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# U.S. Department of Education Approves New Mexico’s Plan for Use of American Rescue Plan Funds to Support K-12 Schools and Students, Distributes Remaining $327 Million To State

# U.S. Department of Education Approves New Mexico’s Plan for Use of American Rescue Plan Funds to Support K-12 Schools and Students, Distributes Remaining $327 Million To State

July 22, 2021

**Contact:  **press@ed.gov

                                    -  	More Resources	New Mexico Fact Sheet      
Today, the U.S.  Department of Education (Department) announced the approval of New Mexico’s  American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP  ESSER) plan and distributed remaining ARP ESSER funds to them. New Mexico’s  plan details how the state is using and plans to use ARP ESSER funds to safely  reopen and sustain the safe operation of schools and equitably expand  opportunity for students who need it most, particularly those most impacted by  the COVID-19 pandemic.

Earlier this year,  the Department distributed two thirds of the ARP ESSER funds, totaling $81  billion, to 50 states and the District of Columbia. The remaining third of the  funding to states will be made available once state plans are  approved. New Mexico is receiving more than $979 million total in ARP  ESSER funds, and today’s approval of their plan will result in the  release of the final $327 million. Additionally, the Department  approved plans for Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, and Kansas. Earlier this month, the  Department approved the plans for 11 other states and the District of Columbia.

“I am excited to announce approval of New Mexico’s  plan,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “It is  heartening to see, reflected in these state plans, the ways in  which states are thinking deeply about how to use American Rescue  Plan funds to continue to provide critical support to schools and  communities, particularly as we move into the summer and look ahead to the  upcoming academic year. The approval of these plans enables states to  receive vital, additional American Rescue Plan funds to quickly and safely  reopen schools for full-time, in-person learning; meet students’ academic,  social, emotional, and mental health needs; and address disparities in access  to educational opportunity that were exacerbated by the coronavirus  pandemic. The state plans that have been submitted to the Department lay  the groundwork for the ways in which an unprecedented infusion of federal  resources will be used to address the urgent needs of America’s children and  build back better.”

“The state of New  Mexico is proud to have the ARP ESSER state plan approved,” said New Mexico  Secretary of Public Education Dr. Ryan Stewart. “This plan reflects the input  of hundreds of stakeholders throughout the state. The use of these funds will  bring relief and opportunity to every student in our state, and will position  New Mexico to bounce back strongly from the pandemic. We look forward to the  impact these investments will have on students and educators for years to  come.”

“The pandemic  posed a serious challenge to our students, teachers, and schools, and it’s  crucial that students, families, and teachers have the resources and support  that they need to learn and succeed,” said Sen. Ben Ray Luján. “The American  Rescue Plan included robust support for K-12 schools, and I’m glad that the  Department of Education approved New Mexico’s plan to respond to students’  needs and ensure that they can safely return to school, accelerate their  learning, and address disparities that were exacerbated by the pandemic.” 

“Faced with an  unprecedented pandemic, Congress and the Biden Administration responded with  life changing resources for our communities,” said Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez.  “The American Rescue Plan provided the investments needed for our students and  teachers to get back into the classrooms. I’m glad to see the Department of  Education approve New Mexico’s plan to keep our schools safe and help our most  vulnerable students thrive as we come out of this pandemic. These funds will  allow our schools to address learning loss and help our students and educators  through the social and emotional toll of the pandemic.”

The  ARP ESSER state plans approved by the Department today, including New Mexico,  show how states are using federal pandemic resources to support safe in-person  instruction and meet the social, emotional, mental health, and academic needs  of students—with a focus on the students most impacted by the pandemic. For  example:
- Addressing the Academic Impact of Lost Instructional       Time:  The New Mexico       Public Education Department (NMPED) will use $22 million in ARP ESSER       funds to support strategies to accelerate learning. This includes       professional learning on academic acceleration, communities of practice       for educators and administrators, developing high-dosage tutoring programs       which include evidence-based curriculum and pedagogy, and peer-to-peer       tutoring and mentoring. 
- Investing       in Summer Learning Programs:  NMPED established a joint       internship in tribal, county, or municipal governments, between NMPED and       local municipalities for students and to reengage at-risk youth for the       2021-22 school year using $6 million in ARP ESSER funding. In addition,       NMPED will use $3.8 million in ARP ESSER funding to provide grants to       districts and partner organizations to run summer programs in five key       areas: 1) STEM programs, 2) outdoor, environmental education programs, 3)       museum-based, arts, or cultural programs, 4) at-risk youth and       teen-oriented programs, and 5
- Investing       in Afterschool Programs:  NMPED will provide a request       for applications to community organizations to provide evidence-based services       to students, including expanding Community Schools, which provide extended       learning time and wraparound services. These programs will use hands-on       learning experiences and encourage discovery and team building. NMPED also       will use ARP ESSER funds to provide paid internships for high school       students. 

A  total of 41 states and the District of Columbia have submitted their ARP ESSER  state plans to the Department. The Department is reviewing the plans  expeditiously and is in contact with states to ensure their plans meet all  necessary requirements in order to access the remaining funds, as outlined in  the ARP. The Department also is in contact with states that have not yet  submitted plans, the vast majority of which are due  to state board of education or legislative review requirements.

    The distribution of ARP ESSER funds is part of the Department’s  broader effort to support students and districts as they work to reengage  students impacted by the pandemic, address inequities exacerbated by COVID-19,  and build our education system back better than before. In addition to  providing $130 billion for K-12 education in the American Rescue Plan to  support the safe reopening of K-12 schools and meet the needs of all students,  the Biden-Harris Administration also has: 
- Released       three  volumes of the COVID-19 Handbook.   Held       a National Safe School Reopening       Summit.  Prioritized       the vaccination of educators, school staff and child care workers. As of       the end of May an estimated 84% of teachers and school staff were fully       vaccinated.   Provided       $10 billion in funding for COVID-19 testing for PreK-12 educators, staff,       and students.   Launched       a series of Equity Summits focused on addressing inequities that existed       before, but were made worse by the pandemic.  Released       a report on the disparate impacts of COVID-19 on       underserved communities.  Developed       a Safer Schools and Campuses       Best Practices Clearinghouse elevating hundreds of best practices to support schools’       efforts to reopen safely and address the impacts of COVID-19 on students,       educators, and communities.   In addition to the actions the Biden Administration  has taken to reopen schools, the President has proposed critical investments  through his Build Back Better agenda that will enable schools to rebuild  stronger than they were before the pandemic, such as investing billions to  build a diverse educator workforce, expand access to pre-K to all families, and  invest in school infrastructure, among other provisions.      -  Tags: New MexicoAmerican Rescue PlanPress Releases
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