A bill (H.R. 3616) to reauthorize the impact aid program within the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) was approved, by voice vote, in the House on May 15. The bill was considered under suspension of the rules, an expedited procedure that bars amendments and requires a two-thirds majority to pass.
Sponsored by Rep. Robin Hayes (R-NC), H.R. 3616 would continue a program providing federal funds to school districts that do not receive funding from property taxes, the traditional source of local education funds. Because local governments are unable to collect property taxes in areas such as military bases, tribal lands, low-rent housing, and national parks, impact aid is provided by the federal government to supplement education funds.
Education and the Workforce Committee Chair Bill Goodling (R-PA) praised the bill, saying it would modify the current distribution formula for impact aid “to ensure a more equitable distribution of funds.” He said the bill is designed to reduce paperwork and speed the distribution of aid. In addition, school districts that lack bonding authority—a traditional source of funds for school construction—could apply for impact aid to repair and build schools.
Rep. Patsy Mink (D-HI) offered support for the bill, saying it would continue “a very valuable and important federal education program.” She highlighted a provision pertaining to the impact aid filing deadline. Under the bill, the Department of Education will notify schools if they have missed the filing deadline for impact aid, allowing a final 60 days for an application to be filed.
The bill also was lauded by Rep. Sue Kelly (R-NY), who described a school in her congressional district that is “sandwiched between federal land, a state park, and the Hudson River.” She said impact aid has kept the school running, as “only 7 percent of the land is available from which to fund the school.”
The ESEA represents the federal government’s contribution to public education for grades K-12. H.R. 3616 is the latest in a series of House bills designed to reauthorize the ESEA (see The Source, 4/14/00, p. 3). The Senate, which is moving its reauthorization as one measure (S. 2) has yet to resume its floor debate, which was suspended on May 9 (see The Source, 5/12/00, p. 2).
When the Senate debate resumes, an amendment to alter the requirements for single-sex public education is expected. Under current law, federal funds can be spent on single-sex classrooms and schools as long as equal opportunities are offered for students of the other sex. The amendment would change “equal” to “comparable” (see The Source, 4/14/00, p. 3). Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) plans to offer the amendment, although it had been reported that Sen. Tim Hutchinson (R-AR) would be the sponsor.
