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Impact Aid is the second
oldest federal education program administered by the U.S. Department of
Education, first passed in 1950.
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The program was established to
help make up the lost local tax base to school districts imposed upon by
federal property. People living on
federal property do not pay local property tax. People working on federal property, work
for companies that do not pay local property tax.
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The Impact Aid program is
normally re-authorized every five years as part of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act (ESEA). It
was reauthorized in 2002 as part of the “No Child Left Behind” Act of 2001
(PL107-110).
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There are basically four areas
of impaction: military, Indian
lands, low rent housing, and federal ownership of land such as national
parks, federal prisons, VA hospitals, etc.
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It is the only education
program that is not forward funded.
When Congress appropriates dollars annually in the fall, they then
become available for distribution.
However continuing resolutions (CR) can put school districts in a
financial bind waiting for the funds to arrive.
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Money is directly wired from
the Dept of Education to school district’s bank accounts, avoiding
administrative costs at the state level.
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There are no “strings attached”
to the money and districts can use it in the areas they need it most as
determined by the local Board of Education.
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Federally connected children
are recognized as these:
Military “a” – Children whose parent is
active duty military and lives on base.
Military “b” – Children whose parent is active duty
military and lives off-base.
Civilian “b” – Children whose
parent works on federal property.
Low rent housing “b” child –
Children whose parents reside in federal low rent housing,
not including Section 8 housing.
Each federal type is given a weighting to
determine impact aid support.
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There are also additional
add-on dollars for military-connected students with current IEPs (children with disabilities).
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For school districts with at
least 50% military students, construction dollars are also appropriated. Funds may be used for any type of
capital improvement and there is no time limitation for expending the
funds.
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Basic support impact aid
payments are made to districts that educate at least 400 federal students
(ADA) or that have at least 3% ADA of federal
students.
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Civilian “b” children can only
be calculated into a school’s payment if there are at least 1,000 in the
district or they represent 10% or more of the district’s ADA.
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To receive Impact Aid payments
a district must survey the district to determine the number of federal
students and then they must complete an application. The application is sent to the U.S. Dept
of Education by January 31st of each school year.
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