ARP-ESSER Plan
The 2021-22 enacted state budget includes language requiring local education agencies, such as school districts, that receive funding from the Federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund allocated by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP-ESSER) to post on its website a plan by school year of how these funds will be spent.
New York has been allocated nearly $9 billion in ARP-ESSER funds, with a minimum of $8.09 billion (90 percent) going to local education agencies, including public schools. The South Glens Falls Central School District has been allocated $3,344,814.
Of this amount, the district is required to apply 20% toward measuring and addressing the academic impact of lost instructional time as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Districts are also required to prioritize spending on non-recurring expenses in the following areas:
Safely returning students to in-person instruction;
Maximizing in-person instruction time;
Operating schools and meeting the needs of students;
Purchasing educational technology;
Addressing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on students, including the impacts of interrupted instruction and learning loss and the impacts on low-income students, children with disabilities, English language learners, and students experiencing homelessness;
Implementing evidence-based strategies to meet students’ social, emotional, mental health, and academic needs;
Offering evidence-based summer, afterschool, and other extended learning and enrichment programs; and
Supporting early childhood education.
In addition, districts must identify programs and services that will continue beyond the availability of these federal funds and how local funds will be used moving forward in order to minimize disruption to core academic and other school programs.
Before posting this plan, districts are required to seek public comment from parents, teachers and other stakeholders and take such comments into account in the development of the plan.
In determining how the South Glens Falls Central School District would use its ARP-ESSR funding, the district spent time evaluating its need and planning with internal stakeholders. The plan was presented to the public, faculty/staff meeting and emailed to families for input this past spring. The plan focuses on non-recurring expenses. If staffing positions that are included in this plan are successful, they will be budgeted in subsequent years.
Questions can be directed to Superintendent of Schools Kristine Orr at 518-793-9617.
Operating schools and meeting the needs of students
Funding Allocated: Approximately $275,000
Plan Summary:
Updating school facilities, including HVAC systems and exterior safety enhancements
Purchasing furniture
Purchase of educational technology
Funding Allocated: Approximately $440,000
Plan Summary:
2,000 Chromebooks for student use
Updating makerspaces
Addressing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on all students, including low-income students, students with disabilities, English language learners, and students experiencing homelessness
Funding Allocated: Approximately $835,000
Plan Summary:
Spire Reading program
STAR Assessments
Updating libraries
Yearlong after-hours volunteer tutoring/review
Replacement of materials
Tier 1 and AIS learning support
Implementing evidence-based strategies to meet students’ social, emotional, mental health and academic needs
Funding Allocated: Approximately $1.3 million
Plan Summary:
Assistant Principal of Response to Intervention
Behavior Specialist
Updating outdoor classrooms
Professional development for strategies for supporting students
Further implementation of Restorative Circles/practices
Community School Coordinator
Offering evidence-based summer, afterschool, and other extended learning and enrichment programs
Funding Allocated: Approximately $480,000
Plan Summary:
Summer Success (elementary summer school)
Summer Arts Enrichment programming
Summer Athletic Enrichment programming
Bulldog Book Bus
Real-world learning opportunities for students