The American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) Fund under the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021, enacted March 11, 2021, provides $122 billion to states and school districts to support the safe reopening of schools and meet the needs of all students. Forty states have submitted their ARP ESSER state plans to the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, in early June for approval. Thus far, approximately 12 states have had their ARP ESSER Plans approved while others are under review. States must allocate 90% ($109 billion) to school districts.
The Council of the Great City Schools (CGCS) and the Wallace Foundation have joined forces in leveraging resources to assist districts with spending and implementation planning for using ARP ESSER investments strategically in addressing the unfinished learning needs for all students, particularly those for low income, English Language Learners, and rural students who were disproportionately affected by remote learning. The CGCS has developed a new toolkit of resources and recommendations (guidance document) to help plan and support district ARP ESSER investments cross-functionally, systemically, and deliberately: CGCS_Funds Resource Guide_v10.pdf
Similarly, the Wallace Foundation (Education Leadership Division) has created an American Recovery Planning Professional Learning Community (ARP PLC) and 78 districts have opted to join the network and will receive consultancy services from now through December 2021 for strategic planning in the use of ARP ESSER Funds, critical friend feedback on plans and/or further support to strengthen their principal pipeline work locally. The ARP PLC also includes a series of network convenings where district leaders can learn from one another with similar issues to gain actionable insights; and principals from participating districts will also have an opportunity to participate in a separate network forum where they too can learn together in facilitated discussion groups.
The COVID-19 pandemic created unique needs for educators and students alike, while exacerbating existing inequalities. As part of the Wallace consultancy outreach, I will have the opportunity to work with leaders in 5 of the 78 districts from Cincinnati Public Schools, Cincinnati, OH; Clark County School District, Las Vegas, NV; Hillsborough County Public Schools, Tampa, FL; Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Miami, FL; and Shelby County Schools, Memphis, TN. I am honored to help support the efforts of district leaders from the above communities as they all work to think deeply in using this unprecedented infusion of federal funds into their local public educations systems to improve outcomes for students.