The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021, Public Law 117-2, was enacted on March 11, 2021. It is a $1.9 trillion relief and economic stimulus package that includes significant additional COVID-19 related support for the education system. Under the umbrella of the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF), ARPA includes an additional $122.775 billion for the Elementary and Secondary Schools Education Relief (ESSER) fund, an additional $2.75 billion for the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Emergency Assistance for Nonpublic Schools (EANS) fund, $3 billion in funding to IDEA programs, and a host of other programs to benefit communities, families and children (for a high-level summary of these programs please refer to the Memo: American Rescue Plan Act Overview. The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) has created a helpful COVID-19 Relief Funding for K-12 Schools Fact Sheet comparing the three relief bills.
ARP ESSER (ESSER III)
Of the total $122.775 billion in ESSER III funds, $800 million is being reserved for the US Department of Education to identify and assist homeless children and youth to attend school and receive wrap-around services. Similar to the CARES and CRRSA Acts, SEAs with approved applications would receive funds based on their share of Title I funding. Ninety percent of funds received by an SEA must be allocated to LEAs based on each LEA’s Title I share, leaving 10 percent for SEA-level activities. The allocations for each LEA are available in Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief Allocations: ESSER I, ESSER II and ESSER III.
- There is no Equitable Services Requirement for ESSER III
- The period of performance is March 13, 2020 – September 30, 2023
- Allowable Costs are the same as those for ESSER II
- There are specific requirements for spending and reporting in ESSER III that are outlined in this Fact Sheet from the US Department of Education.
ARP School Indoor Air Quality Grant Program
The ARP School Indoor Air Quality Grant Program, administered by Efficiency Vermont in partnership with the Agency of Education, provides technical assistance and financial support to public and approved independent schools upgrading HVAC systems to improve indoor air quality in response to COVID-19. For more information, please visit the Efficiency Vermont School Indoor Air Quality Grant Program webpage.
ARP HCY
The USED has awarded 25 percent (ARP Homeless I) of each State’s ARP-HCY allocation now in order to provide immediate funding as a supplement to McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) funds. The USED will award the remaining 75 percent (ARP Homeless II) after USED completes necessary regulations to change the EHCY program’s required competitive subgrant process for the ARP Homeless II funds.
- Total ARP Homeless I allocation: $466,994.
-
Total ARP Homeless I allocation to LEAs: $350,246.
ARP EANS
On March 11, 2021, the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act was signed into law. It is a $1.9 trillion package of assistance measures, including $2.75 billion for the American Rescue Plan’s Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools (ARP EANS) program. This program will provide $3,677,205 in support to independent schools in Vermont. The purpose of the EANS program is to provide services or assistance to eligible non-public schools to address educational disruptions caused by the COVID-19 emergency.
ARP-IDEA
ARPA provides slightly more than $3 billion in funding for several programs under IDEA. Specifically, the bill provides $2.58 billion for the Part B, Grants to States program; $200 million for the Section preschool program, and $250 million for the Part C Infants and Toddlers program. Vermont will receive funds through IDEA Section 611, Section 619, and IDEA part C funds.
- Part B (611)- $6,625,874
- Part B (619)- $472,522
- Part C- $1,040,479
Child Nutrition
ARPA includes language extending Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfers (P-EBT) through Summer 2021. However, we are awaiting guidance from USDA as to whether this would be applicable to Vermont students, and if so, how the extension should be conducted.
Link to Fund Webpages
- Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) III
- GEER Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools (GEER EANS) II
- ARP – Homeless Children and Youth (ARP-HCY)