APR ESSR grants

(Note: This information will remain available through Sept. 2027)

In 2021, the federal government made Elementary and Secondary Schools Relief (ESSR) funds available to schools under the American Recovery Act of 2021 (ARP). The monies are to help combat the loss of learning and gaps in student social and emotional learning brought about by the pandemic. They are also to provide students with a safe environment in which to learn. The New York State Education Department oversees the distribution of these funds to school districts through a grant application process. Central Valley CSD submitted grant proposals under several rounds of funding. The funds are to help cover additional programs and staffing, and learning and safety equipment for the period March 13, 2020 - September 30, 2024.

To plan for the most effective use of the funds, Central Valley CSD surveyed parents and instructional staff, asking what gaps they saw in academics and student social and emotional learning. The surveys also asked what programs they felt would help close those gaps. Using this as a starting point, district and building administrators worked with each other, teachers, companies, and local agencies to address the identified needs. Administrators developed a plan that became the foundation for the grant applications.

In general terms, Central Valley CSD's plan works to close identified gaps by:

  • Reducing the teacher-to-student ratio in classrooms, particularly at the elementary and middle schools,

  • Expanding in-school academic supports for ELA and math,

  • Increasing social worker and counselor staffing levels,

  • Expanding physical and emotional health programming,

  • Partnering with Connected Community Schools to link school families with local services,

  • Creating a district-wide after school tutoring program,

  • Expanding summer school programming and providing summer enrichment, and

  • Providing curriculum and associated professional development that address identified areas.

In addition, Central Valley invested in:

  • Equipment and staff to better maintain the facilities,

  • Updated technology to enable continuity of learning if ever forced to educate remotely in the future, and

  • Updated safety equipment and protocols.

It should be noted that these plans are constantly evaluated for their effectiveness and are updated as needed. Central Valley CSD remains accountable to the local taxpayer and NYSED for the responsible and appropriate use of these funds. To that end, details related to the grants can be found below. These are PDFs generated from the NYSED portal and are not ADA compliant. For anyone needing help accessing this information in print or in another format, please reach out to James Humphrey, Business Administrator at 315-894-9934.

Grant documents