Skip to content
June 22, 2021

Return to Learn: Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan

On April 21, 2021, the U.S. Department of Education (USED) released its American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ARP ESSER or ESSER III) interim final requirements related to district ESSER III plans and district plans for a safe return to in-person instruction and continuity of services. (ESSER III State and Local Plan Requirements)

As part of this plan, each district must assure that it will: 

  • Review its Return to Learn plan at least every six months until September 30, 2023, including seeking and considering public input regarding whether to revise its plan, and
  • Revise its Return to Learn plan (when necessary) at least every six months to ensure it remains relevant and meets statutory and regulatory requirements, including seeking public input on any revisions to its plan

Ankeny’s existing state-approved Return to Learn plan can be viewed here.

Iowa Law currently requires schools to provide fully in-person learning and make mask wearing optional. The other components of the district’s Return to Learn plan will only be used as directed by State of Iowa and/or Iowa Department of Education

Therefore, the district is proposing the following ACSD Return to Learn Addendum as an update to the existing plan.

The public is invited to provide feedback on the addendum utilizing the form below through July 2, 2021, which was also reviewed at the June 2021 School Improvement Advisory Council (SIAC) meeting.