Elementary and Secondary School Education Relief (ESSER)

August 30, 2021

Dear River Valley Staff, Families, and Students:

After nearly 14 months of navigating the tremendous challenges and hardships endured from the pandemic, the recovery plan for River Valley School District officially commenced with the reopening of all district schools for in-person learning. In the coming days, weeks, and months, we will be making significant decisions as a learning community. These decisions will help set the course for our continued recovery efforts and outline the path for every River Valley School District student to return to our classrooms and thrive socially, emotionally, and academically.

An important source of revenue that will assist our district’s recovery and return to a greater sense of normalcy will come from the American Rescue Act of 2021. President Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (H.R. 1319) into law. The $1.9 trillion package, based on President Biden’s American Rescue Plan, is intended to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, including the public health and economic impacts.

As outlined in the legislation, over $211 billion will be allocated to education and childcare. Nearly $166 billion of those funds will be allocated to the Education Stabilization Fund. An allocated $123 billion of these funds will be used to support K-12 schools in safely reopening, of which 20 percent must address learning loss. Other funds that are set aside include $1.25 billion for summer enrichment, $1.25 billion for afterschool programs, $3 billion for education technology and $800 million for wraparound services to homeless students.

Additionally, $1 billion of funding will be allocated to Head Start and $10 million will be allocated to the National Child Traumatic Stress Network. Emergency funding will be distributed across existing Head Start agencies according to their share of total enrolled children. Head Start delivers services through 1,600 local agencies, many of which are sponsored by county governments. Funds allocated to the National Child Traumatic Stress Network grant program aim to improve treatment and services for children and adolescents who have experienced traumatic events and to increase access to these treatments and services throughout the United States. Public (counties) and private entities will be eligible to apply.

Public Feedback

River Valley School District has been awarded American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) funds this school year. We encourage all of our stakeholders to comment on the plan via the email address established for this purpose. Our stakeholders include parents, teachers, and others. Public comments on this plan will be considered as River Valley School District finalizes its plan.

Public Comment Email: [email protected]

We encourage students, families, teachers, team members, and community members to complete a survey that takes fewer than five minutes to submit and lets your voice be heard. All survey responses are anonymous.

Complete the survey here: https://forms.gle/BU8iUCkq9Qo4JDb47

The ARP ESSER survey is open through Wednesday, September 15, 2021. Responses to the survey will be reviewed for inclusion into the district’s ARP ESSER plan and grant application.

Your feedback will be an invaluable resource to the district as we move forward with the planning process for how APR ESSER funds will be used to make the most impact for our students.

Over the next four summers and three full fiscal years, the District will use the more than $2.6 million in one-time/short-term federal funds to address student learning recovery and the ongoing impact of the pandemic using four major strategies:

• Teacher support
• Rigorous instructional materials
• Creating more time for learning
• Facility Upgrades

The final ARP plan for River Valley School District will be posted on our district website on or before September 30, 2021.

Together, we will provide our students the best educational experience possible, including the academic and social-emotional support they need, to learn and grow as we advance in our reopening and recovery plan. Thank you for your continued support and participation in the education of our students.