If it were up to us, educators would be able to afford everything they need for their teachers and students to be successful. Unfortunately, school and district resources are often limited, prompting administrators to have to make tough decisions about what to pay for first.
However, many educators have been able to bring Classcraft to their school or district with the help of U.S. federal funding provided by the CARES Act and ESSA.
Read on for a primer about the purpose of these funding streams, how they work, and how Classcraft fits into the mix.
Interested in using federal funds to pay for Classcraft? Schedule a meeting or contact your representative to discuss your options.
CARES Act and ESSER
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) set aside $13.5 billion for the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER).
- ESSER money goes directly to state educational agencies, which will distribute at least 90% of those funds to local education agencies to address the impact of COVID-19.
- Remote learning: ESSER is intended in part to fund solutions that facilitate remote learning, such as Classcraft.
- ESSER is flexible and meant to get money into districts’ hands as quickly as possible.
- The CARES Act allows districts to carry over as much Title I money as they want from the 2019-2020 school year to the 2020-2021 school year.
- The act also waives requirements for needs assessments, content-specific spending requirements, spending restriction on technology infrastructure, and a definition of “professional development.”
Additional funding streams under the CARES Act:
- The $3 billion Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund (GEER) requires districts to allocate funds to major COVID-19 impacts.
- $180 million in School Models Microgrants provides states with funding they need to ensure that families have access to the technology and educational services they require to advance learning.
ESSA
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is the federal law that governs elementary and secondary education in the U.S.
Educators using Classcraft can qualify for ESSA funding under Title I, Title II, Title IV.
ESSA funding Title I
Purpose: Ensure economically and socially disadvantaged students receive equal access to high-quality education
How Classcraft can help educators qualify:
- Addresses the engagement gap by increasing motivation among disadvantaged students
- Prevalence of gaming across social groups promotes inclusivity and equity
- Integrated rewards promote equity, as they can only be earned by demonstrating positive behavior
ESSA funding Title II
Purpose: Foster high-quality and effective teaching and leadership
How Classcraft can help educators qualify:
- Helps teachers apply best practices, improving academic performance, SEL development, PBIS, and technology integration
- Helps educators design relevant curriculum, implement proven teaching strategies, and create richer personalized learning experiences
ESSA funding Title IV
Purpose: Support the comprehensive needs of students, strengthen family engagement, and bring America’s schools into the 21st century
How Classcraft can help educators qualify:
- Non-cognitive skill development
- Helps educators implement PBIS and MTSS, which meet students’ comprehensive needs
- Parent engagement
- Provides culturally relevant learning experiences
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