Nevada seeks public comment on federal education funding

Deadline for input is 5 p.m. on Aug. 9. To submit public comment, fill out the online public comment portal at https://doe.nv.gov/home/Public_Comment_ARPESSER/.

Last week, DOE published its State Plan for use of the state’s share of $1.07 billion in funding through the American Rescue Plan Act’s Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief fund.

ARP ESSER plans must describe how each state will ensure transparency in planning, identifying and meeting the needs of students most impacted by the pandemic, invest in evidence-based interventions and prioritize educational equity, meaningful stakeholder engagement and strong fiscal oversight.

Nevada’s plan was developed based on stakeholder consultation. The department hosted more than 30 stakeholder meetings with hundreds of stakeholders, including students, educators, families, tribal nations, civil rights organizations including disabilities rights organizations and school and district administrators, among others. In addition, numerous feedback sessions focused on the distinct needs of student groups, including students with disabilities, students who are English learners and students experiencing homelessness.

In addition to the $107 million in funding available to the Nevada Department of Education, the 17 county school districts and State Public Charter School Authority received a cumulative $966 million through the American Rescue Plan for which they also must create spending plans.

Guiding all funding decisions are the statewide priorities for COVID-19 response and recovery, which were established by NDE in partnership with the Nevada State Board of Education. These priorities are:

• Closing opportunity gaps for students who have been traditionally underserved
• Safe, efficient and equitable reopening of school buildings
• Access to technological capacity for educators, students and families
• Social and emotional support of students, educators and staff
• Access to high-quality professional development for educators
• Access to high-quality instructional materials for educators and students
• Support of parents, families and communities
• Access to adult education and workforce development opportunities

Additional details on the three rounds of federal relief funding for education can be accessed at the NDE website, Federal Relief Funding for K-12 Education.