Impact Aid Discretionary Construction Grant Program
Impact Aid Construction grants serve as emergency construction aid for local educational agencies located on tribal lands to repair or construct school buildings.
Average award: $2,175,000 in 2021
Number of awards: 8 awards in 2021
Cost share/matching required: Yes
Most recent deadline: September 13, 2021
Expected Award Cycle: Every 1-2 years
Historically, applications have been available in the summer (August 12, 2021) with a fall deadline for submission (September 13, 2021). Award cycle is every two years.
The Impact Aid Program provides financial assistance to schools in local districts across the United States that are operating with less local revenue than is available to other school districts. This is due to factors including parcels of land that are owned by the federal government or that have been removed from the local tax rolls by the federal government, including Indian lands. School districts must meet the requirements of Every Student Succeeds Act with less access to tax revenue than other districts.
- Impact Aid Formula Grants: Under formula awards, most assistance becomes part of the general operating fund of the Local Educational Agencies (LEAs). Special additional payments made to LEAs related to enrollments of federally connected children with disabilities must be used for programs and projects designed to meet the special educational and related needs of these children. Payments for construction may be used for construction and renovation, debt service, or other capital fund activities.
- Impact Aid Discretionary Construction Grant Program: This provides grants for emergency repairs and modernization of school facilities to local educational agencies (LEAs) that receive Impact Aid formula funds. Construction grants must be used to repair, renovate, or alter a public elementary or secondary school facility to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of students and school personnel. Construction modernization grants may be used to extend a public elementary or secondary school facility to ease overcrowding and provide facilities that support a contemporary educational program. Applications for emergency repair construction grants receive absolute priority in the competition.
For FY2021, the estimated range of awards was $60,000–$6,000,000 with an average award of $2,175,000 for up to 60 months.
Match requirement: Applicants requesting emergency repair funds must submit audited financial reports for three consecutive fiscal years showing closing balances for all school funds and if significant balances are available that are not obligated for other purposes, those funds will be considered available for the proposed emergency repair project. Available balances may reduce the amount of funds that may be awarded or eliminate the applicant’s eligibility for an emergency grant award.
Local educational agencies that provide free public elementary or secondary education may apply if the LEA meets the following three conditions (see solicitation for additional guidance on eligibility):
- Enrolls a high percentage (50%+) of federally connected children who either reside on Indian lands or who have a parent on active duty in the U.S. uniformed services; and
- Has a school facility emergency that poses a health or safety hazard to students and personnel; and
- Meets one of the following capital access conditions: Has no practical capacity to issue bonds; Has minimal capacity to issue bonds and has used at least 75% of its bond limit; or is eligible to receive formula construction funds for the fiscal year for heavily impacted districts.
$5,300,000 to Solen School District (Standing Rock Reservation, ND) to build a new elementary school. The current facility is facing imminent failure of multiple systems, including the roof, HVAC, plumbing and sewer systems, as well as fire code compliance issues and structural failures in the building.
$3,881,900 to All Tribes Charter School (Valley Center, CA) to replace portable classrooms with a new, portable, modular school facility, the school’s buildings were over 20 years old at the time of purchase and had deteriorated, posing a hazard to the students, staff, and visitors.
$892,114 to STAR School (Navajo Reservation, AZ), for drilling a new well, repairing and improving water systems, relocating the bathroom and septic tank, expanding the solar power system capacity, and paving a fire access road. The charter school operates “off the grid” and has been hauling water.
Submit application via Grants.gov. Application requires organization to be registered with SAM.gov and the G5 system. Application includes narrative sections and performance measures that must be uploaded and managed electronically. Applications will be evaluated for the severity of the school facility problems and the justification that the proposed project will address the health and safety concerns. Funds may be used to acquire supplies and equipment, including technology, and may be used to carry out renovations to school facilities to assure compliance or perform minor facility repairs.
Jacqueline Edwards, Impact Aid Program
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 3C121
Washington, DC 20202-6244
202.260.3858
[email protected]