NC Wins Approval of Plan for Federal COVID-19 Relief Funds for Schools

The U.S. Department of Education has approved North Carolina’s spending plan for the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) Fund, the state will receive $1.2 billion remaining from a $3.6 billion allocation to help public schools and students recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The state received $2.4 billion in March from the ARP ESSER fund, with the final one-third of the full allotment, or $1.2 billion, pending approval of the state’s plan by the U.S. Department of Education.

Districts and schools are receiving 90 percent of the state’s total $3.6 billion allocation, based on the same proportions used for allocating federal Title I funds keyed to census poverty estimates. The remaining 10 percent, or $360 million, will support statewide initiatives to help schools and students recover from pandemic-related disruptions and to also improve outcomes long term.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt said the plan that has earned federal approval will help North Carolina address both present and future education needs.

“North Carolina’s plan for this funding isn’t just about recovering from the pandemic – it’s about rebuilding and re-envisioning the education landscape in our state,” Truitt said.

“This plan is a product of thoughtful collaboration across the department and among key partners including the General Assembly, with a focus on strategically investing money to meet the unique needs of every student,” she said. “The newly-established Office of Learning Recovery and Acceleration is prepared to direct these funds in ways that will support teachers, uplift students and engage our community so we can foster a resilient recovery, where students are presented with better outcomes and new opportunities.”

The Department of Public Instruction will use the funds to launch a number of evidence-based initiatives to support schools statewide, including $30 million for high-impact tutoring, $19 million for a competency-based assessment and platform and $35 million for a competitive grant program for summer-school and after-school extensions.  

• LINK - DPI information on COVID Funds

Find more information here about North Carolina's plan from the U.S. Department of Education. 

• EdNC - Anna Pogarcic Sept. 13, 2021: Department of Education approves N.C.’s spending plan for COVID-19 funds   

State Superintendent Truitt Unveils Operation Polaris

Four-year strategic vision aimed at improving outcomes for NC students

As schools across North Carolina focus on efforts to recover ground lost last year to COVID-19, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt released details of her strategic vision, called Operation Polaris, aimed at achieving gains for public education in the state – now and in the future. 

The plan, detailed in a 32-page document posted September 15, 2021 to the Department of Public Instruction’s website, outlines a coordinated effort to better mobilize the agency’s resources and expertise in response both to immediate needs resulting from the pandemic and lasting efforts to improve student outcomes long term. The plan aligns with the goals of the State Board of Education’s 2025 Statewide Strategic Plan. 

 “The disruptions to education caused by the pandemic demand an urgent and effective response,” Truitt said, “but we must not miss this opportunity to rethink and retool our strategies for teaching and learning to ensure a sound, basic education for all students.” 

When Truitt first unveiled the broad outlines of Operation Polaris in April to the State Board of Education, she said the initiative will be guided by her North Star – “that every student deserves a highly qualified, excellent teacher in every classroom.” She told the board that her North Star is a “navigational tool” to ensure that students remain at the center of the department’s work. “It’s how we stay on course no matter where we are.” 

The focal point for Operation Polaris is the Office of Learning Recovery and Acceleration, launched earlier this year to serve districts and schools with support in making evidence-based decisions to help students overcome the impact of lost instructional time and also accelerate their learning. The new office will work in tandem with four key areas within DPI: literacy, student support services, accountability and testing and human capital. 

Each of the four programmatic areas is led by individual work groups comprised of leaders within DPI as well as external educators and others, including local superintendents and principals and leaders in higher education and business. 

The work groups will continue to meet throughout the years to help refine the plan, which will continue to evolve. 

Michael Maher, director of the Office of Learning Recovery and Acceleration, said the mission of his office is to provide districts and schools with support and a menu of evidence-based solutions that they can apply to their specific needs and circumstances. 

“We will continue making substantial and strategic investments to support learning recovery, with a particular focus on students who have been disproportionately impacted,” he said. “This isn’t a short-term fix. It’s going to take time and, DPI is invested in this long-term plan to scale and sustain programs that show positive impact for all students.”   

Link to News Release

• Click here to read Superintendent Truitt’s Operation Polaris

But it is easy to understand how resilient this community remains, how incredibly dedicated Haywood County Schools is to serving their students, regardless the circumstances, and how hopeful they ALL are to return to the stands to rally another comeback.