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Meeting Date:
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Category:
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Old Business and Action Items |
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Type:
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Subject:
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ACPS 2025 Strategic Plan Goal:
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Goal 4: Strategic Resource Allocation ACPS will strategically provide differentiated resources and supports to schools and departments.
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Funding Source or Fiscal Impact (where applicable):
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File Attachment:
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Agenda Item Summary:
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The purpose of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER III) Fund is to help safely reopen and sustain the safe operation of schools and address the impacts of COVID-19 on the nation’s students by addressing students’ academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs. ACPS has been awarded $34.8 million in ESSER III funds. This plan and subsequent amendments and updates describe how the awarded funds will be used. |
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Background:
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ACPS has been fortunate to have received several federally funded
Programs, through Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Funds, that have been authorized to support public and non-public schools during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. The overarching purpose of these programs is to address the impact that COVID-19 has had, and continues to have, on elementary and secondary schools within ACPS. The CARES Act (ESSER I), signed into law in March 2020, provided approximately $3.7 million to ACPS. The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act (ESSER II), authorized in December 2020, provided approximately $15.5 million to ACPS. Additionally, the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act (ESSER III) authorized in March 2021, included approximately an additional $34.8 million in funding to ACPS.
ESSER III requires that, at least, twenty percent (20%) of divisions’ formula funds be reserved to address learning loss through the implementation of evidence-based interventions and ensure that those interventions respond to students’ social, emotional and academic needs and address the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on underrepresented student groups (each major racial and ethnic group, children from low-income families, children with disabilities, English learners, gender, migrant students, students experiencing homelessness, and children and youth in foster care). Another requirement for utilizing the ARP funding is that each school division must make publicly available updates on its plan.
Our ESSER III funds are and will be used to drive the goals outlined in ACPS 2025: Equity for All. We will ensure that students are engaged in classroom instruction, have access to the educational resources needed to enhance their learning, and participate while in safe, friendly, and welcoming environments. We are committing funds to division-wide priorities and programs that will eliminate opportunity and achievement gaps as well as ensure that all students graduate ready for college, military service, careers and life.
We developed our ESSER III plan to align with the following four Focus Areas: (1) Social, Emotional and Academic Learning, (2) Technology Infrastructure, (3) COVID-19 Prevention and Mitigation Projects, and our (4) Human Capital Needs. These teams organized needs from the community, prioritized requests across departments, and created plans for various initiatives. |
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Recommendation
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The Interim Superintendent recommends that the School Board review the ESSER Fund(s) update information within this brief. |
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Approvals:
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Recommended By: |
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Signed By: |
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Dominic Turner - Chief Financial Officer |
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Signed By: |
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Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt - Interim Superintendent |
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