Reporting and Operations

The ESSER Quarterly Reporting on CommonApp will close at the end of the day, Friday, Oct. 18.  

This is a cumulative report, so use last quarter’s spreadsheet to add expenditures. This report should include all ESSER expenditures (reimbursed and planned) and will be the last of the state quarterly reporting for ESSER. Note: The federal annual performance reporting will continue into 2026.  

The Dropout Graduation Summary Report (DGSR) is open for all districts. Districts should validate data across all K-12 levels to ensure accurate reporting for the DGSR. The report will close on Oct. 31. This is a hard deadline. 

U.S. Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona is urging local educational agencies (LEAs) across the country to order free, over-the-counter rapid antigen COVID-19 self-tests for their students, families, staff, and school communities. 

“We encourage LEAs to make use of this free COVID-19 test offering, which schools may use, for example, to stock school nurses’ offices and main offices with tests; to send test kits home with students or parents; or to distribute within their communities to put these valuable safeguards in the hands of students, parents, and staff who need them,” Cardona said in a recent letter.  

Clay County USD 379 will be hosting a one-day Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) proxy testing event on Nov. 7, at Clay County Community High School, 1630 9th Street, in Clay Center. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. 

National School Bus Safety Week is Oct. 21-25 and Kansas School Transportation Appreciation Day is Wednesday, Oct. 23. 

This important public education program is an excellent way for parents, students, teachers, motorists, school bus operations, school administrators, and other interested parties to join forces and address the importance of school bus safety. 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the latest round of funding for the Clean School Bus Rebate Program is available to school districts. 

Applications for this year’s Clean School Bus Rebate Program are due on the EPA online portal by 3 p.m. CST, on Jan. 9, 2025.

The Kansas Volunteer Commission announced the MLK National Day of Service mini grant which provides grant funding to recruit and engage volunteers in meaningful service activities or deliver a service-learning activity related to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  

U.S. Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona is urging local educational agencies (LEA) across the country to order free, over-the-counter rapid antigen COVID-19 self-tests for their students, families, staff, and school communities. 

“We encourage LEAs to make use of this free COVID-19 test offering, which schools may use, for example, to stock school nurses’ offices and main offices with tests; to send test kits home with students or parents; or to distribute within their communities to put these valuable safeguards in the hands of students, parents, and staff who need them,” Cardona said in a recent letter.  

The Dropout Graduation Summary Report (DGSR) is open for all districts. Districts should validate data across all K-12 levels to ensure accurate reporting for the DGSR. The report will close on Oct. 31. This is a hard deadline. 

The ESSER Quarterly Reporting opened on CommonApp on Oct. 1, and will close at the end of the day, Friday, Oct. 18.  

This is a cumulative report, so use last quarter’s spreadsheet to add expenditures. This report should include all ESSER expenditures (reimbursed and planned) and will be the last of the state quarterly reporting for ESSER. The federal annual performance reporting will continue into 2026.  

The Kansas Volunteer Commission has announced the MLK National Day of Service mini-grant, which provides grant funding to recruit and engage volunteers in meaningful service activities or deliver a service-learning activity related to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  

Applications are due Nov. 4. All school districts, as well as community-based and youth-serving organizations, are encouraged to apply. The grant period is from Jan. 1 – Jan. 31, 2025, and applicants may request up to $5,000. 

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) Preparedness program now offers free One Health lesson plans for Kansas K-12 educators. One Health is an initiative that seeks to help educate students about the connections between the health of humans, animals and their shared environment. 

Wabaunsee USD 329 is hosting an Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) and Commercial Driver License (CDL) permit training exam event, Oct. 23-24, in Alma. 

Click here to register: CDL permit training. The training will be 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. each day at the Alma Community Center, 1050 Ohio Street. The ELDT Theory will be Oct. 23; the CDL written test will be Oct. 24. There will be an open lunch both days. 

Start making plans now to celebrate National School Bus Safety Week, Oct. 21-25. 

This important public education program is an excellent way for parents, students, teachers, motorists, school bus operations, school administrators, and other interested parties to join forces and address the importance of school bus safety. 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the latest round of funding for the Clean School Bus Rebate Program is available to school districts. 

Applications for this year’s Clean School Bus Rebate Program are due on the EPA online portal by 4 p.m. EST on Jan. 9, 2025. Applicants can request up to $325,000 per bus for up to 50 buses per application, an increase in the total buses per project in response to stakeholder feedback for larger projects to help achieve faster fleet turnover. Funds can be used to cover bus and infrastructure costs for awardees requesting electric school buses, as well as eligible training costs for bus drivers, electricians, and others working with the new buses or infrastructure.  

Wabaunsee USD 329 is hosting an Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) and Commercial Driver License (CDL) permit training exam event, Oct. 23-24, in Alma. 

Click here to register: CDL permit training. The training will be 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. each day at the Alma Community Center, 1050 Ohio Street. The ELDT Theory will be Oct. 23; the CDL written test will be Oct. 24. There will be an open lunch both days. 

Start making plans now to celebrate National School Bus Safety Week, Oct. 21-25. 

This important public education program is an excellent way for parents, students, teachers, motorists, school bus operations, school administrators, and other interested parties to join forces and address the importance of school bus safety.