RICHLAND TWO NEEDS YOUR INPUT
7/28/2021
District leaders are working on two very important plans:
- One for the safe return to in-person instruction and continuity of services plan
- One for the spending of federal emergency relief funds (ESSER III funds)
Input from students, employees and community members is vital in the development of these plans and there are two ways to let us hear from you:
- Survey — see link at the end of this article
- Public Input Session at the August 10 Board Meeting
Before completing the survey or participating in the public input session, it might be helpful to review background information on the federal law that requires the development of these two plans — the American Rescue Plans Act. Continue reading for more information or skip to the bottom of the page to complete the survey.
American Rescue Plans Act/ESSER III
On March 11, 2021, the American Rescue Plans (ARP) Act was signed into law. In it, the U.S. Department of Education is providing an additional $121.9 billion for the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER III Fund). This legislation awards grants to state educational agencies (SEAs) for providing local educational agencies (LEAs) with emergency relief funds to address the impact that COVID-19 has had, and continues to have, on elementary and secondary schools across the nation. School districts that receive the funds must develop safe return to in-person instruction and continuity of services plans.
South Carolina will receive $2,112,051,487 in ESSER III funds from the Act, with 90 percent being awarded to school districts with amounts determined in proportion to the amount of Title I, Part A funds they received in summer 2020 from funds under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The remaining funds will be used for state-level activities to address issues caused by COVID-19.
Richland Two expects to receive $38.5 million in ESSER III funds and those funds must be spent by September 30, 2024. Click here to review a presentation about the previous COVID-19 relief funds received (CRF, CARES/ESSER I, ESSER II/CRRSA) as well as an initial list of district needs under consideration for ESSER III funding.
CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE THE SURVEY