JACKSON, Miss. -- U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings today convened a group of mental-health experts, teachers and schools officials for the first in a series of roundtables designed to gather information about Hurricane Katrina's on displaced students and the schools that have welcomed them. Today's meeting was the first of six roundtables to be held over the next few months in hurricane-impacted areas.

Secretary Spellings also announced the availability of a new booklet -- "Tips for Helping Students Recovering from Traumatic Events" -- to provide practical information and assistance for school officials, parents and others who are helping students affected by the hurricane. The booklet can be accessed at http://www.ed.gov/parents/academic/help/recovering/index.html.

"This devastating hurricane has not only impacted students but affected teachers and school officials as well. We are developing partnerships with the community at large to help deal with this tragedy," Secretary Spellings said. "Our efforts are ongoing, our support unwavering to ensure that these children continue to receive a high quality education and that school officials have the support they need from us under these unique circumstances."

President Bush has proposed a $2.6 billion education package to assist displaced students and the schools that are serving them. Secretary Spellings is leading a number of federal education initiatives to help displaced students, including Hurricane Help for Schools-a new webpage aimed at getting additional supplies to schools serving students displaced by the hurricane.

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