INFORMATION ON EDUCATION POLICY AND PRACTICE
IN RESPONSE TO HURRICANE KATRINA
ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
Waivers and Modifications
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The U.S. Department of Education is considering promptly requests for waivers
under the waiver authority in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of
1965 (ESEA), as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, including,
among other things, waivers of maintenance-of-effort requirements.
For discretionary grant programs, the Department will work with individual
grantees if they wish to modify their grants to refocus their grant activities on
relief efforts.
The Department will consider requests for waivers of fiscal and administrative
requirements of the Education Department General Administrative Regulations
(EDGAR). A streamlined process for waiver submissions by affected States and
other grantees is being developed.
States already have authority to allow school districts to increase the percentage
of funds that may be carried over to the next fiscal year under Title I, Part A of
the ESEA and the Safe and Drug-Free Schools program.
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Highly qualified teacher requirements
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The Department will work with affected States and school districts to determine
what flexibility will be needed in affected areas with regard to highly qualified
teacher requirements, while ensuring that students are receiving appropriate
instruction.
The Department will work with districts on situations such as displaced teachers
working in or another State. In all of these matters, the Department will always
keep the best interests of the students and teachers in mind.
Reallocation of funds.
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The Department will work with States and school districts that want to transfer or
reallocate Federal funds between districts, when a particular district or districts
are unable to use funds they previously received. This could include the transfer
of funds to districts in other States that are serving displaced students.
The Department will identify Federal funds that have not yet been obligated by
the Department and determine whether they can be made available to the affected
areas.
Districts receiving additional funds under certain programs will need to ensure
that program services are provided on an equitable basis to eligible students who,
due to the hurricane, have transferred into private schools in their district.
Supplemental appropriations.
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Funds for the specific purpose of providing disaster relief are already available.
Congress has just enacted the President's request for $10.5 billion in disaster relief
for the Gulf Coast, of which $10 billion is to be administered by the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and $500 million is to be administered
by the Department of Defense.
The Department is working closely with the Office of Management and Budget as
the President prepares further supplemental requests for relief to ensure that
schools have the resources they need to provide high-quality education for these
students.
The U.S. Department of Education is examining ways to redirect existing funds
toward relief efforts, and is working closely with Congress to best meet the needs
of children, families and schools affected by this tragedy. No final decisions have
been made through adjusting program regulations, executive orders or legislative
action.
Websites for information and ways to assist: www.ed.gov (Hurricane Help for
Schools); ReliefEfforts@aasa.org; www.nea.org; www.aft.org; www.nsba.org;
www.edfacilities.org.
POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION
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Federal student loan borrowers living in affected areas may delay payments
on their loans without penalty.
Pell student grantees forced to withdraw from school as a result of the
disaster will not be required to repay the amount they received this semester.
(Bill has passed the House; waiting for Senate action)
Complementary legislation to provide flexibility for students receiving other types
of federal grant and scholarship student aid, the Student Grant Hurricane and
Disaster Relief Act (H.R. 3668), was also introduced by Representative Jindal.
That measure, which would ensure similar flexibility and protections for students
receiving other grant aid under Title IV of the Higher Education Act.
Deadlines for a number of the Department’s higher education programs have
been extended until at least December 1, 2005.
The Department has encouraged colleges and universities to admit students
from affected institutions and offered guidance so they may continue to be
eligible to receive federal student aid.
Many universities and colleges across the country have agreed to accept
students enrolled in Gulf Coast-area universities and reduce tuition and fees
for the fall semester.
Websites for additional information and ways to assist: www.ed.gov;
campusrelief.org; http://www.naicu.edu/HEA/KatrinaEfforts.shtml; www.ajcunet.edu;
http://www.nasfaa.org/linklists/katrina.html; http://cgsnet.org/pdf/CGSResHK05.pdf;
www.nafeo.org; http://www.nacac.com/news_hurricane_katrina.html;