November 8, 2021 | From edWeb.net
MCH Strategic Data is proud to partner with edWeb.net, a professional online community for educators. edWeb.net recently posted this article on ESSER funding and the American Rescue Plan. With their permission, we are sharing this resource to provide information on how schools and districts are utilizing federal funding.
Schools and districts can continue to benefit from the federal government’s stimulus dollars through the American Rescue Plan (ARP) of 2021, the third iteration of the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER). These monies could drive the design of transformational initiatives with the potential for long-term impact.
Education experts highlighted how the ARP works in a recent edLeader Panel, sponsored by NetRef. While funds can go to various efforts in targeted areas, there will be a greater focus on school and district investments that are evidence based, sustainable, and data driven to demonstrate positive outcomes.
An ARP Logistics Primer
There are some need-to-know facts about ARP funds that districts and schools should understand before they apply:
What the Dollars Support
Like ESSER I and II, ARP funds are somewhat flexible. They can go to health and safety, learning loss, students’ socio-emotional well-being (especially post-pandemic), educational equity, and students with special needs.
At the state level, monies are set aside for evidence-based programming or interventions for learning loss, summer learning, and after school. (At the district level, at least 20% of the funds must go to learning loss.) With ARP funds, these interventions must be evidence based—grounded in generalized research to support a theory of action.
And yes, ARP dollars can go to other authorized activities allowed in the CARES Act and ESSER I. School renovation, safety upgrades to infrastructure, establishing healthier in-person learning environments, expanded tech capabilities, special education, assessment and accountability systems, parent and family engagement—all fundable but must be evidence based.
To get a sense of where the monies are going, districts and schools can visit the National Conference of State Legislatures, the U.S. Department of Education, and the Center on Reinventing Public Education.
Demonstrating Impact
Districts and schools should manage and track ARP funds in a thoughtful and timely way to demonstrate the impact (preferably long lasting) on learning. The funds are meant to make a difference with transformational initiatives that align with specific plans and budgets and continue past 2025.
Districts and schools must track, report, and communicate actionable program data to demonstrate impact and the constructive use of funds. The federal government has evaluation plans for spending at the state and LEA levels: Was 20% at the district level spent on learning loss? Did spending tie back to pandemic-related needs? Did the state spend at least 1% on summer or after school?
Other reporting categories will look at expenditures and their alignment to program plans and whether they address broader needs and goals in identified areas.
Schools and districts will need to track and monitor data to ensure they get a good return on investment (ROI). In addition, they must understand the impact of the services, tools, programs, apps, etc. they purchase to make sure they advance students’ education and support teachers’ professional learning and growth.
Tracking data is complex and time-consuming. Instead, schools and districts might consider using programs such as NetRef to monitor investments and funding allocations while gauging their impact. NetRef, for example, produces ROI reports for analysis of monies spent and what that looks like in terms of product usage (actual effective cost per user, for example) and learning value.
The ARP moves schools and districts beyond using immediate fixes and buying lots of gadgets and programs to see “what sticks.” These funds call for strategic and creative thinking that moves education to excellence over the long term. In this case, maybe the “Rescue” in “American Rescue Plan” should be “Rejuvenation.”
This edWeb.net broadcast was sponsored by NetRef.
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