EL MONTE – El Monte Union High School District students will benefit from one-time funds totaling $300,000, which will be used to support student achievement and District goals outlined in the 2021 Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP).

The one-time funds, made available by the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund and the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund, will provide additional support for all EMUHSD students, especially English Learners, foster youth and low-income students.

The Board of Trustees reviewed data regarding student participation, Advanced Placement passing rates, A-G completion rates and grades, and parent and family engagement, identifying areas where the funds would best support the District’s goals.

“The 2021 LCAP outlines the District’s goals that extend over the next three years, which include providing that much-needed support for our students who were heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Edith Echeverria, EMUHSD Director of Assessment, Accountability and Family Engagement. “I am proud to say that El Monte Union continued to show an increase of academic accomplishments, even during distance learning, with the percent of students who passed AP exams increasing from 50.6 percent in 2019 to 58 percent in 2020.”

The EMUHSD LCAP focuses on increasing mental health support services and bolstering the social-emotional well-being of students, which includes access to counselors and a continuation of awareness campaigns and sessions such as online initiatives that provide students with access to online workshops and activities that aid in reducing stress.

The LCAP also outlines efforts to enhance student engagement on campus, as well as plans to increase access to credit recovery courses online to assist students in making up coursework.

“Our District is committed to getting all of our students back into the classroom in a way that is meaningful and safe, while ensuring that all of our scholars have the support and resources they need to be successful,” Superintendent Dr. Edward Zuniga said. “These one-time funds will assist us in that effort, providing our students with programs and services that focus on academics, physical health, mental wellness and more.”