Public School Emergency Relief Act

Public School Emergency Relief Act

This bill authorizes a program of emergency impact aid payments to states and, through them, to local educational agencies and Indian schools for each quarter of the 2015-2016 school year to respond to any increase in the enrollment of immigrant children from the corresponding quarter of the 2013-2014 school year.

Payments shall be used to provide services and assistance to schools that enroll immigrant students.

Funds may be used for:

• compensating school personnel,
• identifying and acquiring curricular material and mobile educational units and leasing sites or spaces,
• basic instructional services for immigrant students,
• reasonable transportation costs,
• health and counseling services,
• education and support services, and
• other uses allowed under title III (Language Instruction for Limited English Proficient and Immigrant Students) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.

Any payment made on behalf of a disabled immigrant student is to be used for special education and related services.

Emergency impact aid funds that are not obligated during the 2015-2016 school year must be returned to the Department of Education.