Listening to teachers to support students impacted by COVID-19 

Today’s incoming high school seniors were in the seventh grade when COVID-19 shut down schools across the country. Their education continues to be affected by the damage caused by the pandemic and its aftermath—most notably, learning loss from school closures and ongoing chronic absenteeism. One in four students is chronically absent, and many continue to lag in math and reading scores. These effects are even stronger in schools where a majority of students face significant equity barriers because of their racial identities or zip codes. 

What is ESSER funding? 

To help mitigate the pandemic’s impact on students, Congress allocated almost $200 billion in Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds. But the clock is ticking. The last round of funding must be committed by September 30. It’s use it or lose it—and our students can’t afford to lose it. 
 
To ensure the remaining ESSER funds are invested effectively in fighting learning loss and absenteeism, philanthropy, nonprofits, and district and state leaders need to listen to those on the front lines: teachers. To get students back on track, we need to get resources immediately into classrooms, stop shifting the financial burdens of education onto teachers, and enable teachers to engage with students in innovative ways. 

Teachers know how to support students but need help 

Teachers have a unique on-the-ground understanding of what their students need to thrive, from classroom basics like pencils and paper to books, science equipment, and laptops for digital coursework. But even though these small investments can have a major impact on students’ success in and out of the classroom, teachers are often left to shoulder the cost. Low pay and high out-of-pocket costs force many teachers to take on second jobs, which leads to burnout and drives many to leave the profession. 
 
ESSER funds can be used to pay for classroom supplies, fight learning loss and absenteeism, and support student well-being—and help stem the exodus of teachers. Data shows that when teachers can select resources individualized to their students, they can teach more effectively and feel empowered in their expertise, making them more likely to stay in the profession. Nonprofits and philanthropy can provide direct targeted support for these efforts. 
 
For example, Panda Restaurant Group’s philanthropic arm supported schools serving low-income neighborhoods, donating more than $4 million to help students and classrooms in communities where they operate. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has helped fund more than $55 million over 10 years through a donation match for teachers’ crowdfunding projects on DonorsChoose.  

Partnering with state governments and teachers helps support students 

The combination of flexibility and relationship with the community that nonprofits bring to the table puts them in an ideal position to partner with government agencies to address student needs. Since 2020, DonorsChoose has partnered with 10 states to allocate a total of $100 million in ESSER funding to classrooms. These state education agencies subgranted a set amount of funds to DonorsChoose. From there, teachers requested the learning materials they needed, and we vetted and sent supplies directly to classrooms. So far, these partnerships have garnered resources for schools collectively serving two million students. 
 
For example, a middle school teacher in Nevada requested and received funding for a laptop and a coding robot to enable their students to learn more efficiently about running a coding platform as part of their technology and engineering curriculum. In Connecticut, an elementary school teacher was able to pay for a kit of books, learning games, and flash cards that help students identify human emotions. These are the kinds of effective, innovative approaches we can advance when we listen to teachers and route dollars directly to the classrooms where they’re needed. 

Following our successful partnership with the Nevada Department of Education, the state legislature created a budget appropriation to fund teachers’ future DonorsChoose projects directly from the state budget. Other states and nonprofits working to counter the long-term effects of COVID-19’s disruption can do the same.  

In partnering and co-investing with governments to ensure students get the full benefit of the ESSER dollars, funders and nonprofits can maximize their impact by listening to teachers. And by continuing to center teacher expertise and empower teacher innovation after ESSER funds expire, we can ensure students have what they need to succeed in the classroom and beyond. 

Photo credit: Courtesy of DonorsChoose