The American Rescue Plan (ARP) provides $130 billion in K-12 education funding to support schools in safely reopening. Michigan’s allocation is $3.7 billion, while in Illinois, it’s $5 billion.
School districts facing outdated infrastructure, including safety and security systems, should start planning their needed upgrades. That’s because a whole lot of federal funding has recently become available for these types of projects.
President Joe Biden’s administration and Congress have authorized billions in funding via the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to help campuses recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Campus Safety Magazine, that’s on top of the funding from the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) that was approved in late December, along with the funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act that was passed in the Spring of 2020.
This money can be used for a wide variety of solutions that improve the long-term safety and health of students, faculty and staff, such as heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, video surveillance technology, access control, emergency notification systems, lighting and more.
School districts can seek information on obtaining funding through their state education departments and to learn more about funding applications and the approval process.
For K-12 schools, the ARP funding is allocated through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund. It is distributed – based on the Title I enrollment numbers – to public schools through state education departments and to private and parochial schools through local educational authorities (LEAs).
Each state identifies an LEA differently – some legislate by region, others by county or city. School officials are advised to check with their state education department to identify their local LEA and how to apply for funding.
The deadline for claiming ARP funds is Sept. 30, 2021, with the ability to expand the funding for two calendar years afterward.
Sonitrol Great Lakes can help K-12 schools navigate the noise and determine a strategy for leveraging ARP funds that can help bring students, teachers, administrators and staff back through their doors safely. Contact us to learn more.