ABOUT THE APR ESSER FUND FOR SCHOOLS

American Recovery Plan’s $123 billion Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) fund
https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/us-department-education-posts-state-plans-use-american-rescue-plan-funds-support-students-and-safe-and-sustained-reopening-schools

"The ARP ESSER Fund provides nearly $122 billion to states to support the nation's schools in safely reopening and sustaining safe in-person operations while meeting the social, emotional, mental health and academic needs of students impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic."


INPUT FROM EDUCATORS?

I'm contemplating writing an article about the possibilities and potential of stimulus aid for schools. I'm curious about what educators and the public at large think about this aid and how the monies should be spent. Here's how you can help!

States have control over only 10% of funding going to their state (5% must address learning loss; 1% must be for summer programs; another 1% is for after school programming) with the remaining 90% going to charters and public school districts. Districts must use 20% of this funding on evidence-based programs to address learning loss. In general, there is a fair amount of flexibility with how these funds are used.

1. See this article about stimulus funds going to schools:
Schools Are Receiving $129 Billion in Stimulus Aid. Where Is It Going?
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/13/education/school-budget-stimulus.html
2. Then take a look at this information compiled by a think tank at Georgetown University: What Congressional Covid Funding Means for K-12 Schools | FutureEd
https://www.future-ed.org/what-congressional-covid-funding-means-for-k-12-schools/
3. Next, check out how your state is spending the funds: How States Are Using Federal Funds for Learning Recovery | FutureEd
https://www.future-ed.org/how-states-are-using-federal-funds-for-learning-recovery/
State agencies have discretion over only 10 percent of the total allocated funding with the remaining 90 percent going to schools districts or charter schools, i.e. local education agencies.
4. Specifically, look at this spreadsheet: FutureEd State Plan Tracking
​​https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1PSgwA2w9KkjnCgBMbTff8wO07FMeodrXlx4eSPMCMZA/edit#gid=0
5. Then, use this form to tell me what you think of how YOU think funding should be spent in general and specifically, how would you like to see your state and local school system do with this funding. This document specifically discusses what can be purchased with these funds (I recommend using command + F or control + F to search a document for a specific keyword or phrase.) https://oese.ed.gov/files/2021/05/ESSER.GEER_.FAQs_5.26.21_745AM_FINALb0cd6833f6f46e03ba2d97d30aff953260028045f9ef3b18ea602db4b32b1d99.pdf


Thanks,

Lucy Gray
Education Consultant
lucy@lucygrayconsulting.com