This blog series is designed to support school-based administrators in addressing the US Department of Education’s call to action, via the Return to School Roadmap, for federal, state, and local leaders to close the performance gap for students with disabilities during the 2021–2022 school year.

The American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) Fund provides substantial funding to support the reopening of schools and to address the academic, social, emotional, and mental health concerns that have arisen as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about an unprecedented number of challenges facing schools and students as they approach in-person learning this fall.

Over the summer, state education agencies required local school districts to create “re-entry plans” to outline how students can safely and equitably return to school in multiple learning environments. These plans primarily focused on supporting the majority of students but offered minimal, if any, support on the unique needs of students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). That’s according to an article authored by special education subject matter expert (SME) Matthew Korobkin that was published by eSchool News on September 25, 2020.