From the report: "The American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER III) provides federal relief funds to states and school districts to help safely reopen and sustain the safe operation of schools and to address the impact the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had on students. The pandemic has had unprecedented and far reaching impacts on K-12 learning. The pandemic widened preexisting achievement gaps, deepened divides in educational opportunities, and created emotional and mental health concerns for students and staff. Since the public health emergency began in March 2020, the Hawai‘i State Department of Education (Department) has taken action to systematically target its efforts and resources to address gaps in educational opportunity and build local capacity to sustain teaching and learning while responding to the urgent needs of students. The Department’s Educational Plan and Fiscal Plan outline the strategies and use of federal relief funds under the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER). These two plans are part of a three-part framework that also includes detailed expenditure reporting."