State briefing summarizes ARP/ESSER III requirements and deadlines; emphasizes evidence-based interventions and monitoring
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Summary
ALSDE staff outlined American Rescue Plan (ARP/ESSER III) funding rules, state set‑aside requirements and LEA obligations, stressing evidence‑based learning‑loss interventions, stakeholder consultation, and monitoring timelines for local plans.
ALSDE staff summarized the state and federal requirements for American Rescue Plan (ARP/ESSER III) funds and told the board how the department plans to distribute funds and monitor local uses.
The presenter said the ARP/ESSER III allocation to Alabama totals approximately $2.0 billion and described how 90% of that amount will be distributed to local education agencies (LEAs). The department said it may reserve up to 10% for state-level activities and requested authority to carry funds through September 2024 (a timing extension available under federal guidance).
The presenter highlighted mandatory set-asides and minimum-use requirements: at least 5% of the state reservation must support evidence-based interventions that address learning loss, 1% must support evidence-based summer enrichment programming and 1% must support evidence-based comprehensive after‑school programs. LEAs must use at least 20% of their ARP allocation to address academic learning loss with evidence-based interventions and must consult widely with stakeholders as they develop their plans.
ALSDE staff also described a new, targeted ARP allocation for homeless students and families (a supplemental McKinney-Vento set-aside) and explained that a portion of those funds will be distributed first to LEAs that already receive McKinney-Vento allocations, with a subsequent statewide distribution to remaining LEAs. The presenter said the state’s homeless allocation is roughly $13 million (two tranches) and is intended to support identification, wraparound services and barriers to school participation.
Officials told the board the department will publish application guidance and paperwork for LEAs and that the U.S. Department of Education requires transparent public posting of LEA plans. The ALSDE speaker said the department had requested an extension of the June 7 application deadline to allow more stakeholder consultation and that the state must disburse the first federal tranche to LEAs by the May 24 date provided by the U.S. Education Department.
Board members emphasized the importance of sustainability and cautioned LEAs against treating ARP funds as a one-time windfall that creates programs with no long‑term funding plan. ALSDE staff said technical assistance and a state monitoring rubric will be provided and that LEA applications should include baseline measures for pre‑/post‑assessment, program attendance and professional development targets so that the department and LEAs can gauge whether investments produce measurable gains.
ALSDE staff closed by urging districts to build plans that prioritize the most vulnerable students and by noting the department’s weekly federal‑guidance calls with the U.S. Department of Education to track changes in policy and reporting requirements.