American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education
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The American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education’s (AACTE) advocacy work is focused on amplifying the perspectives of our members in order to inform and influence policy makers as they debate and consider policies that significantly impact your work and the U.S. education system. As we face the impact of COVID-19, teacher shortages, social injustice, and enrollment and funding challenges, AACTE’s advocacy mission is more important than ever—and that is why we are asking you to take a seat at the table.
On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed into law the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP), which includes $122 billion for the ARP Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) Fund. These funds are provided to state educational agencies and school districts to help safely reopen and sustain the safe operation of schools and address the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the nation’s students.
The U.S. Department of Education recently announced how much each state will receive through ARP ESSER and that the funds will be available for use through September 2024. The ARP ESSER funds are designed to help alleviate some of the challenges school district leaders face to “hire, recruit, and retain quality staff during severe labor market shortages while providing supplemental emergency benefits and compensation during the pandemic."