Gainesville City School System has received $19,673,093 in federal funds from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act ESSER III. The GCSS ARP Plan aligns to meet the intent of the funds, and all funds are approved at the state and local levels. More detail is included in the linked plan and an update was provided to the Board of Education on the March 6, 2023. Work Session and was shared with School Governance Councils during March meetings. To date, funds have been spent on the following items:
To address learning loss:
- Summer School and Expenses associated with it (teacher/staff pay, instructional/enrichment supplies, snacks, student transportation)
- High Impact Tutoring Services through 3C Tutoring
- After school tutoring with Boys & Girls Club (fee assistance)
- Summer Enrichment Camps (Elachee and Quinlin)
- Panorama Software to identify student academic, behavioral, and attendance concerns
To ensure consistent instruction whether in-person or virtual
- Webcams for interactive flat panels
- Repair costs for student devices
- Purchase UPS’s - Uninterrupted Power Supply units to ensure reliable access to the internet (installed at every school in district)
To support social emotional learning/mental health:
- Panorama Software to identify SEL (social emotional learning) needs
- Hire Mental Health Clinicians at all levels
- Supplies and software to support SEL needs
- Professional learning for mental health supports
To reduce the spread of COVID-19:
- Additional band instruments to reduce sharing of instruments
- Replace bus radios damaged by frequent sanitation
- Purchase barcode scanners and cameras at all locations for identification of visitors and to ensure health/safety of staff/students and to support contact tracing
As stated in the original plan, the following programs were submitted for approval to GaDOE.
Planning and implementing activities related to summer learning and supplemental afterschool programs, including providing classroom instruction or online learning during the summer months and addressing the needs of at-risk populations $5,318,800 (27%)
Tracking student attendance and improving student engagement in distance education. $210,000 (1.1%)
Any activity authorized by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Adult Education and Family Literacy Act, and Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006. $1,885,583 (9.6%)
Activities to address the unique needs of at-risk populations. $6,000,000 (30.5%)
Providing mental health services and supports, including through the implementation of evidence-based full service community schools. $2,500,000 (12.7%)
Purchasing educational technology (including hardware, software, and connectivity) for students who are served by the local educational agency that aids in regular and substantive educational interaction between students and their classroom instructors including low-income students and children with disabilities, which may include assistive technology or adaptive equipment. $3,758,710 (19.1%)
