The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) provided a $122 billion historic federal investment in K-12 education to help states and districts safely reopen schools and address students’ academic, social, and emotional learning in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Under ARP, states and districts are required to spend 5 percent and 20 percent of funds respectively to address learning loss through evidence-based interventions that respond to the academic, social, and emotional needs of students.
CASEL has recommended three priority areas for social and emotional learning (SEL) investment that can assist states and districts in optimizing ARP for student success:
- Promote social and emotional learning (SEL) for students
- Align SEL efforts across schools, families, and communities
- Support adult SEL competencies and capacity building
Publications in Series
The first of three "bright spot" briefs dives deeper into examples of how states are leveraging ARP funds to improve SEL for all students.
The second of three "bright spot" briefs examines how states are leveraging ARP funds to improve SEL for all students through collaboration among schools, families, and communities.
The final of three "bright spot" briefs examines how states are leveraging ARP funds to improve students’ learning and social and emotional well-being by strengthening adult SEL competency and capacity.