The emergence of COVID-19 variants is impacting schools working through exactly how to spend the federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) stimulus funds. On the one hand, these American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds give school leaders a chance to incorporate research-based whole child teaching and learning that focuses on each student’s learner variability, unique cultural identity, and ability. On the other hand, there’s a risk that this one-time funding will bring about short-term solutions. This means that local school systems are working to accomplish long-lasting change by revising our budget intentionally with the goal to employ whole child teaching and learning.