SF Board of Education Details Plans to Utilize One Time Federal Stimulus Funding

San Francisco (October 28, 2021) - On October 26, the San Francisco Board of Education reviewed how it is utilizing one-time federal stimulus funds received under the American Rescue Plan Act. 

The San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) and the San Francisco County Office of Education have collectively received $96,728,035 in Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds under the American Rescue Plan Act, referred to as ESSER III funds. 

The majority of funds are being used to maintain core district and school operations, to stabilize student services and resources, and to retain school site and district staff. SFUSD and SFCOE’s plan to utilize ESSER III funds was informed by community feedback that the loss of services to school sites as a result of expenditure reductions would compound the trauma and challenge faced by students throughout and because of COVID-19.

SFUSD has also allocated funds toward strengthening structures for student and family supports; increased services for Special Education; targeted supports for focal student groups; increased and improved transportation services; maintaining low staff to student ratios of counselors, school psychologists, and school nurses; and ongoing professional development for educators.

To help address lost learning opportunities during the pandemic, SFUSD expanded summer programming for PreK-8 students as well as augmented credit recovery programs for students in grades 9 to 12 last summer and is allocating a portion of ESSER III funds toward literacy-related supports.  

Read the SFUSD/SFCOE ESSER III Expenditure Plan 2021-22.

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