District seeking public input on spending millions in federal funding

Press release from Alachua County Public Schools

Alachua County Public Schools (ACPS) is reaching out to students, parents, employees, and all citizens to get their ideas on the best ways to spend new education funding from the federal government.

The district will be receiving about $60 million from the American Rescue Plan ESSER (Elementary and Secondary Emergency Relief) program, which has been set aside to help the nation’s schools address the short- and long-term impacts of COVID. The money can also be used to address issues that existed before COVID, such as the achievement gap.

While there are guidelines school districts must follow in spending the ESSER money, there is significant flexibility within those guidelines. ACPS is asking local stakeholders to share their input on how to use the funding, such as addressing learning loss due to the pandemic, summer and afterschool programs, technology, and meeting the needs of at-risk students.

A survey has been created for anyone interested in providing their input. That survey is available at: . The link has already been sent to all families and ACPS staff.

The deadline to complete the survey is Friday, December 10, at 11:59 p.m.

The survey also includes a link to a one-page information sheet about the ESSER grant.