7 ESSER Resources for Administrators: A Curated List

Confronting educational deficits worsened by the pandemic demands an all-encompassing and deliberate plan for recovery. With financial support from ESSER, overcoming these obstacles and bridging the learning gaps is an achievable goal. However, navigating the ins and outs of federal funding is not always easy. Educators want to better understand how to implement this vital tool to help shrink learning disparities. This blog post covers it all.

Top 7 resources on ESSER funding

Here is a useful ESSER resources list to help educators better understand and navigate ESSER, putting funding to work.

1. Don’t Fall Off The Fiscal Cliff
   Struggling with the remaining ESSER funds and how to use them to boost learning without falling into fiscal chaos? This handy Education Insight digs into the essentials like ESSER III availability period, how LEAs and SEAs ensure compliance, and tips for handling the tricky task of making multiyear commitments with short-term funds. It also explores innovative ways to ease teacher workload and empower students to learn more efficiently. Packed with recommendations and best practices, this Insight is a go-to resource for maximizing those ESSER funds and creating a brighter educational future.
    
2. How to Implement ESSER Guide
   The information covered in this guide puts ESSER funds to good use. It is filled with valuable insight, detailed information about transparency and accountability, and recommendations for top-notch reading and professional learning programs like Lexia® Core5® Reading and Lexia LETRS®. But it doesn’t stop there—the guide also includes advice about crafting a strategic plan with ESSER funds, plus pointers for enhancing professional development for teachers and administrators. It's a resource designed to equip educators with the necessary tools. Explore this guide and begin channeling those funds toward improving literacy success for students.
    
3. ESSER Funding and Lexia
   Leveraging ESSER funds to support literacy learning is the focus of this piece. It lays out a clear path to utilize Lexia's digital-centric solutions, explaining how ESSER funds can be used to combat learning loss, enhance social-emotional learning, and provide evidence-based interventions. Lexia Core5 Reading and Lexia® PowerUp Literacy® are spotlighted, built on the solid foundation of reading science, and proven to positively impact student outcomes. With practical tips and sensible strategies, this guide offers educators a road map to effectively implement Lexia's tools and foster Structured Literacy learning for all students. It's a valuable resource that takes the guesswork out of using ESSER funds to enrich literacy education.
    
4. Investing in Programs Based on the Science of Reading
   Turn to this resource for using ARP ESSER funds wisely. It explains that 20% of district funds must be reserved for initiatives addressing students' social, emotional, and academic needs. Ever wondered how the science of reading can help students of all abilities? This guide dives into the nitty-gritty, with real-world examples spanning professional development, assessments, summer learning, and more. Mixed in are some best practices to guarantee programs align perfectly with a diverse student body. From explaining the necessity to set aside funds for evidence-based interventions to providing hands-on tips and examples, this guide emphasizes the significance of thoughtful investments in literacy. 
    
5. How District Leaders Can Maximize Funding
   District leaders need a road map to maximize ESSER funds for student literacy gains. This document focuses on facing the pandemic learning gaps head-on and setting up teachers and students for long-term success. It dives into evaluating COVID-related programs, putting evidence-based literacy initiatives front and center, and strategically using those remaining ESSER funds to their fullest. This guide emphasizes the practical importance of addressing pandemic-induced disruptions and offering hands-on solutions. And don't miss out on the science of reading—a key approach in boosting literacy outcomes for every student.
    
6. Changing How Students Are Taught to Read
   This Education Insight is packed with strategies, handy resources, and a touch of community support to help district leaders, school leaders, and teachers boost student literacy. It digs into the real-world challenges faced by educational leadership, getting down to the essentials of leadership priorities while shining a light on teachers as the frontline leading the charge in teaching students to read. The presence of evidence-based literacy programs like Lexia® tools will instill educators with confidence and a sense of victory in the quest for literacy. Before those ESSER funds dry up, invest in what works and discover fresh funding to keep backing teachers and students in the long haul.
    
7. Proven High-Dosage Tutoring Gets Students Back on Track
   Searching for a way to help students bounce back? This Education Insight lays out a proven high-dosage tutoring model that's more than a trendy solution. This Insight unravels the benefits of adaptive blended learning, detailing the must-haves for making high-dosage tutoring hit the mark and providing insight about supplementing classroom instruction for literacy. It also tackles how to invest in more equitable outcomes, master parent outreach, and ensure strong tutor matching to increase participation numbers. From practical strategies to valuable insight, it's not just words on a page; it's a tried-and-true road map to getting students back on track.

Navigating the complexities of educational funding might seem daunting, but educators don’t have to go it alone. These seven resources represent a compass pointing the way. They offer strategies, solutions, and proven methods for using ESSER funds to tackle literacy challenges and set students on a path to success. Dive in, explore, and start putting these funds to work today.