American Rescue Plan Act
About the Act
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) was signed into law on March 11, 2021. ARP appropriated an unprecedented $1.9 trillion package of federal assistance measures, including $122.8 billion for the ARP Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) fund, with $800 million set aside for serving children and youth experiencing homelessness (ARP-HCY; see Regulations and Guidance below).
ESSER Funds are provided to state educational agencies (SEAs) and local educational agencies (LEAs) to help safely reopen and sustain the safe operation of schools and address the impact of COVID-19 on the nation’s students. ARP-HCY funds are provided to SEAs and LEAs to identify homeless children and youth, provide homeless children and youth with wraparound services, and enable homeless children and youth to attend school and participate fully in school activities. ARP-HCY funds were distributed to states in two separate disbursements (ARP Homeless I and ARP Homeless II).
Legislation
- View the full text of the American Rescue Plan Act (HTML)
- Download the full text of the American Rescue Plan Act (PDF)
- View the full text of the ARP-HCY excerpt (PDF)
Regulations and Guidance
- Visit the U.S. Department of Education’s American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief – Homeless Children and Youth (ARP-HCY) webpage
- Download the September 2023 ARP-HCY Dear Colleague Letter (updated for final year of ARP-HCY implementation)
- Download the U.S. Department of Education Dear Colleague Letter on supporting immigrant students, including those experiencing homelessness using ARP-HCY funds (Sept 2023)
- Download the April 2021 ARP-HCY Dear Colleague Letter
- View Frequently Asked ARP-HCY Questions and Answers
- View ARP-HCY state plans
California Department of Education (CDE) Resources
- CDE American Rescue Plan - Homeless Children and Youth (ARP-HCY) webpage
- CDE Webinar (Sept 2023): It's Time to Spend Your American Rescue Plan – Homeless Children and Youth Funds