American Rescue Plan (ARP/ESSER III) overview

The American Rescue Plan (ARP), a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 stimulus bill, was signed into law by President Biden on March 11, 2021. ARP, also known as ESSER III, provides $170 billion to help K-12 schools and institutions of higher education reopen safely for in-person learning and address students’ needs.

 

ARP includes an intentional focus on addressing academic losses students may have experienced due to COVID. It has an additional focus on ensuring staff and students continue to experience physical spaces that are safe and supportive of a healthy learning environment. School Districts will be required to use at least 20% of the funds they receive to address lost learning time for students. The opportunities and possibilities represented by this investment in education is unprecedented. While there are specific guidelines, there is also flexibility.

ESSER III in MPS

For MPS, these funds can help accelerate the intentional investments and planning we’ve done to improve educational opportunities and outcomes for all students regardless of zip code.

 

MPS will align ARP investments with Board and District values to:

Community engagement required
 

One component of the ESSER III guidance is to form a stakeholder advisory committee to help make recommendations. We have begun that process and have had an initial meeting with our stakeholder advisory team. Included are representatives of MPS unions, staff groups, student groups, parent/caregiver groups and community partners. We have asked members of the stakeholder advisory to expand our outreach by using our materials to hold listening sessions with their networks and to solicit ideas about areas of focus. 

 

Goals and responsibilities of the advisory committee:

• Understand broad scope of support these dollars represent for MPS and its students, staff, families and community partners
• Share feedback and insights regarding the priorities of the MPS community(ies) represented as related to ARP funding guidance
  • Understand how those priorities also align to MPS Board Values and the MPS Comprehensive District Design
• Review and provide feedback on the MPS Plan for the use of the ARP funds before a final plan is submitted to the Board

If you are interested in becoming more involved, please see an appropriate representative from the stakeholder advisory group.

 

• April 16, 2021: Notified by MDE of district’s allocation
• April 22, 2021: Board Finance Committee meeting, MPS allocation shared
• May 6, 2021: American Rescue Plan Stakeholder Committee meeting #1
• May 11, 2021: Board meeting
• May 18, 2021: Board Finance Committee meeting
• May 20, 2021: American Rescue Plan Stakeholder Committee meeting #2
• June 3, 2021: American Rescue Plan Stakeholder Committee meeting #3
• June 8, 2021: Board Finance Committee meeting
• June 15, 2021: Board meeting, 2021-22 Budget Adoption
  • Includes $64.1 million of ESSER I & II funds, does not include ESSER III
• 2021-22: Planning for ESSER III spending
• 2022-2024: Budgeting and spending of ESSER III funds