t Sheet; the CRRSA ESSER II methodology and allocation table; and numerous links to ED information resources detailing administrative aspects of the CARES Act and CRRSA K-12 funding.
American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) State Plan Application Technical Assistance: Provides 4/29/21 and 9/2/21 webinar recordings and slide decks from a series of technical assistance "office hours" sessions hosted by ED’s Office of Elementary and Secondary Education during May-August 2021, to help SEAs and LEAs understand how funding under the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund, including the American Rescue Plan ESSER (ARP ESSER) program, and the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief [GEER] Fund may be used in response to the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on students in pre-K–12 education. This site provides responses to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), offers a 9/1/21 fact sheet, Supporting School Districts in Timely Investment of American Rescue Plan Act Funds, offers Strategies for Using American Rescue Plan Funding to Address the Impact of Lost Instructional Time, and addresses maintenance of effort and maintenance of equity requirements. The page also links to each SEA’s submitted ARP ESSER state plans.
American Rescue Plan Act - Summary of K-12 Provisions: Presents a one-page summary of APRA provisions and appropriations for state education agencies, institutions of higher education, and other education-related entities, by the Alliance for Excellent Education, including a link to the full text of the legislation (H.R. 1319).
Guide to Family, School, and Community Engagement in State ARP/ESSER Applications: Highlights funding opportunities for family, school and community engagement [FSCE] within the March 2021 American Rescue Plan [ARP]. This guide, produced by the National Association for Family, School, and Community Engagement [NAFSCE], identifies family, school, and community engagement (FSCE) opportunities for SEAs to address within their state plans.
Rescue Me: How the American Rescue Plan Act Helps Students: Explains critical provisions of the relief act – signed by President Biden on 3/12/21 - that have allocated additional resources to support learning loss, provide education and wrap-around services to students experiencing homelessness, and increase access to broadband and technology. This short 7-minute video – part of the Federal Flash series by the Alliance for Excellent Education -- overviews salient dimensions of the legislation, including an equity protection to ensure states do not cut funding disproportionately in high-poverty communities. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has extended provisions to provide free school meals for all students, and the U.S. Department of Education has now released the application for states to waive federal school accountability requirements.
An Unparallel Investment in U.S. Public Education: Analysis of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021: Details the opportunities and requirements of states to use funds from the largest-ever federal investment in K-12 education to address both short-term needs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, and to help make schools more equitable and “whole child”-focused in the longer term. This analysis by the Learning Policy Institute details statutory requirements for dispersal of relief funds among state [SEA] and local education agencies [LEA] to enable and facilitate students’ safe return to in-person learning as soon as practicable; to address lost learning, support after-school and summer learning programs; and for any other generally allowable use of federal funds. The site also links to an interactive tool to explore the funding breakdown, by purpose, for each state.
USA.gov - COVID-19: Links to a broad range of assistance offered by the federal government (e.g. child tax credit and stimulus checks; financial assistance for food, housing and bills; passports and travel during COVID-19; small business loans and assistance; unemployment benefits