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Arkansas education chief outlines ESSER spending, facility projects and mask guidance ahead of school year
Summary
Secretary Johnny Key told the Senate Education Committee that most ESSER I funds are spent, large balances remain in later tranches including ARP ESSER, districts must post local ARP plans, and the department will issue updated masking/quarantine guidance after CDC and legal developments.
Secretary Johnny Key of the Arkansas Department of Education told the Senate Education Committee that the state has substantially spent the first federal relief tranche but still holds large balances in later allocations and that districts must prepare and post local plans before using ARP ESSER funds.
"93% of those funds have been expended to this point," Key said of ESSER I, and he described ESSER II as roughly 45% spent with the rest remaining as of July. On the most recent ARP ESSER funding, Key said the state received "over $1,000,000,000," that those funds carry a three-year period of availability, and that the department has requested an initial $865,000,000 appropriation from the legislative council with additional requests to follow.
Key outlined allowable uses and examples: districts may use funds for…
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