Congress set aside approximately $13.2 billion of the $30.75 billion allotted to the Education Stabilization Fund through the Coronavirus Aid Relief, and Economic Security Act for the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund. Signed into law on March 20, 2021, the U.S. Department of Education awarded these grants ­to state educational agencies for the purpose of providing local educational agencies, including charter schools that are LEAs, with emergency relief funds to address the impact that COVID-19 has had, and continues to have, on elementary and secondary schools across the nation.

American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds are provided to state educational agencies and school districts to help safely reopen and sustain the safe operation of schools and address the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the nation's students.

The focus is to help schools return safely to in-person instruction, maximize in-person instruction time, sustain the safe operations of schools, and address the academic, social, emotional, and mental health impact of COVID-19.

The Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education has established three areas of planning for use of funds:

1. Creating Safe and Healthy Learning Environments

2. Addressing Lost Instructional Time or Loss of Learning

3. Supporting Educator and Staff Stability and Well-Being

Frequently Asked Questions about the ESSER Fund: FAQ document from the U.S. Office of Elementary and Secondary Education that aims to answer questions that are not easily understood from a plain reading of Section 18003 and other parts of the CARES Act or the ESSER Fund Certification and Agreement. It was developed in direct response to questions that the U.S. Department of Education has received from SEA and LEA grant administrators implementing the ESSER Fund program. If you have questions that are not answered in this document, please email ESSERF@ed.gov.

Questions or comments regarding the use of ESSER funds as it relates to the PCSSD Ready for Learning (Continuity of Services) Plan, can be submitted through this form. Questions will be answered within a reasonable amount of time through the Communications Department.

American Rescue Plan Act Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ARP ESSER)
LEA Plan for Use of ARP ESSER Funds, ARP Section 2001(e) District Information

Directions: The LEA Plan for Use of ARP ESSER Funds requires planning the full allocation. The template below will assist in the development of the district plan. Districts may select evidence-based practices (pre-filled below) included in the LEA Plan for Use of ARP ESSER Funds or add additional rows to provide the practice and evidence that will be utilized by the district. The plan may be revised by notifying the DESE and uploading the revised plans in Indistar and on the district website (please include the revision date on all documents).

1. Creating Safe and Healthy Learning Environments: Determine if ARP funds will be used to implement prevention and mitigation strategies that are, to the greatest extent practicable, consistent with the most recent CDC guidance on reopening school, in order to continuously and safely open and operate schools for in-person learning. Districts may select evidence-based practices (pre-filled below) included in the LEA Plan for Use of ARP ESSER Funds or add additional rows to describe the practice and evidence that will be utilized by the district.

2. Addressing Lost Instructional Time or Loss of Learning: Describe how the LEA will use the funds it reserves under Section 2001 (e) (1) of the ARP Act to address the academic impact of lost instructional time through the implementation of evidence- based interventions.  The district must spend a minimum of 20% of ARP ESSER funds. The full implementation of the evidence-based interventions include the personnel, materials, equipment, professional development, and expenses needed to meet the needs of students. Other evidence based practices may be utilized if the intervention meets one of the four tiers of evidence.  Evidence based practices resources may be found on page 7 of Empowering Schools for Success Using Effective Evidence Based Practices to Impact Student Outcomes. Districts may select evidence- based practices (pre-filled below) included in the LEA Plan for Use of ARP ESSER Funds or add additional rows to describe the practice and evidence that will be utilized by the district.

ARP ESSER total allocation $ 25,510,011.25 Minimum 20% set-aside_$5,102,002.25

2.A. Process for Monitoring Implementation: Describe how the LEA will ensure that the interventions it implements, including but not limited to the interventions implemented under Section 2001 (e) (1) of the ARP Act to address the academic impact of lost instruction time, will respond to the academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs of all students, and particularly those students disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including students from low-income families, students of color, English learners, children with disabilities, students experiencing homelessness, children in foster care, and migratory students.

Description:
2.B. Process for Evaluating Implementation: Please describe how the LEA will evaluate the effectiveness of these interventions.

Evaluation:

3. Supporting Educator and Staff Stability and Well-Being: Determine if ARP funds will be used to support educator and staff stability and well-being consistent with Section 2001 (e) (2) of the ARP Act. Districts may select evidence-based practices (pre-filled below) included in the LEA Plan for Use of ARP ESSER Funds or add additional rows to describe the practice and evidence that will be utilized by the district.