New Jersey ARP ESSER State Plan Highlights

Summary

State plan highlights for New Jersey’s ARP ESSER funds: a total allocation of $2,766,529,533, of which $1,843,058,469 was released on March 24, 2021 and $923,471,064 on August 12, 2021, against preliminary 2020-2021 statewide enrollment of 1,373,960. Its top priorities are the impact of reduced in-person learning, including unfinished learning, and students’ and staff’s social, emotional and mental health needs. Districts must plan full-day, full-time in-person instruction for 2021-2022. The state plans an Acceleration Coach and Educator Support formula grant weighted toward lower grade bands, Limited English Proficient students and students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, along with summer and after-school formula grants and a grant to hire counselors and other staff. District use-of-funds plans were due November 2021.

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                          New Jersey ARP ESSER State Plan Highlights
Total ARP ESSER allocation for New Jersey: $2,766,529,533
ARP ESSER funding released to New Jersey on March 24, 2021: $1,843,058,469
ARP ESSER funding released to New Jersey on August 12, 2021: $923,471,064
2020-2021 Preliminary Statewide Enrollment: 1,373,960

Top Priorities within New Jersey’s Plan:
   • Addressing the impact of reduced access to in-person learning including unfinished learning
   • Meeting the social, emotional, and mental health needs of students and staff

Highlights of New Jersey’s Plan:
   • Returning to In Person Learning in 2021: New Jersey school districts must plan to provide
       full-day, full-time in person instruction and operations for the 2021-2022 school year. The New
       Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) worked closely with the New Jersey Department of
       Health in its development of COVID-19 public health recommendations for local health
       departments for K–12 schools. That support has helped LEAs implement mitigation policies such
       as proper distancing, face mask requirements, and handwashing etiquette.

   •   Supporting Students Most Impacted by the Pandemic: The NJDOE will provide guidance and
       technical assistance on the use of ARP ESSER funds that highlights how allowable activities may
       be used to advance educational equity. As part of their ARP ESSER Use of Funds application,
       LEAs will be required to provide information on their plans to use ARP ESSER funds to
       implement an equitable and inclusive return to in-person instruction.

   •   Addressing the Academic Impact of Lost Instructional Time: New Jersey plans to establish an
       “Acceleration Coach and Educator Support” formula grant for districts. New Jersey will use a
       weighted enrollment allocation formula that assigns additional weight to lower grade bands,
       Limited English Proficient Students, and students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch.
       Districts will use the grant funds to implement professional learning for staff to help better
       understand needs of their students with regards to learning acceleration and interventions. Funds
       will also be used in developing positive school climate, implementing social and emotional
       learning supports, supporting culturally responsive teaching practices, increasing digital and data
       literacy, engaging educators and parents in the community to personalize students’ learning,
       identifying disproportionate impacts of COVID-19, and other services to support educators
       meeting needs of their students.

   •   Investing in Summer Learning and Expanded Afterschool Programs: The State plans to
       develop a Summer Enrichment Activities formula grant to districts to support summer learning
       academies and tutoring, professional learning for educators, and education and training programs
       for parents and caregivers. Districts must target funds to content areas most impacted by COVID-
       19 at that districts, such as STEM, younger grade levels, or performing arts. Additionally, the
       State plans to establish a Comprehensive Beyond the School Day Activities formula grant which
       will support implementation of research-based programs such as tutoring and broader learning
       supports to families and educators.

   •   Staffing to Support Students’ Needs: The NJDOE will use a portion of its ARP ESSER State
       set-aside to establish a grant to LEAs to support the hiring of staff, including counselors, to
       address students’ and educators’ mental health and social emotional needs.
•   When New Jersey LEA Use of Funds Plans will be Due: November 2021


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