Review Agenda Item
Meeting Date: 12/14/2023 - 6:30 PM
Category: Old Business and Action Items
Type: Info
Subject: Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Funds Update
ACPS 2025 Strategic Plan Goal:
Goal 4: Strategic Resource Allocation
ACPS will strategically provide differentiated resources and supports to schools and departments.
Policy: DA - Management of Funds
Funding Source or Fiscal Impact (where applicable)
File Attachment:
231214_Memo_ESSER III Update_v2.pdf
231214_Presentation_ESSER III Funds Update_v2.pdf
Agenda Item Summary: 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. ESSER III requires that at minimum, twenty percent (20%) of divisions’ formula funds be reserved to address learning loss through the implementation of evidence-based interventions and to ensure that those interventions respond to students’ social, emotional and academic needs. This support addresses 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.
Background: 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.
Recommendation: The Superintendent recommends that the School Board review the updated information on ESSER Fund(s) in the attached documents.
Approvals:
Recommended By:
Signed By:
Dominic Turner - Chief Financial Officer
Signed By:
Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt - Superintendent