​Leveraging ESSER Funds to Take a Whole Child, Whole Day Approach

As schools and complex areas plan to use their ESSER funds to address students’ academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs, we are encouraging schools to leverage their community partners to utilize evidence-based strategies like afterschool and full-service community schools. 

---

How Afterschool and Full-Service Community Schools Meet the Needs of Students

​​​The American Rescue Plan provides the Hawai‘i Department of Education (HIDOE) more than $412M to remedy student learning loss and provide additional support to help young people thrive, both in and out of the classroom. 

As schools and complex areas plan how to use their ESSER funds to address students’ academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs, schools have an opportunity to leverage their community partners to utilize evidence-based strategies like comprehensive afterschool programs and full-service community schools.
​
Comprehensive afterschool programs reinforce what students learn in school and provide extra support to students who are struggling or have special needs. Programs provide more time for deeper learning, creative spaces for hands-on projects, and opportunities for students of all ages to explore careers.

Community Schools is an evidence-based strategy where the school becomes the hub of the community and coordinates relationships and resources through a public school to accelerate equitable outcomes in health, education, and employment.

The Hawai‘i Afterschool Alliance is ready to help provide guidance, additional resources, and support as you look to use these whole child, whole day strategies to meet the attendance, academic, and social-emotional needs of your students. If you have any questions, please reach out to us at hawaiiafterschool@gmail.com. ​

American Rescue Plan ESSER Funds in Hawaiʻi 

Learn more about the ESSER Funds in Hawaiʻi

In March 2021, the Hawaiʻi Department of Education was awarded $412.3 million in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER III) Fund. The ESSER III funds in Hawaiʻi were authorized to provide funding to support Hawaiʻiʻs schools in safely reopening and to mitigate learning loss resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

More specifically, the HIDOE must reserve at least a minimum of 23% of the allocation ($94.8 million) to address learning loss through evidence-based interventions for students disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. 
​
In addition: 

• No less than a minimum of 1% ($4.1 million) of the total amount of awarded grant funds is required to fund summer enrichment programs. 
• A minimum of 1% ($4.1 million) of the total amount of awarded grant funds is required to fund comprehensive after-school programs.

Timeline of ARP ESSER III Funds

click image to enlarge

Learn more about the American Rescue Plan and afterschool programs across the nation

---

Community Partners are Ready to Help

​The Hawai‘i Afterschool Alliance understands that teachers, principals, and school staff have been working tirelessly over the last year and a half and have limited capacity to serve students during the out of school time hours. That is why HAA is encouraging schools to partner with afterschool and summer program providers who are ready to work with schools to ensure students’ academic, social, and emotional needs are met. Check out our catalog of community-based providers designed to help connect schools to organizations in their community.

Please note: this list is neither comprehensive nor fully vetted by HAA, as it is being compiled via a voluntary survey.

Fill out this form to add your organization!

​The purpose of this Vendor List is to support implementation of out-of-school-time (OST) programs
statewide and provide opportunities for students to participate in safe, nurturing, and supportive
environments when school is not in session. ​Services will be accessible to all Hawaii State Department of Education schools, complexes, complex areas, and state offices.
​
Schools and offices may utilize this Vendor List to obtain services from a specific contractor whose
program best fits their needs.