The
American
Rescue
Plan
Act
of
2021
(ARPA)
provides
additional
funding
to
school
systems
to
support
unfinished
learning
efforts.
Prince
William
County
Public
Schools
(PWCS)
is
eligible
for
approximately
$88
million
in
ARPA
funding
with
an
additional
$4.8
million
in
Title
6B
ARPA
funding.
Within
90
days
of
receiving
ESSER
III
formula
funds,
each
school
division
must
make
publicly
available
on
its
website
a
plan
for
its
use
of
funds.
The
PWCS
plan
for
recovery,
acceleration,
and
re-engagement
provides
comprehensive
academic,
social-emotional,
and
mental
health
support
in
schools.
This
legislation
requires
PWCS
to
use
at
least
20%
of
formula
funds
from
ARPA
to
address
learning
loss/unfinished
learning.
The
PWCS
plan
utilizes
approximately
78%
of
the
PWCS
formula
funds
to
address
learning
loss/unfinished
learning,
or
nearly
$72
million
of
the
total
amount
available
to
PWCS.
Aligned
to
the
legislative
requirement,
the
PWCS
plan
was
developed
in
consultation
with
stakeholders,
and
public
comments
provided
were
taken
into
account.
All
PWCS
stakeholders
had
the
opportunity
to
provide
input
via
a
survey
as
well
as
public
meetings
and
School
Board
hearings.
PWCS
will
provide
a
more
detailed
plan
to
the
public
as
part
of
the
final
application
to
the
Virginia
Department
of
Education
(VDOE)
due
by
September
1,
2021.
Once
approved
by
the
VDOE,
funds
will
be
available
to
use
through
September
30,
2024.
ARP Act ESSER III funds may be used to implement prevention and mitigation strategies that are, to the greatest extent practicable, consistent with the most recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance on reopening schools, in order to continuously and safely open and operate schools for in-person learning. Prince William County Public Schools will use approximately $11.6 million of its ARP Act ESSER III funds to implement prevention and mitigation strategies as described below.
Prince William County Public Schools employs the following layered mitigation strategies to maintain the health and safety of its staff, students, and visitors.