Key points:
As the Sept. 30 deadline to obligate Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds approaches, school districts across the country face the challenge of optimizing these resources to address pressing educational needs. .
As families seek and consider alternative forms of education and new schools for their children, it is important to leverage remaining funds to effectively support digital learning initiatives that meet the needs of students, families, and educators.
Here are three ways school administrators can use the remaining ESSER III funds to add or enhance a digital learning program in their school or district.
1 Training and professional development of educators
By equipping teachers with the knowledge and skills to implement best practices in online learning, schools can cultivate an engaging and supportive environment that improves student learning outcomes. In fact, according to Institute of Educational SciencesTeachers who receive substantial professional development can increase their students' achievement by 21 percentile points.
I recommend using the remaining ESSER funds to provide your teachers and staff with high-quality training and professional development to ensure they feel confident teaching in the virtual environment. I recommend starting with an onboarding week that includes an overview of your organization's culture, how to build relationships and interact with students and parents online, and how to utilize the technology systems used to teach, monitor data, and communicate with families.
Next, be intentional about training teachers and set clear expectations about what they should accomplish in the first 30, 60, and 90 days. The goal is to gradually bring teachers into the work environment, so they have time to ask questions and receive the feedback they need to thrive.
2 Hiring Teachers or School Counselors Online
During conversations with school and district leaders across the country, I heard and saw the obstacles they face, including challenges in recruiting teachers for specialized subjects like foreign languages or electives, as well as managing unplanned teacher absences during school. academic year.
To quickly address these staffing challenges, I propose that school and district leaders leverage the remaining ESSER III funds by forming partnerships with accredited online learning providers. These institutions offer credentialed teachers and personalized support services, which can augment the efforts of your existing teaching staff, who are already making significant contributions to student learning and development.
3 Incorporate digital courses in schools or districts
By directly offering a variety of educational options such as digital learning, school and district leaders can meet families' desire for flexibility while ensuring continued financial support, because families will remain within their designated school zones rather than explore alternative educational options such as homeschooling or private schools. .
An effective strategy to achieve this is to use the remaining ESSER III funds to integrate comprehensive and engaging digital courses into the curriculum.
One story that highlights the positive impact digital curriculum has on student learning outcomes is that of Union Public Schools in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which has upgraded its online school, Union Virtual Learning Academy (UVLA).
Recognizing the need to adapt to the digital landscape, UVLA school leadership opted for a blended learning approach, combining online courses with traditional classroom instruction. By the 2021-22 academic year, half of the district's high school seniors had participated in blended learning classes, with an impressive 93 percent pass rate.
Incorporating digital courses and virtual elements allowed UVLA to evolve alongside students' digital experiences, fostering stronger connections between faculty and students. This evolution not only provided students with valuable learning opportunities, but also prepared them for future academic and professional endeavors.
With the September 30 deadline quickly approaching, school and district leaders should begin planning how to obligate the remaining ESSER III funds as soon as possible. With a wide range of possibilities to spend the remaining funds to take digital learning to the next level, the fundamental message is clear. By allocating funds to digital learning and educational technology solutions, school administrators can prioritize their primary goal: the success of their students.
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