COVID19 American Rescue Plan: Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ARP ESSER)The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) released updated guidance on the use of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds on May 3 following the enactment of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

The ARPA – which included more than $2 billion for Kentucky public schools – authorized a third ESSER Fund, ARP ESSER.

The updated guidance, “COVID-19 Guidance for Schools: American Rescue Plan: Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ARP ESSER),” provides an overview of the allocable and intended uses of ARP ESSER funds for school leaders.

The ARPA requires districts to reserve not less than 20% of ARP ESSER funds to address learning loss related to the COVID-19 pandemic through evidence-based interventions. These interventions can include summer learning or summer enrichment, extended day, and comprehensive afterschool or extended school year programs.

Districts must ensure interventions respond to students’ social, emotional and academic needs, and address the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on underrepresented student subgroups.

The previous ESSER guidance, “ESSER Relief Fund Guidance for LEAs” and “COVID-19 Guidance for Schools: Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund II (ESSER II),” will remain on KDE’s COVID-19 Reopening Resources webpage, along with other KDE guidance released throughout the pandemic. 

As the situation with the pandemic evolves, KDE is creating new guidance documents to meet the needs of Kentucky’s schools and districts. KDE guidance documents may be updated on use of federal funds as additional guidance is received from the U.S. Department of Education.

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