U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings today announced the award of more than $27 million in grants for emergency school repairs under the department's Impact Aid Discretionary Construction Program.

Some 25 grants are being provided to eight districts that are eligible for federal Impact Aid and have little ability to fund repair projects from local resources compared to other local school districts.

"Many of the affected schools are located on military bases and Indian lands, and it's important we provide the necessary financial support so they can meet their students' needs," Secretary Spellings said. "These funds will help schools undertake critical repairs to ensure that students have the safe and quality learning environment they deserve."

The eight districts receiving grants include:

• Alaska —- Bethel, Lower Kuskokwim School District, $19.9 million.
• Illinois —- North Chicago, North Chicago School District, $435,633.
• Montana —- Dixon, Dixon Elementary School District #9, $83,134.
• Montana —- Heart Butte, Heart Butte Public Schools, $992,500.
• Montana —- Lame Deer, Lame Deer Public School District #6, $687,632.
• North Dakota —- Dunseith, Dunseith School District #1, $114,359.
• North Dakota —- Solen, Solen School District #3, $3.9 million.
• Washington —- Taholah, Taholah School District #77, $1.1 million.

The purpose of the Impact Aid Discretionary Construction Program is to provide funding for school facility emergency and modernization grants to certain school districts that are eligible for Impact Aid.

Since 1950, the Impact Aid program has offered support to school districts in areas that have been removed from local property tax rolls, such as military bases or Indian lands. Since these areas lack tax revenues, the program provides the necessary financial resources to help maintain schools and better serve students.

For more details on the Impact Aid Discretionary Construction Program, see the Federal Register announcement inviting applications posted at http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/announcements
/2005-2/060605a.html.

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