Lewis-Palmer School District 38 analyzed the most recent state assessment scores for students in grades 3-11 including the Colorado Measures of Academic Achievement (CMAS) scores for English language arts (ELA) and math for grades 3-8, and the PSAT/ SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and Mathematics scores for students in grades 9-11. In addition, the district analyzed the interim assessment results of the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) for grades K-8 and Acadience early literacy assessment results for students in grades K-3.  Based on the data results, Lewis-Palmer School District has determined that the majority of students experienced lost learning opportunities and an increased need for social emotional learning experiences as a result of the pandemic. When looking at academic and social emotional data, results were disaggregated by grade-level, content and the student populations identified in this question. While students had greater learning loss in math overall when compared with reading, achievement levels were notably lower than in pre-pandemic scenarios and students and parents through surveys and individual feedback have communicated a need for a greater focus on social emotional learning due to the constraints imposed on students and their learning environment over the course of the past two years.  In selecting our evidence-based interventions, we focused on addressing the increased need for social emotional learning resources, individualized student intervention and health and safety supports for students including increased staffing to meet student needs.

Lewis-Palmer School District will conduct an on-going review of the effectiveness of these interventions by analyzing student, staff and parent perception data and by analyzing the impact on student achievement and growth through NWEA MAP, Acadience, CMAS and PSAT/SAT assessment results.

Under this multi-year grant, the District has until September 30, 2024 to spend ESSER III funds. As priorities change in responding to the pandemic and its effect on staff and students, the Use of Funds Plan may be revised. 

As of December 2021, ESSER III funds will be used to address the four main focus areas as follows: 

• Academic Learning Loss
• Social Emotional Supports
• Health and Safety Needs
• Other Allowable Expenses

Please explore these areas in the following accordion rows.

• To support evidenced-based instructional strategies to maximize student achievement and growth and address learning loss, the district will hire a Leadership and Learning Coach to provide direct support to leaders including a focus on developing teacher leaders to improve instructional practices.
• The district will purchase additional technology (devices and software) to support instructional needs outside of standard in-person learning. 
• To address learning loss of at-risk populations of students, the district will hire a .5 Multi-Tiered Systems of Support Coordinator to monitor student interventions ensuring all interventions as evidenced-based and to provide training to teachers on effective interventions. 
• The district will purchase online courses and curriculum to ensure students have access to high-quality instructional materials aligned with academic standards and that are designed to meet student learning at all levels (e.g., Edgenuity, Colorado Digital Learning Solutions). 
• The district will also contract instructional services to meet the needs of students with speech-language disabilities and those with visual/orientation/ mobility impairments. 
• The district will pay stipends to teachers to support students K-12 with tutoring and summer instruction to address learning loss.

• Lewis-Palmer School District will purchase tools to annually survey students to understand the school culture, prioritize needs and identify root causes to make adjustments and additions to social emotional learning curriculum K-12 (e.g., Panorama, Emergenetics)
• Lewis-Palmer School District will train all teachers in strategies to connect with and develop relationships with students to support their social emotional needs (e.g., Responsive Classroom, Capturing Kids Hearts, Emergenetics).

• Lewis-Palmer School District will increase staffing to support the health and safety of students during the pandemic by increasing the ratio of nurses to students. 
• The district will designate a certified nurse as a half-time Covid Coordinator to ensure safety precautions and reporting in accordance with the county health department are met. 
• The district will upgrade ventilation systems to improve air quality.

• The district will support Grant Accountant Salary and Benefits to ensure compliance with ESSER III requirements.
• The district will purchase necessary communication tools to ensure ongoing stakeholder interaction regarding the pandemic and grant related expenditures.