American Rescue Plan
Guidance, policy updates and actionable resources for schools & districts receiving American Rescue Plan funds.
Background
In 2021, as part of its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress directed $122 billion to state and local education agencies (LEAs) via the American Rescue Plan (ARP) to help reopen schools and aid school districts in addressing the impact the pandemic had on students through improvements to their academic, social-emotional, and mental and physical health needs, and updates to school facilities to ensure healthy learning environments.
AASA has conducted 5 surveys to understand:
- District leaders' priorities in expending ARP funds
- Challenges districts are experiencing in spending ARP funds
- Programmatic areas districts anticipate cutting as ARP funds run out
Superintendents know best how to maximize the academic impact of the funding and are spending these resources wisely. However, there will be serious repercussions for students when these funds run out, which is why proposals to slash funding for the 2024-25 school year are simply unacceptable and risk deeply undermining the progress students are making academically.
David R. Schuler, AASA Executive Director
AASA's Position & Priorities
AASA believes this infusion of federal funding will have a lasting impact in enabling students to not only recover from lost in-person instruction, but also in assisting district leaders in thoughtfully investing federal funds to address longstanding disparities in access to educational opportunities for students that were only exacerbated as a result of the COVID19 pandemic.
While every state was required to distribute the funding to districts by March 2022, it was only in February 2022 that school districts in all 50 states had access to their ARP funds.
LEAs are required to obligate their ARP funding by September 2024 although they may have more time to liquidate funding beyond the original December 2024 deadline.
AASA's priorities are to:
- Provide timely resources and updates to school district leaders around policy changes related to ARP funding
- Advocate for a later liquidation of these funds beyond the September 2024 spending deadline
- Ensure equitable access to funds in a timely manner
Issue Updates
-
September 10, 2024
The Advocate September 2024: School District Spending of American Rescue Plan Funding Part VReporting how this funding was spent by districts has been an ongoing project for AASA over the past 3 years.
-
August 22, 2024
ARP Funds for Homeless Students Must Be Obligated—Here’s a Checklist On Good Options for Your LEAAASA’s trusted partner, SchoolHouse Connection, just released a new 2-pager that contains a great checklist of what every LEA who has money left to spend should consider doing with these funds.
-
August 08, 2024
It’s the Final Spend-down: Five Ideas for Any Remaining ESSER FundsThis blog post provides four questions to ask yourself while deciding how to spend any remaining ESSER funds and also recommends five types of investments to consider.
-
July 03, 2024
Making the Most of Your Summer Fun(ds)— Sustaining SummerThis is the thirteenth installment of the Summer Funds series with AASA Immediate Past President Gladys Cruz.
-
May 21, 2024
Making the Most of Your Summer Fun(ds)—A Countdown ChecklistThis is the twelfth installment of the Summer Funds series with AASA President Gladys Cruz.
-
May 20, 2024
AASA and NCAN Publish FAFSA/Summer Melt GuideAASA and NCAN have published a new recommendations guide to prevent the summer melt and keep this year's seniors on track for FAFSA completion.
-
April 16, 2024
Making the Most of Your Summer Fun(ds)—Creating Connections with Students and FamiliesThis is the eleventh installment of the Summer Funds series with AASA President Gladys Cruz.
-
April 02, 2024
USED Releases Guidance on Federal Property InterestLast week, ED issued guidance regarding the government-wide recording and reporting requirements for ESSER projects related to the acquisition or improvement of facilities with federal funds.
-
March 28, 2024
Making the Most of Your Summer Fun(ds)— Preparing Educators for a Great SummerThis is the tenth installment of the Summer Funds series with AASA President Gladys Cruz.
-
March 08, 2024
The Advocate March 2024: ESSER Late LiquidationThis month's edition of The Advocate focuses on the late liquidation for ESSER dollars ahead of the September 30 spending deadline.
AASA Resources
Learning recovery and redesign guidance and other tools to help you plan for the short- and long-term.
-
September 19, 2024
PEP Talk Episode 32: School District Spending of American Rescue Plan FundingType:Podcast Topics: Advocacy & Policy, Finance & BudgetsOn this episode of PEP Talk: Kat Sturdevant discusses the newest edition of the American Rescue Plan Report with Sasha Pudelski, Director of Advocacy at AASA, just in time for the ESSER obligation deadline. -
September 09, 2024
School District Spending of American Rescue Plan FundingType:Report Topics: Advocacy & Policy, Finance & BudgetsAASA surveyed district leaders about how they're using American Rescue Plan (ARP) and other federal COVID-19 relief funding to address pandemic-related student learning recovery. -
July 24, 2024
Summer Programming & Funding Planning for K-12 SchoolsType:Toolkit Topics: Curriculum & Assessment, Finance & BudgetsTimeline and resources to guide districts as they plan for summer learning programming and funding. -
May 20, 2024
Mitigating the Summer Melt: Guidance for DistrictsType:Toolkit Topics: College- Career- and Life-ReadinessRecommendations and considerations to mitigate the summer melt and keep students on the path to college. -
October 04, 2023
Will You Make the Post-ESSER Cut?: How to Prepare Now For Customer RenewalType:Webinar Recording Topics: District & School Operations, Finance & BudgetsLearn how superintendents plan to make tough school and district budgeting decisions with the final ESSER deadline approaching -
April 13, 2023
District Partnership ToolkitType:Toolkit Topics: District & School Operations, Equity, Finance & BudgetsCreated to assist districts as they consider where and how to bring more tutors, mentors, coaches, student support coordinators and post-secondary transition coaches to schools -
December 20, 2022
AASA Quarterly Federal Policy Update - WinterType:Webinar Recording Topics: Advocacy & PolicyAASA members will be walked through the latest federal funding and policy changes, including the upcoming SCOTUS case Perez v. Sturgis; December USDOE ESSER FAQ; and leadership changes in Congress. -
November 29, 2022
Making the Most of Your ESSER Funds: Halftime Reflections & RevisionsType:Webinar Recording Topics: District & School Operations, Finance & BudgetsHear from two district leaders about how they (and other systems around the country) are engaging in halftime reviews with an immediate focus on identifying key moves to make through the SY23-24 budget cycle to optimize the ESSER opportunity.
-
September 09, 2024
American Rescue Plan, News, Press Release
AASA Publishes Final ARP District Spending Survey ReportSchool districts report gains from ARP funding in staffing, instruction, and mental health, but warn of setbacks as federal support ends, per AASA’s final survey.
-
August 23, 2023
American Rescue Plan, Press Release
Districts Brace for Fiscal Cliff in Final Year of COVID Relief FundingWith one year remaining to spend close to $200 billion in federal COVID relief funds, more than half of school district leaders are shifting their American Rescue Plan spending decisions due to higher-than-expected costs and inflation, according to a survey administered by AASA, The School Superintendents Association.
Additional Resources
Resources to Support ARP Implementation
Get Involved
Get the most up-to-date information and alerts so you can make your voice heard.
Get the AASA Advocacy App
American Rescue Plan Committee Members
Theresa Battle
Superintendent, Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District 191 (Minn.)
Scott S. Brabrand
Executive Director, Virginia Association of School Superintendents
Shari Camhi
Superintendent, Baldwin Union Free School District (N.Y.)
Chad Coauette
Executive Director/CEO, Sourcewell
Michael T. Conner
Superintendent, Middletown Public Schools (Conn.)
Wanda Cook-Robinson
Superintendent, Oakland Schools (Mich.)
Jay Curtis
Superintendent, Park County School District #1 (Wyo.)
Philip Downs
Superintendent, Southwest Allen County Schools (Ind.)
Jeff Fastnacht
Superintendent, Mandan School District 1 (N.D.)
Winfried Feneberg
Superintendent, Kearsarge Regional School District 65 (N.H.)
Daniel Gordon
Principal, EducationCounsel
Andy Grover
Executive Director, Idaho Association of School Administrators
Justin B. Henry
Superintendent, Goddard Unified School District 265 (Kan.)
Gregory Hutchings, Jr.
Superintendent, Alexandria City Pub School District (Va.)
Paul Imhoff
Director, Government Relations, Buckeye Association of School Administrators (Ohio)
Jesus F. Jara
Superintendent, Clark County School District (Nev.)
Dwight Jones
Senior Deputy Superintendent, Denver Public Schools (Colo.)
David Lewis
Executive Director, Association of School Business Officials International
Carissa Miller
Chief Executive Officer, Council of Chief State School Officers
Cathy Q. Moore
Superintendent, Wake County Public School System (N.C.)
Tobin Novasio
Superintendent, Lockwood Schools (Mont.)
Bill Otto
Government Relations Association, Sourcewell
Jeremy Owoh
Deputy Superintendent, Little Rock School District (Ark.)
Debra P. Pace
Superintendent, The School District of Osceola County (Fla.)
Lisa Parady
Executive Director, Alaska Superintendents Association
Kamela K. Patton
Superintendent, Collier County Public Schools (Fla.)
Allen Pratt
Executive Director, National Rural Education Association
Mary Ann Ranells
Former Superintendent, West Ada School District (Idaho)
Michelle C. Reid
Superintendent, Fairfax County Public Schools (Va.)
Robb Reid
Chief Revenue Officer, Sourcewell
William B. Royster, Jr.
Superintendent, Greenville County Schools (S.C.)
Theron J. Schutte
Superintendent, Marshalltown Community School District (Iowa)
Cosimo Tangorra, Jr.
Superintendent, New Hartford Schools (N.Y.)
Brian Troop
Superintendent, Ephrata Area School District (Pa.)
Mark Tucker
Superintendent, Caledonia Central Supervisory Union (Vt.)
Wayne Vickers
Superintendent, Alabaster City Schools (Ala.)
J.J. Villarreal
Superintendent, Rockwall Independent School District (Texas)
Julie A. Vitale
Superintendent, Oceanside Unified School District (Calif.)
Joan Wade
Executive Director, Association of Educational Service Agencies
Ken Wallace
Superintendent, Maine Township High School District 207 (Ill)
Karen Walters
Superintendent, Bryant School District 25 (Ark.)
Rodney E. Watson
Superintendent, Spring Independent School District (Texas)
Calvin J. Watts
Superintendent, Gwinnett County Public Schools (Ga.)
Lisa Witte
Superintendent, Monadnock Regional School District (N.H.)
Superintendent Advocacy at Your Fingertips
Educate. Influence. Impact.
Download the AASA Advocacy App today.