The Department of Education ("Department") establishes interim final requirements for the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief ("ARP ESSER") Fund, under section 2001 of the American Rescue Plan ("ARP") Act of 2021. These requirements are intended to promote accountability, transparency, and the effective use of funds by: Ensuring that each State educational agency ("SEA") meaningfully engages in stakeholder consultation and takes public input into account in the development of its ARP ESSER plan; ensuring that each local educational agency ("LEA") develops a plan for the use of its ARP ESSER funds and engages in meaningful consultation and seeks public input as it develops the LEA ARP ESSER plan; and clarifying how an LEA must meet the statutory requirement to develop a plan for the safe return to in-person instruction and continuity of services.