American Rescue Plan (ARP) Family and Tribal Consultation May 2021

The American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act was enacted into law on March 11, 2021. This will make available Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund III for school districts. LKSD is currently awaiting notice of the district’s allocation but is seeking input on the use of funds.

 

The purpose of the funds is to help meet a wide range of needs arising from the coronavirus pandemic including reopening schools safely, sustaining their safe operation, and addressing students’ social, emotional, mental health, and academic needs resulting from the pandemic.

 

School districts must reserve at least 20% of the funds to address learning loss. The remaining funds may be used for a wide range of activities including:

 

·       Any activity authorized by the ESEA, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA), or Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (Perkins CTE).

·       to develop strategies and implement public health protocols including, to the greatest extent practicable, policies in line with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on reopening and operating schools to effectively maintain the health and safety of students, educators, and other staff

·       coordinating preparedness and response efforts with State, local, Tribal, and territorial public health departments to prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19;

·       training and professional development on sanitizing and minimizing the spread of infectious diseases;

·       purchasing supplies to sanitize and clean the LEA’s facilities;

·       repairing and improving school facilities to reduce risk of virus transmission and exposure to environmental health hazards;

·       improving indoor air quality;

·       addressing the needs of children from low-income families, children with disabilities, English learners, racial and ethnic minorities, students experiencing homelessness, and foster care youth;

·       developing and implementing procedures and systems to improve the preparedness and response efforts of LEAs

·       planning for or implementing activities during long-term closures, including providing meals to eligible students and providing technology for online learning;

·       purchasing educational technology (including hardware, software, connectivity, assistive technology, and adaptive equipment) for students that aids in regular and substantive educational interaction between students and their classroom instructors, including students from low-income families and children with disabilities;

·       providing mental health services and supports, including through the implementation of evidence- based full-service community schools and the hiring of counselors;

·       planning and implementing activities related to summer learning and supplemental after-school programs;

·       addressing learning loss

·       other activities that are necessary to maintain operation of and continuity of and services, including continuing to employ existing or hiring new LEA and school staff