News

State-Required Return to Learn Plan Review & Update

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 and updated guidance can be viewed here. The plan was last formally reviewed and public input was last formally sought in January 2022. As a result, we are once again seeking public input on the Return to Learn plan. 

Iowa Law currently requires schools to provide fully in-person learning. 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 to reflect the state of affairs at the end of the 2021-2022 school year.

The public is invited to provide feedback on the addendum utilizing the form below through July 29, 2022. The Ankeny Board of Education will then review the addendum at the August 1, 2022 board meeting.