Chesco Intermediate Unit, High-Needs Education Gets Federal Boost

CHESTER COUNTY, PA — Intermediate Units in Chester, Montgomery, and Delaware counties will receive a portion of $17 million dedicated to helping improve services to underserved students.

Chester County Intermediate Unit 24 will get $96,353 to serve its students. Montgomery County Intermediate Unit 23 is receiving $66,770 while Delaware County Intermediate Unit 25 was granted $66,770.

In all, 220 local education agencies, including school districts, received some part of the $17 million, to improve educational services for approximately 180,000 students at schools designated for Additional Targeted Support and Improvement, under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act authorizes governors to determine the educational use of Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Funds.

"While all schools have been impacted this year by the COVID-19 pandemic, the schools that have been identified under ESSA as needing extra support are facing additional challenges," said Gov. Tom Wolf. "This funding will help these high-need schools as they put systems in place to help students while we work to control the spread of this virus."

ESSA requires states to develop plans to designate schools for support and improvement based on the performance of individual student groups in key areas, including academic achievement and growth; graduation rate and English learner progress; and student success factors such as regular attendance and chronic absenteeism. Student groups include race, economically disadvantaged, English language learners and students with disabilities.

"Recognizing that COVID-19 response efforts, including building closures, are likely to exacerbate outcome gaps for historically underserved students, schools and intermediate units are encouraged to use these additional funds to accelerate efforts to engage local stakeholders and implement appropriate, evidence-based improvement strategies," said Secretary of Education Pedro A. Rivera.

Grants were calculated based on elements of the federal Title I, Part A formula, including the number of economically disadvantaged students and other school enrollment data.

Grant recipients will receive direct communication from PDE with eGrant application instructions.
To date, the Wolf Administration has awarded $87.5 million in GEER funding to help keep students and educators safe and meet the unique challenges of COVID-19. In addition to the $17 million for ATSI schools, the Wolf Administration has directed $15 million for special education, $28 million to postsecondary institutions and adult basic education providers, $14 million to K-12 schools to support equity in continuity of education, $10.5 million to Career and Technical Education Centers and $3 million for Preschool Early Intervention Programs.

Additionally, several schools in Coatesville Area School District in Chester County also received ESSA funds. North Brandywine Middle School, $68,542; Rainbow Elementary School, $60,320; Reeceville Elementary School, $38,494; Coatesville Area Senior High School, $56,148; North Brandywine Middle School, $68,542.

In Montgomery County, Pottsgrove Senior High School received $58,465.