ARP ESSER III funds may be used to implement prevention and mitigation strategies that are, to the greatest extent practicable, consistent with the most recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance on reopening schools. In order to continuously and safely open and operate schools for in-person learning, Calhoun County Schools will use ARP ESSER III funds to implement prevention and mitigation strategies.  Calhoun County Schools are strongly encouraging the use of face masks for staff and students inside of schools.  Students K-12 who use Calhoun County transportation must wear face coverings while on the bus.  CCS will continue to purchase adequate cleaning supplies to clean school facilities, buses, and frequently touched surfaces.  In addition, hand sanitizer will continue to be purchased and placed within each classroom, common areas, and on buses. We will continue to purchase sanitation wipes for our schools to use throughout the school year.  Calhoun County schools are making necessary changes to facilities to mitigate the spread of Covid 19. We plan to install touchless water fountains to refill water bottles throughout the schools. We are looking into renovations to our HVAC systems, windows, and roofs at some of our facilities to help update, improve, and provide air circulation/ventilation within those facilities. Special attention is being given to schools where currently there are leaks, asbestos, and ventilation issues.  We are also planning to replace carpet with flooring that can be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized to the greatest extent practicable in CCS buildings.

The Calhoun County School District has developed plans to address the learning loss of students in each school utilizing current resources and/or additional sources of funding. CCS will use a portion of the ARP ESSER funds to address the academic impact of lost instructional time through the implementation of evidence-based interventions. Strategies the district will utilize include providing after-school tutoring to address loss of learning for students not meeting current grade-level standards.  Summer Learning programs will continue to be funded through ARP ESSER to continue to address lost instructional time during the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 school year for students not meeting current academic expectations. During the after school tutoring and Summer Learning camps, students not meeting learning expectations will be engaged with evidence-based programs facilitated by highly-qualified staff members. The elementary schools will utilize multiple evidence-based intervention programs to address reading deficits such as the SPIRE, IMSE, and Project Read as approved by the Literacy Task Force.  In addition, students in K- 8th grade will be able to be quickly assessed using STAR Early Literacy, STAR Reading, and STAR Math.  Formative assessment data is crucial in understanding gaps in student learning to not only remediate but accelerate learning for all students.  All CCS utilize IXL to aid in the assessment and intervention for learning loss through extra exposure to content and benchmark assessments. Calhoun County high schools and middle schools  will strategically intervene for students in need of credit recovery with the implementation of the web-based program APEX. The platform will also serve as Calhoun County School District’s virtual learning platform, uniquely entitled EXCEL. Schools will receive additional intervention teachers to aid in the instruction and supervision of evidence-based programs. The district will also provide access to high-quality training for staff on evidence-based strategies and/or programs the district implements. All high schools and middle schools have literacy and math instructional partners who will assist in data analysis, planning, and implementation of best practices, intervention strategies, and acceleration classes in order to move students toward mastery of content standards. Calhoun County schools will continue the purchase of Rhithm which is a social and emotional check-in screening tool for staff and students.  The platform provides a quick activity or intervention to regulate emotional well- being based off of student data entered in the screening tool.  

Calhoun County Schools will ensure that no student or teacher will be denied participation based on gender, race, national origin, color, disability, or age.  Some of the following processes will ensure that CCS plans to overcome barriers that could impede access to participation in the ARP ESSER program.   Cleaning the schools and providing hand sanitizer, sanitation supplies, and PPE for every classroom will help prevent the spread of COVID-19 among all students, staff, and families.  The district will also use ARP ESSER funds to provide phone based interpretation services to support instruction and communication for families who are English Learners.  Our district will use ARP ESSER grant funds to purchase hotspots and provide internet access for students experiencing homelessness. To ensure students with disabilities receive FAPE, CCS will purchase a virtual curriculum, Unique Learning, for students who are on the Alabama Alternate Assessment pathway should those students choose to remain virtual.  Students with disabilities as well as general education may use the APEX virtual platform should they choose virtual learning.  General and special education teachers are assigned to students to provide services for those students who elect to remain virtual as well as those who attend face-to-face learning. Our district will use ARP ESSER grant funds for professional development to provide teachers access to best practices to decrease learning loss and accelerate learning for all students.  CCS will use social-emotional screeners for staff and students to assess well being and provide interventions that are based on individual assessments. 

The Federal Programs Director will actively monitor ARP ESSER III grant allocations and the CSFO and Federal Programs Accountant will prepare program budgets, schedules, and budget amendments to ensure compliance with statutory requirements. Additionally, the Federal Programs Director will collect and manage all required data elements by developing systems of collaboration with relevant program directors and supervisors in the collection of required data elements. Required reporting elements will be posted on the Calhoun County Schools' public website.  The Federal Programs Director will audit all purchases prior to the obligation of funds to ensure funds are expended as approved in the ARP ESSER III grant applications. The CSFO will audit expenditures prior to requesting grant reimbursements and maintain documentation necessary for year-end audit reporting. Additional responsibilities include developing systems for assuring compliance with program requirements, monitoring program activities for progress and compliance, and evaluating program results against stated objectives. The Federal Programs Director will also develop program goals in collaboration with district and school leaders, teachers, and other stakeholders. Upon clarification of required monitoring, auditing, and reporting elements at the state and federal levels, CCS will update the procedures for ensuring compliance if necessary.