A BLANK CHECK
FCPS implements emergency funding bill to support return to school NYLA MARCOTT NEWS EDITOR
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ollowing months of planning and debate, FCPS accepted a one-time grant of $188.6 million to aid in the safe and effective return to in-person school. The funds were provided through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER). The majority of funds will be allocated to addressing unfinished learning and providing for students’ academic and emotional health needs. ESSER is part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES) passed on March 27, 2020. One year later, the American Rescue Plan (ARP) provided an additional $120 billion in funds for ESSER III. “What I really liked about [ESSER III] is that the schools have their discretion on how they can utilize it,” said Systems of
Support Advisor Emily Geary, who leads the academic implementation of ESSER III funds at McLean. “It’s rare that we get money, and they’re like, ‘Do what you want to support your kids.’” McLean has created a team devoted to using the additional funds within the school, consisting of three head liaisons: academic learning, social emotional health and clubs and activities. ESSER III funds will be divided between these groups with each working on improvements or the implementation of new programs. “All of this money that we’re getting has the potential to be impactful for students,” school finance technician Jennifer Hill said. “We want to be able to [help] the students do as well as they would have in a non-pandemic year.” Some teachers and parents have expressed concerns that the ESSER III funds were
HELPFUL SESSIONS — Students receive help after school from special
education teacher Tim Marden through the new Helping Highlanders program, which meets every Wednesday and Thursday in the library. McLean is using ESSER III funds to offer additional pay for teachers to provide students with homework help and tutoring. 4 |NEWS| OCTOBER 2021
provided for political goals and will not be as beneficial for resolving school problems. “Throwing money at problems [is] oftentimes seen as an easy fix,” said counselor Greg Olcott, the social emotional health liaison for McLean. “On paper it looks fantastic, but the real nitty-gritty hard work isn’t always addressed by those big wads of money.” Although McLean has not yet received the ESSER III funds, the school has already begun to use some of the money it is scheduled to receive in the future. “[Additional services will be funded] through the school’s appropriated funds,” Hill said. “We are hoping that what we have spent already will be covered by ESSER III—that’s the assumption.” When McLean receives its allotted money through ESSER III, the school will be refunded for its expenditures. In the meantime, very detailed records will be kept regarding use of the funding. “Federal grants are very structured, and you have to follow them by the letter,” Hill said. “It’s going to take a lot of logs, a lot of record keeping and a great amount of detail.” Funds allotted for academics will primarily focus on providing students with support for their classes. Helping Highlanders, a tutoring group that meets after school on Wednesdays and Thursdays in the library, was created to provide students with assistance completing assignments. “[At the Helping Highlanders sessions,] we have teacher tutors who are there,” Geary said. “We’re going to have some peer tutors [to create] a space after school where kids can come work and get support.” Teachers are also offering flexible scheduling for virtual tutoring sessions. The assistance is offered at a range of times throughout the week including weekends to provide students with a more college-like experience. “Teachers can hold virtual review sessions, say, on a Saturday or at night, or something that might be more convenient for the students,” Geary said. The ESSER III funds are intended to
