Expanded Learning Opportunities Grant Funding Information

The California Legislature provided $6.6 billion in the Assembly Bill 86 COVID-19 relief package, including $2 billion for In-Person Instruction (IPI) Grants and $4.6 billion for Expanded Learning Opportunities (ELO) Grants. Governor Newsom signed AB 86 in March.  As a result, the Pasadena Unified School District will receive an ELO Grant in the amount of approximately $11,764,424.  

PUSD leadership will seek parent and community input on the ELO funding at a virtual Town Hall meeting hosted by the district’s LCAP Parent Advisory Council and Collaborate Pasadena on Tuesday, May 11 at 6 pm.  The school board is scheduled to approve the plan at their meeting on May 27. 

We thought it would be helpful to give you information about how these monies can and cannot be used as you prepare for the Town Hall meeting.  If you are planning to provide input, please keep in mind that this is one-time funding and is intended to mitigate learning loss related to COVID-19. 

According to the California Dept. of Education website, to be eligible for funding, PUSD, like all other Local Education Agencies (LEAs), “must implement a learning recovery program, that at a minimum, provides supplemental instruction, support for social and emotional well-being, and, to the maximum extent permissible under the guidelines of the United States Department of Agriculture, meals and snacks to specified student groups, as defined in Education Code Section 43522, who have faced adverse learning and social-emotional circumstances.” 

At least 85% of the funding must be used to provide in-person services for:

  • Extending instructional learning time

  • Accelerating progress to close learning gaps through the implementation, expansion, or enhancement of learning supports

  • Integrated student supports to address other barriers to learning

  • Community learning hubs that provide students with access to technology, high-speed internet, and other academic supports

  • Supports for credit deficient students to complete graduation or grade promotion requirements and to increase or improve students’ college eligibility

  • Additional academic services for students

  • Training for school staff on strategies to engage students and families in addressing students’ social-emotional health and academic needs

 At least 10% is to hire paraprofessionals to provide supplemental instruction that supports English learners and students with disabilities.

 Funds cannot be used for planned salaries unrelated to COVID-19.  And, since they are one-time funds, they cannot be used for salary increases or other expenses that would need to be sustained over time.

 For more information about COVD-19 Relief and School Re-opening Grants, visit                  https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/he/hn/covidreliefgrants.asp

nancy dufford