Feds release another $1.4B ARP funds to reopen Ohio schools
The U.S. Department of Education on Thursday announced the approval of Ohio’s American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief.
The announcement was accompanied by the announcement that the federal government has released $1.4 billion in remaining ARP ESSER funds to the state.
Ohio’s plan details how the state is using and plans to use ARP ESSER funds to safely reopen and sustain the safe operation of schools and expand opportunities for students who need it most, particularly those most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ohio is receiving more than $4.4 billion total in ARP ESSER funds, and Thursday’s approval of their plan will result in the release of the final $1.4 billion.
“Prior to the pandemic, Ohio instituted a five-year strategic plan for education aimed at challenging, preparing, and empowering each child for success,” said Paolo DeMaria, Ohio superintendent of public instruction. “While the pandemic caused many disruptions and illuminated certain inequities, it also highlighted the strengths of our plan. As a result, we’ve remained aligned to our vision, goals, and priorities even as we’ve worked together to address pandemic-related challenges.”
The Ohio Department of Education says it will use state-level data to identify and report trends for students most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. ODE is building a multi-year plan to reach students impacted by the pandemic. Additionally, ODE requires each district to provide a description of how it is addressing the impact of the pandemic on particular groups of students.
The ODE says it will prioritize trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices to meet student's academic, social and emotional needs when they reengage in learning during the summer and the 2021-2022 school year by responding to mental health data from the Ohio Healthy Youth Environments survey. Additionally, ODE is partnering with the Governor’s office, the Ohio Department of Medicaid, and the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services to expand school-based services and increase behavioral and physical health supports for students.
“As we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s critical we ensure our students have the resources they need to safely return to the classroom. Not only have many students experienced learning loss from the events of the past year, but many are navigating new social and emotional challenges,” said Rep. Tim Ryan.
