ARP Use of Funds

JTHS is allocating the remaining $4,483,487 of the ARP funds to address the academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs of students returning to in-person learning. Funds will be utilized in the following ways: 

• Addition of 4 teachers to facilitate MTSS Grade Level Team processes 

• Addition of 2 Math Interventionists to provide targeted support in Mathematics classrooms  

• Addition of 2 Social Workers to provide support to students relating to social, emotional, and mental health 

• Pay staff salaries and benefits associated with after school, and summer programs 
  o   Summer School Recovery 
  o   Gateway to Graduation 1.0 Credit Recovery Program 
  o   Summer Bridge (Incoming Freshmen)  
  o   Freshmen Orientation 
  o   After School Student Groups 
  o   Summer School Transportation Staff 

• Provide Resources for a Summer Reading Program 

• Programs/Resources to support instruction and intervention programs  

• Panorama Platform (Student Dashboard and SEL Benchmark Assessment) 

• Supplies/materials for SEL Support programs and groups 

• Licenses and payments for external Mental Health Supports to supplement District Staff capacity in the community 

• Staff Development in Trauma-Informed Verbal De-escalation 

• Expansion of Staff ESL endorsement to meet the needs of EL students who were disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 

• Home Visits to re-engage students and families in the educational experience 

The district monitors the impact of all programming on a regular basis. JTHS 204 utilizes nationally normed benchmark assessments (STAR Reading, STAR Math, and Panorama SEL) to assess the needs and growth of students holistically and disaggregated by subgroups. Additional updates are provided to the Board of Education as specific programs are completed. Data included in program updates are always disaggregated in order to monitor the effectiveness of each program’s effectiveness at supporting the students most impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sub-groups of focus for ARP funds at JTHS include, but are not limited to, the following: Students receiving EL services, Students experiencing Homelessness, Students identified as low-income, Students who are Black or Hispanic. Information will also be reported annually through the GATA report as submitted in IWAS to the Illinois State Board of Education.