Special Monitoring Division
Through monitoring activities including onsite and desk reviews, the Special Monitoring Division auditors will ensure that Disaster Relief and Federal Grant funds are utilized to maximize project goals and objectives, to identify and prevent wasteful spending, and minimize waste, fraud, and abuse.
Monitored Grants
Special Monitoring Division is currently monitoring five different grants:
- ESSER I - The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) I grant program is authorized in Title VIII, Division B, of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which was signed into law in March 2020.
- CRRSA ESSER II - The ESSER II grant program was authorized in the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA), signed into law in December 2020.
- ARP ESSER III Grant Program - The ARP ESSER III grant program is authorized in the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP), signed into law in March 2021.
- Immediate Aid to Restart School Operations (Restart)
- TCLAS - Texas COVID Learning Acceleration Supports (TCLAS) is a set of funding and targeted supports available to Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to accelerate student learning in the wake of COVID-19, utilizing state and federal funds.
Monitoring Plan
*Please refer to the link in the grant name for a full list of monitored grantees.
| Grant Name | Grant Period | Number of Recipients | Total Amount Awarded |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020–2021 CARES ESSER I* | 03/13/2020 – 09/30/2022 | 1133 | $1,157,281,017 |
| 2020–2022 CRRSA ESSER II* | 03/13/2020 – 09/30/2023 | 1146 | $4,977,998,413 |
| 2020–2023 ARP ESSER III* | 03/13/2020 – 09/30/2024 | 1147 | $11,164,226,325 |
| 2020–2022 Restart - Hurricane Harvey, Cycle 2* | 08/25/2017 – 05/17/2021 | 39 | $34,441,892 |
| 2021–2023 Restart - Hurricane Harvey, Cycle 3 | 08/25/2017 – 6/15/2023 | 10 | $6,920,281 |
| 2021–2024 Texas COVID Learning Acceleration Supports (TCLAS) | 03/01/2021 – 08/31/2024 | 547 | $354,236,048 |
| 2021-2024 ARP Homeless II | 09/1/2021 - 09/30/2024 | 178 | $19,773,706 |
2020-2023 ARP ESSER III Learning Loss Compliance
The Special Monitoring Division is conducting a Random Validation (RV) of the 20 percent reserve to address learning loss. Each LEA that has been selected is required to participate in this validation process and will submit appropriate documentation for the activities and student groups to address the reserve requirement. The documentation must address how the interventions will respond to the academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs of all students, and particularly those students disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including students from low-income families, students of color, English learners, children with disabilities, students experiencing homelessness, children and youth in foster care, and migratory students.
LEAs selected to be monitored:
- ESSER III Learning Loss Compliance - Phase 1 (LEAs were notified of the validation results by close of business, August 24, 2023)
- ESSER III Learning Loss Compliance - Phase 2 (LEAs were notified of the validation results by close of business, January 3, 2024)
Additional Resources:
- ARP ESSER III Addressing Learning Loss: PDF Presentation
- ARP ESSER III Addressing Learning Loss: Video Presentation