What is the American Rescue Plan?

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, also called the COVID-19 Stimulus Package or American Rescue Plan, is a $1.9 trillion economic stimulus bill passed by the 117th United States Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden on March 11, 2021, to speed up the United States' recovery from the economic and health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing recession. Link to NYSED site.

What are the ESSER Funds?

The ARP ESSER Fund, authorized under the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021, will assist local educational agencies, and more directly schools, in supporting students who have been most severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and are likely to have suffered the most because of longstanding inequities in their communities and schools, a situation exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Arkport Central School District's ARP allocation is $1,574,133. Initiatives are combined with the $420,528 allocation from the federal Coronavirus Response and Relief Appropriations Act (CRSSA).

Allowable uses of these funds include the following:

• preventing, preparing for, and responding to COVID-19

• hiring new staff

• avoiding layoffs

• addressing learning loss

• preparing for schools to reopen

• testing, repairing, and upgrading projects to improve air quality of buildings 

The plan requires that the district spend $699,282 to address student learning loss during the pandemic. The district must use these funds:

• to address learning loss by supporting the implementation of evidence-based interventions

• to ensure that such interventions respond to students’ academic, social, and emotional needs

• to address the disproportionate impact of the coronavirus on student subgroups. 

The district must also use $106,796 to implement evidence-based summer learning/enrichment interventions, and $106,796 to provide evidence-based extended day/afterschool programs.

 The district must expend these funds by September 30, 2024.

ARP Funding Priorities for ACS include:

Afterschool, Summer and Academic Learning Loss Programs (including Special Education)
Examples include: Teaching Assistants, Additional Staff for RTI Support and Coordination, After School Enrichment Activities, K-6 Summer Program

Social and Emotional Learning
Examples include: School Counseling Support, Addition of K-6 School Counselor, Full Time School Social Worker,

Health and Safety
Examples include: Custodial Supplies for enhanced disinfecting processes, COVID Testing Staff, PPE, Cleaning supplies, aides on buses

Technology
Examples include: New devices and laptops to allow 1:1 access, Classroom technology

Facilities
Examples include: Outdoor learning spaces, Touchless bottle filler stations to replace drinking fountains

A requirement of the plan is to seek input on the allocation of funds from various stakeholders. On April 30, 2021, the district sent a survey to parents, community members, local organizations, and posted it to the district website and social media pages.

Following are the priorities ranked by survey responders: 

• Expansions in Technology

• Student SEL Support

• Remediation Supports

Based on the survey results and the planning, discussion, and research of district administration and staff, the district has placed an emphasis on providing additional technology, social-emotional supports, and after-school learning opportunities for our students. The district is also planning for additional summer learning opportunities and supports for early childhood education.

In April, May and June, the Board of Education heard a presentation on federal COVID-19 relief funding (both the ARP and the CRRSA stimulus) as well as planning for the 2021-22 school year.

Please note: This multiyear plan is subject to change and will be adjusted as necessary to best serve the needs of our students. Sustainability is also a key component of this plan. The district will identify programs that are expected to continue beyond the availability of federal funds and identify local funds that will be used to maintain such programs.

 Link: ARP/ESSER Application

Link: Budget Narrative

Link: FS-10

ARP/ESSER State Level Reserves

Link: ARP/ESSER Application - State Reserves

Link: 1% After School Narrative

Link: 1% Summer Narrative

Link: 5% Learning Loss Narrative

Link: 1% Comprehensive After School FS10

Link: 1% Summer Learning and Enrichment FS10

Link: 5% Learning Loss FS10