The Impact Aid Infrastructure Partnership Act aims to establish a collaborative Federal-local community partnership to address significant facility needs within federally impacted local educational agencies (LEAs). Congress found that a substantial percentage of these LEAs serve schools with facilities that fail to meet basic life-safety standards, often being over 65 years old and in fair to poor condition. Many of these LEAs lack the practical capacity to issue bonds or face high construction costs, particularly in rural and geographically remote areas, impacting student outcomes and teacher retention. To tackle these challenges, the Act authorizes an appropriation of $250,000,000 annually for four fiscal years, supplementing existing Impact Aid funding. These funds will be divided, with 75 percent designated for competitive grants and 25 percent for formula grants , remaining available until expended. A small portion, not more than half of one percent, may be reserved by the Secretary of Education for technical assistance and oversight. Competitive grants are awarded based on a facility condition priority listing. Emergency grants priority one targets LEAs with facilities violating building codes, failing to meet CDC health and safety standards (e.g., ventilation, social distancing, structural issues), not meeting student capacity standards, or lacking adequate technology infrastructure. This priority also covers specific LEAs needing repair or new construction for teacher housing. Following the first priority, Emergency grants priority two addresses facilities that do not meet minimum structural or health and safety standards as adopted by the American Society of Civil Engineers, including issues like poor indoor air quality, hazardous substances, unsafe drinking water, energy inefficiency, and excessive classroom noise. Additional award criteria prioritize LEAs with limited or no capacity to issue bonds, or those with low total assessed property values for school purposes. Formula grants will be distributed in accordance with existing Impact Aid provisions, with specific adjustments to include additional weighted student units for certain categories of children. Payments for grants vary: LEAs with no bonding capacity or those receiving smaller grants (up to $5,000,000) will receive full payment. Other LEAs are required to provide a non-Federal share ranging from 10 to 25 percent, based on their learning opportunity threshold total percentage or Impact Aid eligibility. Funds can be used for construction, renovation, and repair of school facilities , but not for the acquisition of real property, and must supplement, not supplant, local funds.
The Impact Aid Infrastructure Partnership Act aims to establish a collaborative Federal-local community partnership to address significant facility needs within federally impacted local educational agencies (LEAs). Congress found that a substantial percentage of these LEAs serve schools with facilities that fail to meet basic life-safety standards, often being over 65 years old and in fair to poor condition. Many of these LEAs lack the practical capacity to issue bonds or face high construction costs, particularly in rural and geographically remote areas, impacting student outcomes and teacher retention. To tackle these challenges, the Act authorizes an appropriation of $250,000,000 annually for four fiscal years, supplementing existing Impact Aid funding. These funds will be divided, with 75 percent designated for competitive grants and 25 percent for formula grants , remaining available until expended. A small portion, not more than half of one percent, may be reserved by the Secretary of Education for technical assistance and oversight. Competitive grants are awarded based on a facility condition priority listing. Emergency grants priority one targets LEAs with facilities violating building codes, failing to meet CDC health and safety standards (e.g., ventilation, social distancing, structural issues), not meeting student capacity standards, or lacking adequate technology infrastructure. This priority also covers specific LEAs needing repair or new construction for teacher housing. Following the first priority, Emergency grants priority two addresses facilities that do not meet minimum structural or health and safety standards as adopted by the American Society of Civil Engineers, including issues like poor indoor air quality, hazardous substances, unsafe drinking water, energy inefficiency, and excessive classroom noise. Additional award criteria prioritize LEAs with limited or no capacity to issue bonds, or those with low total assessed property values for school purposes. Formula grants will be distributed in accordance with existing Impact Aid provisions, with specific adjustments to include additional weighted student units for certain categories of children. Payments for grants vary: LEAs with no bonding capacity or those receiving smaller grants (up to $5,000,000) will receive full payment. Other LEAs are required to provide a non-Federal share ranging from 10 to 25 percent, based on their learning opportunity threshold total percentage or Impact Aid eligibility. Funds can be used for construction, renovation, and repair of school facilities , but not for the acquisition of real property, and must supplement, not supplant, local funds.