The American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) Fund allocated $122B toward K-12 schools, representing a historic opportunity to invest in students, equity, and infrastructure. This investment requires the authentic engagement of students, recognizing them as central stakeholders in the education system and co-designers of solutions. As state and local education leaders develop plans for allocating ESSER funds, for 2021 and beyond, it is critical that students participate through transparent, equitable, and collaborative processes. This resource outlines best practices and a roadmap for effective student engagement in relation to building State Education Agency (SEA) and Local Education Agency (LEA) ESSER plans during summer 2021.
Included in this resource is a Recommended Steps and Considerations for SEAs and LEAs to advance student engagement in ARP ESSER planning, with a sample working session template to customize a working session in your state.
