Federal Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations and American Rescue Plan Act Funding

Federal Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplement Appropriations Act (CRRSA) and American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act

• Federal emergency funds that were given to a State or Local Education Agency in response to COVID-19 pandemic.
• Funded through two grants: and ESSR 2
• Can be used for a wide range of activities to address the needs of individual school districts arising from or exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic including: 
  • Responding to students’ social, emotional, and mental health needs (SEL)
  • Academic needs
  • Funding additional staff
  • Facility repairs, improvements, and supplies to sanitize buildings
  • Ventilation improvements
  • Health and safety

What is the American Rescue Plan (APR) Act?

• Federal emergency funds that were given to a State or Local Education Agency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Funded through the APR-ESSR Grant and requires that districts spend a specific portion of their funding on:
  • Learning loss
  • Summer learning/enrichment
  • Extended Day Programs throughout the school year
• The remaining funds can be used on the same items as CARES Act Grant:
  • Purchasing of supplies to sanitize/clean buildings
  • Repair and improve school facilities to reduce the risk of COVID transmission
  • Improve indoor air quality
  • Address the needs of Students with Disabilities (SWD’s), low-income families, English Language Learners (ELLs), and racial/ethnic minority students
  • Purchasing educational technology
  • Providing educational technology
  • Providing mental health services and supports
  • Other activities necessary to maintain operations and continuity of services

CRRSA and ARP Grant Funding Uses

• These Federal emergency funding resources are available for a wide range of activities to address diverse needs arising from the COVID-19 pandemic including responding to students’ social, emotional, mental health, and academic needs.
• Some uses may be directly focused on health and safety including but not limited to improving ventilation and other HVAC upgrades.
• Other uses could be used for providing accelerated learning opportunities; implementing rigorous curricula; and funding additional school staff.

What is Valley Central’s Allocation?

• CRRSA > $3,926,767
• ARP > $6,332,559

CRRSA Allocation Valley Central’s Proposed Plan for Funds

• Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSR 2) Fund Allocation – $3,578,926
  • Valley Central’s Proposed Plan:
    • Construction of outdoor pavilions at all of the buildings for outdoor learning space
    • Ventilation/Facility Improvements
• Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER 2) Fund Allocation – $347,841
  • Valley Central’s Proposed Plan:
    • Desk dividers (recoupment of previous expense)
    • Flexible seating
    • Remodeling of art and woodshop classrooms

*These plans are preliminary and subject to change due to any changes in guidelines, projected costs, and/or NYSED approvals

ARP Funding Allocation Breakdown

• ARP Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER)
  • Valley Central’s Allocation is $6,332,599
  • The total funds allocated to the district are further broken down to be used for specific purposes:
    • $362,345 – State-level reserve summer enrichment grant
    • $362,345 – State-Level reserve comprehensive after-school grant
    • $1,811,673 – State-Level reserve for learning loss
    • $759,247 – Reserve for learning loss (this is 20% of the LEA ARP-ESSER Allocation $3,796,236)
    • $3,036,989 – Any other needs of the district that fall under the grant guidelines

ARP Allocation Valley Central’s Plan for Funds

• State-level reserve summer enrichment grant ($362,345)
  • The budget proposed is for:
    • Summer Enrichment Program
    • Summer Enrichment Supplied
    • Summer School Teachers and Support Staff
    • Social Emotional Learning Camp Teachers
  • All funds for this grant were expended by 9/30/22 and a FS10F was filed.

*These plans are preliminary and subject to any changes in guidelines, projected costs, and/or NYSED approvals.

ARP Allocation Valley Central’s Plan for Funds (Cont’d)

• State-level reserve comprehensive after school grant – budget of $362,345
  • Secondary After School Advisors for Social Emotional Support
  • Secondary After School Programs
  • After School Program Supplies
  • Before School Program at Elementary Schools
  • Fitness, Rec, and SEL Intramurals
  • Supplies for Fitness Program
  • $90,669.81 was spent during the 2021 school year

*These plans are preliminary and subject to change due to any changes in guidelines, projected costs, and/or NYSED approvals.

ARP Allocation Valley Cental’s Plan for Funds (Cont’d)

• State-level reserve for learning loss and the LEA Reserve for Learning Loss ($4,339,812)
  • The budget proposed is for a 3 year period ad covers:
    • Summer School Teachers and Support Staff
    • Summer School Supplies
    • Summer School Transportation 
    • Summer Food Service Workers
    • Summer School Food
    • Check and Connect Program 
    • Supplies for Mindfulness Room

*These plans are preliminary and subject to change due to any changes in guidelines, projected costs, and/or NYSED approvals.

ARP Allocation Valley Cental’s Plan for Funds (Cont’d)

• State-level reserve for learning loss and the LEA Reserve for Learning Loss ($4,339,812)
  • The Budget proposed is for 3 year period and covers:
    • Anticipated Staffing
      • 1 elementary school counselor
      • 1 middle school guidance counselor
      • 1 high school social worker
      • 1 HS Attendance teacher
      • 1 PE/Health teacher
      • 1 speech teacher
      • 2 ENL teachers
      • 1 technology teacher starting in 22/23
      • 1 social emotional support specialist
      • 3 special education teachers
      • 1 special education  paraprofessional

*These plans are preliminary and subject to change due to any changes in guidelines, projected costs, and/or NYSED approvals.

ARP Allocation Valley Cental’s Proposed Plan for Funds

• Other needs of the district that fall within the grant guidelines ($1,268,097)
  • Director of safety and emergency preparedness
  • Library books to represent all cultures and races
  • Panorama Survey
  • ADA upgrades to kindergarten playground
  • Portable air conditioners for summer school
  • Tang Math Software
  • Virtual Reality Software
  • Any other District needs

*These plans are preliminary and subject to change due to any changes in guidelines, projected costs, and/or NYSED approvals.

How Valley Central (VC) is Utilizing Grant Funds to Support District Goals

Increase Student Achievement

• Provide an expanded summer school program for elementary and secondary students
• Offer new summer enrichment opportunities
• Add extended day programs
• Foster a diverse and inclusive culture
• Provide social emotional  support
• Expand academic offerings

Attract and Retain a Knowledgeable and Dedicated Staff

• New school and mental health counselors
• Additional ENL teachers
• Additional PE/Health teacher
• Additional instructional technology teacher
• Additional special education teachers
• New Director of Safety
• New Social Emotional Support Specialist

How Valley Central (VC) is Utilizing Grant Funds to Support District Goals (Cont’d)

Serve as the Cornerstone of the Community

• Establish partnership based on open communication, trust, and collaboration with the community
• Maintain high quality schools that are an investment for our community
• Maintain a welcoming and accessible environment for the whole child, whole staff, and whole community

Maintain and Improve the Facilities to Support Goals 1-3

• Improve ventilation
• Facility repairs/upgrades
• Pavillions to provide additional outdoor classroom space 
• Flexible seating

Grant Requirements

CRRSA

• Plan must be submitted to NYSED by July 15th (already submitted)
• Funding period: can be used for expenses from March 13, 2020 through September 30, 2023

ARP

• Assurance to abide by requirements must be submitted to NYSED by May 24, 2021 (already submitted)
• Funding period: can be used for expenses from March 13, 2020 through September 30, 2024