Act 217 of 2022 appropriated $5,300,000 for the ESA Matching Grant
Program. Districts will receive matching grant funds for Enhanced Student
Achievement (ESA) expenditures for evidence-based programs to improve the
academic achievement of identified national school lunch students. The
program is limited to tutors, before or after-school academic programs, and
pre-kindergarten programs. Expenditures incurred from July 1, 2021, to
June 30, 2022, with the following codes will be eligible for matching grant funds:
004* ESA, Before and After Academic Program
005* ESA, Pre-K
006* ESA, Tutors
204* ESA/SP ED, Before and After Academic Program
205* ESA/SP ED, Pre-K
206* ESA/SP ED, Tutors
These programs shall be limited to:
- Tutors
as set out in Ark. Code Ann. § 6-20-2305(b)(4)(C)(i)(a)(2);
- Before-school
academic programs and after-school academic programs, under Ark. Code Ann.
§ 6-20-2305(b)(4)(C)(i)(a)(5); and
- Prekindergarten
programs under Ark. Code Ann. § 6-20-2305(b)(4)(C)(i)(a)(5).
The calculation is based on ESA expenditures incurred during the
fiscal year 2022 in the allowable categories. Because the total of
statewide expenditures exceeds the amount of funding allowed by the Act,
funding is calculated on a pro-rata matching basis. This was determined by
dividing the district's expenditures by the statewide total of allowable
expenditures and applying that percentage to the amount of funding appropriated
for the ESA Matching Grant.
ESA matching funds should be receipted using the following Fund
and Revenue code:
2282 32382 ESA Match Grant
Matching funds may be used only for the expenditures allowed under
this program and are meant to supplement, not replace the district's ESA
spending.
For questions regarding ESA Matching Grants, contact Saliha Qazi
at 501-682-4228.