The California Department of Education (CDE) partnered with the Strategic Resource Planning and Implementation team at WestEd to offer targeted resources and learning opportunities for education leaders on how to strategically, equitably, and sustainably invest one-time state and federal pandemic recovery funds as the deadlines inch closer.

As leaders seek to invest one-time funds in a sustainable and equitable way, they are confronted with competing priorities, staffing shortages, and other challenges. Narrated by WestEd leaders, these short videos highlight best practices and are accompanied by practical tools to support education leaders in their use of state and federal one-time funds.

Measuring the Impact of your LEA’s Investments

How can your LEA determine which investments to sustain with limited data on outcomes? For LEAs that are being asked to decide which programs to fund with limited to no data on outcomes, WestEd Senior Manager Kelsey Krausen highlights some tools and strategies for LEAs to determine which investments to sustain.

Resources: Measurement Grid template | Video slide deck

Developing a Strategy to Fund Key Programs as One-Time Funds Expire

How can your LEA develop a strategy to fund key programs as one-time funds expire? WestEd Specialist Josh Stern shares how LEAs can use the fiscal staircase template to coordinate various funding sources, given different timelines and allowable uses.

Resources: Fiscal Staircase template | Fiscal Staircase white paper | Video slide deck

Internal Communication about the Use of One-Time Funds

How can your LEA communicate internally about the use of one-time funds? Retired CBO and WestEd Consultant Jayne Christakos explains ways in which LEA leaders can collaborate with fiscal and program leaders to determine which programs to fund.

Resource: Video slide deck

External Communication about the Use of One-Time Funds

How can your LEA communicate with external partners about the use of one-time funds? Retired CBO and WestEd Consultant Jayne Christakos leads a micro-lesson on how LEAs can be intentional in their communication with external partners and their requests for input on the use of one-time funds.

Resources: Five External Communication Tips | External Communication templates | Video slide deck

Addressing Staffing Shortages in the Use of One-Time Funds

How can your LEA spend one-time funds when staff are hard to recruit and retain? Retired CBO and WestEd Consultant Bill McGuire shares insights on how to navigate staffing shortages when planning for the use of one-time state and federal resources.

Resources: Resource Library | Padlet | Video slide deck

Office Hours with CDE’s Government Affairs Division

WestEd organized office hours with the California Department of Education’s Government Affairs Division (GAD) team to support LEAs in navigating reporting and compliance standards in their use of ESSER funds. The slide deck from the office hours is available for LEAs to reference.

Resource: California Department of Education Federal Stimulus Team Office Hours