The American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief  (ESSER) Grant Program, part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, provides funds to help Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) respond to changes in student needs due to COVID-19. Winchester Public Schools has been awarded this additional funding to address the impact that COVID-19 has had on our schools and to support the long-term work of education recovery.

Our LEA ARP ESSER Plan and LEA Plan for Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan outline our strategies to equitably use this funding, as well as earlier rounds of federal emergency aid, to accelerate a return to in-person learning, while also planning for the long-term and considering the many impacts from this unprecedented challenge that have yet to emerge.

Through ARP ESSER funding we hope to promote safe school operations and equity-driven, sustainable, evidence-based programs to serve students—especially those who are the furthest from opportunity—and continue to strengthen teaching and learning. To this end, we are seeking public comment to assist us in making more effective decisions as we develop plans, implement, and monitor ESSER funding. After reviewing our plans, you can add your feedback anonymously through the public posting below.