Puerto Rico ARP ESSER State Plan Highlights

Summary

Highlights of Puerto Rico's ARP ESSER state plan, which lists a total allocation of $2,968,079,229, of which $1,977,292,507 was released on March 24, 2021 and $990,786,722 on November 16, 2021, and 2020-2021 preliminary enrollment of 276,413. It reports that in the 2021-2022 academic year 770 of 860 schools were providing full-time in-person instruction, and that as of September 2021 more than 96 percent of school personnel were vaccinated. The Puerto Rico Department of Education (PRDE) plans to use the funds to expand tutoring by the University of Puerto Rico, extend afterschool programs and recruit 429 school nurses and 116 additional school psychologists. It also plans to replace outdated HVAC systems and windows, dispose of contaminated furniture and further compensate staff as a retention strategy.

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                           Puerto Rico ARP ESSER State Plan Highlights

Total ARP ESSER allocation for Puerto Rico: $2,968,079,229
ARP ESSER funding released to Puerto Rico on March 24, 2021: $1,977,292,507
ARP ESSER funding released to Puerto on November 16, 2021: $990,786,722
2020-2021 Preliminary Enrollment: 276,413

Top Priorities:
   • Addressing unfinished learning through acceleration strategies
   • Supporting the academic, social-emotional, and health needs of students and educators
   • Addressing staffing shortages and capacity concerns in schools and regions

Highlights of Puerto Rico’s Plan:
   • Returning to In-Person Learning: For the 2021-2022 academic year, 770 of 860 schools are
       providing full-time in-person instruction, while 31 schools are providing remote instruction and
       59 schools are providing hybrid instruction. Physical damage to school buildings as a result of
       earlier natural disasters has prevented some schools from opening for in-person instruction.
       PRDE projects that the remaining schools will be moving to in-person instruction in January
       2022.

    •   Safely Reopening Schools and Sustaining Safe Operations: In collaboration with the Health
        Department of Puerto Rico, the Puerto Rico Department of Education (PRDE) has conducted
        three vaccination campaigns designed to increase vaccine awareness and trust. Vaccination is
        mandatory for educators and staff in public schools. As of September 2021, more than 96 percent
        of school personnel was vaccinated, more than 75 percent of students ages 12 through 15 years
        were vaccinated, and more than 85 percent of students 16 years or older were vaccinated.
        Furthermore, in September 2021, a collaboration agreement was formalized between PRDE, the
        Puerto Rico Department of Health, and VocesPR to promote the vaccination for students 12 years
        or older, through the initiative Vacu Tour Back to School. Additionally, the PRDH developed a
        vaccination plan to provide the vaccination through phases. Phase I included the pediatricians,
        hospitals and pharmacies, achieving the vaccination of more than 20 thousand children. Phase II
        starts later this Fall and is called the Vacu Tour Kids. Vaccination clinics will be coordinated
        between the PRDH authorized providers and school directors.

    •   Addressing the Academic Impact of Lost Instructional Time: PRDE will use ARP ESSER
        funds to expand and extend tutoring services provided by the University of Puerto Rico (UPR),
        prioritizing students with disabilities among other groups of students most impacted by the
        pandemic. The Professional Development and University Relationship Institute in collaboration
        with UPR is offering tutoring services for students from the 3rd and 12th grade. PRDE plans to
        expand these services to all students and extend the tutoring program through 2024.

    •   Investing in Expanded Afterschool Programs: PRDE will use ARP ESSER funds to expand its
        Extended Academic Enhancement Initiative, which is an extended-hour supervised study and
        tutoring program available to all students in math, science, English, social studies, fine arts,
        physical education, school health, and occupational programs. Schools will provide additional
        support for students with disabilities, students experiencing chronic absenteeism, students with
        health issues, students experiencing discipline challenges, students with low academic
        achievement, and other groups of students most impacted by the pandemic. PRDE has rolled out
        the Student Profile Platform that provides school communities detailed data and information
        regarding their students’ academic achievement and the precise subject matters where students
    require additional academic interventions. In addition, PRDE has implemented the Resfuerzo
    Academico Extendido, (RAE) Project (Extended Academic Reinforcement), which is currently
    impacting over 600 schools and is set to be implemented in the remaining schools next school
    year, and offers three hours of additional academic support to students in math, English, science,
    and Spanish.

•   Supporting Students’ and Educators Social, Emotional, and Mental Health Needs: PRDE
    will use ARP ESSER funds to hire more school health staff and evaluate the effectiveness of
    social-emotional health interventions. PRDE plans to use ARP ESSER funds to recruit 429
    school nurses and 116 additional school psychologists. In addition, to help schools identify and
    respond to the impact of the pandemic on student well-being, PRDE will support schools by
    performing initial screenings for all students, identifying students at-risk for mental health
    concerns, and addressing students’ mental and behavioral health needs. An interdisciplinary
    socio-emotional team will assist teachers through this process.

•   Supporting Students with Disabilities: To assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on
    students with disabilities, PRDE has developed guidelines and protocols to assist in identifying
    any skill loss, lack of adequate progress, learning loss, or the emergence of new needs that
    students may have experienced.

•   Improving School Facilities to Promote Health: PRDE will invest ARP ESSER funds to create
    classrooms that meet standards for accessibility and safety in response to the pandemic. PRDE
    will dispose of contaminated furniture that is presenting mold, fungus, or rust built-up from the
    lockdown. In order to improve air ventilation for the health and safety of students, faculty, and
    staff, PRDE will work with specialized contractors to replace and update windows that are not
    properly functioning and will replace outdated HVAC systems with upgrades that meet standards
    identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

•   Supporting the Educator Workforce: PRDE has identified multiple shortages in the educator
    workforce. PRDE plans to use ARP ESSER funds to further compensate staff as a retention
    strategy. These strategies include, but are not limited to, improve school environments, provide
    needed academic resources, materials and equipment, stipends, recruitment of necessary school
    and Regional Education Office staff that support teachers, internships, professional development
    with credit hours, specialized professional development to support teachers, and target support
    related to accelerated learning.


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