable uses for the locally-targeted funds.The district must engage in timely and meaningful consultation about how their locally-targeted ESSER funds are used.

For the just-announced “set aside” portion of ESSER funds, the DPI has decided to provide services and support to public and private schools for the following: to improve online instruction; provide professional development for virtual instruction; and to improve mental health services.

Here’s the DPI’s list of specific resources and services via “set-aside” funds, and the timing of their availability.

A description of each can be found on the ESSER web page:

  • Building capacity for, and expanding access to, high-quality online instructional resources
    • Broadband discount program (available now)
    • Course content offerings to support virtual and blended teaching and learning for low or no cost (available now)
    • Hardware and software discount program (coming soon: early September)
  • Providing training for educators in the provision of online and remote instruction
    • Digital Learning Professional Development (available now)
    • Teleservice Training/Digital Learning Creation Practices (available now)
    • Universal Design for Learning: UDL Forward! (available now)
    • Reading Roadmap Webinars (coming soon: late September)
    • Assistive Technology (AT) Forward! learning (coming soon: September-October)
    • English Language Arts and Mathematics Instructional Materials and Professional Learning for Remote and Hybrid Learning Environments (coming soon: late September-October)
  • Expanding and building capacity of school staff to provide mental health services to better support students
    • Adult Mental Health Literacy (available now)
    • Peer-to-Peer Suicide Prevention (available now)
    • Correct Use of Personal Protective Equipment (coming soon: November)
    • Regional TA and Coaching Centers for School-based Mental Health Systems, including Trauma-Sensitive Schools (coming soon: January 2021)
    • Student Mental Health Literacy Curriculum (coming soon: March 2021)
    • Reducing Mental Health Stigma in School Communities (coming soon: January 1, 2021)
    • Mental Health Referral Pathways Training Module (coming soon: December)
    • Restorative Practices (coming soon: September 15)