Trump administration has announced federal assistance under the Temporary Emergency Impact Aid for Displaced Students program to cover the cost of providing education to students displaced by the 2017 California wildfires, Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria.
Under the program, the federal government has pledged $359.8 million for 20 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The U.S. Department of Education has been authorized to award funds to eligible state educational agencies that will, in turn, make payments to eligible local educational agencies to pay for educating the displaced students.
“The impact of natural disasters like hurricanes and wildfires goes beyond the disaster area. The effects are felt nationwide, especially in those communities that take in displaced students and families,” Education Secretary Besty DeVos said.
“This additional funding will ensure schools serving displaced students are able to meet their unique needs under such difficult circumstances.”
Under the aid program, a displaced student who is an English learner will get $9,000 annual amount to pay for the tuition, while displaced students with disabilities will get $10,000. For others, the amount was set at $8,500.