The Texas Education Agency will receive $89.4 million in federal assistance from the U.S. Department of Education under the Immediate Air to Restart School Operations (K-12 Restart) program.

In addition, California Department of Education will receive $14.3 million and Puerto Rico Department of Education will see $589.1 million.

The awards announced Monday were the first in a multi-phased process designed to provide prompt initial funding while offering subsequent opportunities for eligible states to seek additional assistance through future applications, according to an issued statement from U.S.  Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos.

“As communities get back on their feet in disaster affected regions, we continue to support them in every way we can,” DeVos said. “This additional funding will ensure students, teachers and staff have ongoing access to the services they need to fully recover and rebuild.”

DeEtta Culbertson with TEA said the grant funding could only be used for specific uses that include:

• Recovery of student and personnel data
• Replacement of school district information systems including hardware and software
• Financial operations
• Reasonable transportation costs
• Rental of mobile education units
• Leasing of neutral sites or spaces
• Initial replacement of instructional materials and equipment
• Initial replacement of textbooks
• Redeveloping instructional plans, including curriculum development
• Initiating and maintaining education and support services
• Minor remodeling or repair, as allowed by the Restart FAQ document
• Other activities related to the purpose of the Restart program that are approved by the USDE

 

Mark Porterie, superintendent for Port Arthur Independent School District, said he was pleased to hear the grant announcement.

“The new federal disaster assistance is a wonderful addition to assist areas to rebuild,” Porterie said. “We will wait to see how it flows through the system. It is the hope that the funds are used in areas that were hit the hardest.”

Congress appropriated a combined amount of about $2.5 billion for both the Restart and Emergency Impact Aid for Displaced Students programs.  The amounts awarded under each program will be based on demand and specific data received from eligible applicants.

The department released the application for the K-12 Displaced Students program April 23.