American Rescue Plan (ARP)
ESSER Funding
In 2020 and 2021, the Federal government passed three stimulus bills that provided nearly $190.5 billion to the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund. Funding was received by the states based on the same formula used under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Title-IA funding allocation. All states are required to distribute at least 90% of funds to local education agencies (LEAs) based on their proportional share of ESEA Title I-A funds, which factors in the District’s poverty ratios. Pennsylvania has a summary of key provisions as it relates to our Commonwealth here.
In accordance with ESSER Funding, the District received the ESSER I allocation, received the ESSER II allocation, and has applied for three additional (ESSER III, ESSER 7% State Set-Aside, and ARP ESSER A-TSI 2.5% Set Aside) allocations. Each allotment has permitted allowable expenditures. Once a grant application is reviewed and approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, funds will be released to the school district after proof of the expenditures are submitted to the Department of Education on a quarterly basis.
The Department of Education requires that all ARP ESSER and ARP ESSER Set Asides be linked to the LEA's website: You can find an overview for the anticipated spending of these funds below.