Military Impacted Schools Association Impact Aid is a federal program, administered by the Department of Education. The program is an in-lieu-of tax where the federal government basically pays its “property taxes” to local school districts.

Military Impacted Schools Association Impact Aid goes to local school districts, just like local property taxes, to hire teachers, purchase textbooks and computers, pay for utilities, etc.

Military Impacted Schools Association Impact Aid  Signed into law in 1950  Government pays its “property taxes” to school districts serving military children  Program expanded to include:  Indian lands  low rent housing  Federal property

Military Impacted Schools Association Impact Aid was fully funded until 1970 when funding was cut in the middle of the school year. Since 1970 the program has faced severe cuts and is currently funded at 60% of need, as defined by law.

Military Impacted Schools Association Impact Aid is the only DoED program not forward funded. While Congress works on appropriations, school districts have to do their best to “guesstimate” what they will receive in Impact Aid. School boards have hired teachers, purchased textbooks, computers, etc., and the school year will be well underway before they know what funding they will receive for the current year.

Military Impacted Schools Association Who is Eligible for Impact Aid? In order to be eligible for Impact Aid, a school district must:  Have at least 400 federal students in their ADA; or  At least 3% of all children in the school district’s ADA must be federally-connected

Military Impacted Schools Association How is a typical school district funded at the local level? 50% funding –Property taxes –Taxes on automobiles 50% funding –Business –Business personal property

Military Impacted Schools Association Funding for children whose parents are military and live on base Intent of Impact Aid is to match the local tax effort 50% funding –Property taxes –Taxes on automobiles 50% funding –Business –Business personal property

Military Impacted Schools Association Funding for children whose parents are military and live in the community 50% funding –Property taxes (paid by family) –Taxes on automobiles (Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Relief Act allows taxes to be paid in home state) 50% funding –Business (military installation) –Business personal property (planes, tanks, etc.)

Military Impacted Schools Association Impact Aid Flat funded or cut for the past four years This does not take into account the increased costs in education

Military Impacted Schools Association Impact Aid Law Working on language to re-authorize MISA NAFIS House Impact Aid Coalition Senate Impact Aid Coalition National Military Family Association

Military Impacted Schools Association GOALS Reauthorize Impact Aid Program Fully fund Impact Aid Address the needs of school districts experiencing growth as a result of BRAC, Global Re-basing, or Army transformation Forward fund Impact Aid