The North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District will be receiving funds through the Federal American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER). Below are responses as to how that money will be used in the district:
- The extent to which and how the funds will be used to implement prevention and mitigation strategies that are to the greatest extent practicable consistent with the most recent CDC guidance on reopening schools in order to continuously and safely open and operate schools for in-person learning.
Although the LEA has and will continue to implement prevention and mitigation strategies, the funds will not be used for this purpose.
- How the LEA will use the funds it reserves under section 2001(e)(1) of the ARP Act to address the academic impact of lost instructional time through the implementation of evidence-based interventions such as summer learning or summer enrichment extended day comprehensive afterschool programs or extended school year.
The LEA will use funds to develop and implement a summer enrichment program for students and provide 1:1 tutoring for students after school. We will also use funds for professional development for our staff members on how best to address learning loss.
- How the LEA will spend its remaining ARP ESSER funds consistent with section 2001(e)(2) of the ARP Act.
The LEA will use the remaining funds to support students’ mental health needs.
- How the LEA will ensure that the interventions it implements, including but not limited to the interventions implemented under section 2001(e)(1) of the ARP Act to address the academic impact of lost instructional time, will respond to the academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs of all students, and particularly those students disproportionately impacted by the COVID–19 pandemic, including students from low-income families, students of color, English learners, children with disabilities, students experiencing homelessness, children in foster care, and migratory students. Under this requirement, an LEA must engage in meaningful consultation with stakeholders and give the public an opportunity to provide input in the development of its plan. Specifically, an LEA must engage in meaningful consultation with students; families; school and district administrators (including special education administrators); and teachers, principals, school leaders, other educators, school staff, and their unions.
The LEA met with stakeholders on 10/25/21 to get feedback on how best to use the funds. In addition, the LEA posted a notice on its website to solicit feedback from the community on how best to use the funds. Most of the feedback was on the need to support students’ mental health needs and provide 1:1 tutoring for students.
- Additionally, an LEA must engage in meaningful consultation with each of the following, to the extent present in or served by the LEA: Tribes; civil rights organizations (including disability rights organizations); and stakeholders representing the interests of children with disabilities, English learners, children experiencing homelessness, children in foster care, migratory students, children who are incarcerated, and other underserved students.
The LEA met with stakeholders on 10/25/21 to get feedback on how best to use the funds. In addition, the LEA posted a notice on its website to solicit feedback from the community on how best to use the funds.
