Bald Knob School District has developed, initiated, and monitored actions to ensure equitable participation in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act programs, Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act programs, American Rescue Plan programs, federal programs, and all other District initiatives. These measures are put in place to ensure access for students, teachers, and all other beneficiaries.

Bald Knob School District recognizes that barriers such as gender, race, national origin, color, disability, or age may result in disparate access, participation, and achievement. However, Bald Knob School District does not believe that challenges are limited to these groups nor does the District believe that these barriers accurately and universally apply to each individual. Consequently, Bald Knob School District perpetually implements measures to identify and meet the needs of each family and student regardless of gender, race, national origin, color, disability, or age. Superintendent Gipson routinely engages with local, regional, and Arkansas stakeholders to ascertain challenges and develop solutions for the patrons of BKSD. Mrs. Gipson routinely disaggregates, clarifies, and distributes this information to parents, students, and staff. In addition to distributing information to community stakeholders, BKSD sends out multiple surveys to parents, scholars, and staff. The surveys provide the District with information regarding the challenges and support that each student has in place. Furthermore, BKSD campus administrators and staff engage in ongoing initiatives to initiate and maintain communication with scholars and parents. The surveys and individual contacts generate the information needed to meet the needs of each BKSD scholar. Bald Knob School District provides the technology hardware needed for each scholar to engage in learning at school and home. BKSD developed online learning tools, lessons, and activities so that all scholars could overcome barriers to learning. Through surveys and phone calls, BKSD identifies homes without internet capacity. BKSD distributes hot spots to impacted families to ensure that each scholar has equitable access to all BKSD learning programs. BKSD provides occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, and other peripheral services to scholars with special needs. Bald Knob School District recognizes that proper nutrition is essential for student health, education, and development. BKSD provides meals to all scholars to ensure their ongoing well-being. BKSD is committed to ensuring the equitable participation of all scholars, teachers, and families.

BKSD will use grant funds to help with paying supplemental instructional employees. Our rural school district has a high poverty base and these funds will greatly help with the much needed supplemental intervention and coaching services. We will ensure that no student or teacher will be denied participation based on gender, race, national origin, disability or age.

A majority of students in the BKSD are from low socioeconomic families, with over 60% available for Free/Reduced Lunch Program. As a result, we plan to use grant funds to integrate technology in all classrooms and on teacher professional development. Students who participate in supplemental programs and all other students in the district will have equal access to these resources. In addition, all teachers will have access to professional development, including those who serve at-risk students.

BKSD will use grant funds to purchase devices and other related items to support the upgrade to our technology and internet needs. Due to our number of low-income students/families, many students do not have the ability to use digital devices on their own. The district is committed to offering a technology rich educational experience for all of our students. These funds will also be used to provide professional development opportunities to our teachers, which they would not otherwise have. We will ensure that no student or teacher will be denied participation based on gender, race, national origin, disability or age.

BKSD will use grant funds to purchase technology as part of our school-wide technology upgrade. Due to a large number of our students in the district being from low socioeconomic families, the district will use grant funds to integrate technology in all classrooms. All students in the district will have equal access to these resources. We will ensure that no student or teacher will be denied participation based on gender, race, national origin, disability or age.