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
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September 19, 2023
AASA ARP Committee ResourcesAASA’s ARP committee convened during the COVID pandemic to be a voice from the field about districts were doing and needed in response to COVID.
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September 14, 2023
USED Issues Dear Colleague Letter on Supporting Students Experiencing HomelessnessUSED Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Programs Adam Schott wrote a Dear Colleague letter to Chief State School Officers with recommendations for the use of ARP funds to support students experiencing homelessness.
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August 28, 2023
The Advocate September 2023: School District Spending of the American Rescue Plan ReportOne of the pillars of AASA’s advocacy on behalf of superintendents is its commitment to always represent the views of the organization’s members no matter if they’re good, bad or ugly on Capitol Hill.
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August 24, 2023
Guest Post: Making the Most of Your Summer Fun(ds)— Summer’s Almost Over: What Next?This is the fourth installment of the Summer Funds series with AASA President Gladys Cruz.
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August 17, 2023
USED Report: State and District Use of Title II, Part A Funds in 2021–22The Department of Education has shared their new report, with information collected annually through surveys of both State and local educational agencies (LEAs) to determine how States and districts use Title II, Part A program funds.
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August 03, 2023
ESSER in Action in ALASKA: “The Last Frontier”AASA, The School Superintendents Association, is launching a series, ESSER in Action, highlighting how COVID-19 relief funds are making an impact across the country.
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July 12, 2023
Guest Post: Making the Most of Your Summer Fun(ds)—Improvement Isn’t AccidentalThis is the third installment of the Summer Funds series with AASA President Gladys Cruz.
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June 29, 2023
Guest Post: Making the Most of Your Summer Fun(ds)— Effective Planning = Effective ProgramsThis is the second guest post written by AASA President-Elect 2022-23 Gladys Cruz about leveraging ARP dollars for afterschool or summer programs.
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June 15, 2023
ESSER in Action at Lockwood Schools: A Positive Learning Environment in Big Sky CountryAASA, The School Superintendents Association, is launching a series, ESSER in Action, highlighting how COVID-19 relief funds are making an impact across the country.
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May 11, 2023
ED Releases ESSER II Liquidation TemplateOn Friday, ED released a document with more details on the late liquidation process for ESSER II.
AASA Resources
Learning recovery and redesign guidance and other tools to help you plan for the short- and long-term.
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January 24, 2022
Learning Recovery & Redesign: Major Strategies Self-Assessment ToolTopics: Advocacy & Policy, District & School Operations, Finance & BudgetsThis tool focuses specifically on your major strategy or couple largest strategies for recovery and/or redesign. -
February 08, 2021
Learning Recovery & Redesign: Priorities & Self-Assessment ToolTopics: Advocacy & Policy, District & School Operations, Finance & BudgetsTools and guidance to help district leaders prioritize American Rescue Plan spending in the short- and long-term. -
November 12, 2021
AASA Learning Recovery & Redesign GuidanceTopics: Advocacy & Policy, District & School Operations, Finance & BudgetsProvides overarching guidance for you to consider on an ongoing basis when determining the best next steps for your recovery and redesign plans, including the ARP use-of-funds plans being implemented in your district. -
November 01, 2021
Forward Thinking About Vulnerable StudentsType:Article Topics: District & School Operations, EquityCreating actionable recommendations and change during an opportune time. -
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August 01, 2021
Wise Spending of Your Federal Relief FundsType:Article Topics: Advocacy & Policy, Communications & Public Relations, District & School Operations, Equity, Finance & BudgetsThe key questions to raise when planning your school district’s use of federal relief funds under the American Rescue Plan. -
August 01, 2021
Federal Support That Enables ‘Building Back Better’Type:Article Topics: Advocacy & Policy, District & School Operations, Finance & BudgetsCreating a new world for K-12 schooling with the infusion of new dollars. -
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August 01, 2021
Using Evidence on Cost-EffectivenessType:Article Topics: Advocacy & Policy, District & School Operations, Finance & BudgetsThe influx of federal dollars through the American Rescue Plan warrants careful attention by district leaders to higher-value investments -
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May 20, 2021
How to Best Meet the Needs of Homeless Students with ARP FundsType:Webinar Recording Topics: Advocacy & Policy, Equity, Finance & BudgetsTwo superintendents share bold ideas for how to use ESSER funds and targeted ARP-Homeless Children and Youth funds to assess and meet both immediate and long-term needs.
Additional Resources
Resources to Support ARP Implementation
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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.)
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