American Rescue Plan: Which voices will influence decisions?
The American Rescue Plan:
Which voices will influence decisions?
We are at a pivotal moment in the world. The American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act was signed into law on March 11, 2021. It will distribute $123 billion in additional educational funding between now and 2023 for implementation of Every Students Succeeds Act (ESSA). In addition, the ARP includes another $3 billion for additional support through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA). That’s a LOT of funding!!
The Guidelines:
I’m interested in the guidelines for use of these funds at the local level, especially: (see the law for the complete act)
At least 20% must address “learning loss” through implementation of evidence-based interventions (summer learning, summer enrichment, extended school day, comprehensive afterschool programs, extended school year programs) — to address the disproportionate impact of the coronavirus on marginalized student populations.
The remaining funds can be used
for any activities authorized by the Elementary & Secondary Education Act (ESSA), Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA), Adult Education & Family Literacy Act, and Carl D. Perkins Career & Technical Education Act.
for activities to address the unique needs of low-income children or students, children with disabilities, English learners, racial and ethnic minorities, students experiencing homelessness, and foster care youth.
to provide mental health services and supports…
to address “learning loss” among students, including
Administering and using high-quality assessments that are valid and reliable, to accurately assess students’ academic progress and assist educators in meeting students’ academic needs, including through differentiating instruction;
Implementing evidence-based activities to meet the comprehensive needs of students;
Providing information and assistance to parents and families on how they can effectively support students, including in a distance learning environment;
Additional guidelines include measures to sanitize and prepare the building for safe reopening and address educational technology and connectivity issues.
Right now, states are finalizing their distribution plans and submitting them to the federal government. This would be a great time for local school districts to roll up their sleeves and create their plans. Will they simply put more funding into current activities and initiatives? Have current approaches really worked for everybody?
Now’s the time! Soon, the federal funds will be distributed to states using the ESSA Title 1 funding formula. Then states must, within 60 days, distribute at least 90% of the funds to local educational agencies, again, using the Title 1 funding formula.
——————————–
Don’t you wonder how each district will decide how they will use their share? Whose voices will they listen to when these decisions are made? Do you have ideas? Maybe it’s time for YOU to speak up??
School leader voices? School administrators usually see the big picture. They have heard so many concerns of teachers, learners, community members, and families first hand. The buck stops here as the saying goes. Will district leaders invite principals to submit proposals or will they consider delegating discretion for use of the funds to school leaders?
Teachers & support staff voices? These professionals have been working directly with learners over the last fifteen months. They’ve had glimpses into homes and know about many family concerns. If you want to know where teachers have struggled in their teaching or support roles, and where students have faced challenges, maybe districts should invite teachers to speak up. Will district leaders invite educator suggestions?
Family voices? Whether your students’ families experienced traumatic events or were only mildly inconvenienced, they were all impacted in some way by the pandemic shut-down. They also got to witness daily instruction from their kitchen tables. What worked for them and where did they struggle? What ideas do they have for how to improve the effectiveness of your school? Will district leaders invite family perspectives?
Learner voices? When we come right down to it, the purpose of education is about student learning and development. How were they impacted by the pivot to emergency virtual and hybrid learning? What would they say about how to improve their educational experiences? Will district leaders welcome student voices too?
We are poised at the brink of an awesome opportunity. How could you use this moment to press the reset button? The danger is that districts will use these additional funds to do more of something that may not be working for everyone. Think about these questions:
How can we gather input from multiple stakeholders (especially those who are often silent) to determine what’s working well and what’s not working? What measures will establish a climate of trust and connection to welcome input and cooperation?
What process should we use to determine our top priorities for the next three to five years? Then how can we gather authentic feedback on our draft proposal?
What process can we put in place for systemic input and feedback from all stakeholders as we roll out our new initiatives?
How will we use transparent data to track and evaluate our own effectiveness collaboratively as a school community?
Remember, if everyone in your circle agrees, you probably need to expand your stakeholder group. Who’s missing? Those who have different perspectives will raise those uncomfortable issues that must be addressed if we are really committed to improving our schools.
Why not aim to create an educational system of our dreams? One that works for everybody!
How big is your dream? In my dream, every student flourishes in a learning environment that feels safe and empowering, every teacher experiences the satisfaction of joyful inclusion, and the voice of every family is respected and valued.
I invite you to post your response to this blog and contact me if you would like to talk further about possibilities! I have a system that is working to transform inclusive education. Let’s brainstorm!
