Federal School Facilities Funding Updates

The 2nd COVID Relief Package (HR 133) included $54.3 billion that will go to State Departments of Education, by Title I Part A Formula, with set asides for the Bureau of Indian Education, and outlying areas. The states must send, at least 90% of this directly to K12 school districts for the increased costs of COVID in schools.

The following language which explicitly states that the K12 education funds can be used for facilities was added to the second COVID-19 Relief Package (HR 133):

"(13) School facility repairs and improvements to enable operation of schools to reduce risk of virus transmission and exposure to environmental health hazards, and to support student health needs.

(14) Inspection, testing, maintenance, repair, replacement, and upgrade projects to improve the indoor air quality in school facilities, including mechanical and non-mechanical heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, filtering, purification and other air cleaning, fans, control systems, and window and door repair and replacement.

(15) Other activities that are necessary to maintain the operation of and continuity of services in local educational agencies and continuing to employ existing staff of the local educational agency."

While the emergency relief is essential, the multi-year funding to help states and districts with the long standing critical needs for school modernizations and replacements in low wealth districts is yet to be law. A bill, known as, the Rebuild America's Schools Act (RASA) has been reintroduced into the 117th Congress with the same language as the 116th Congress version. The Act already has about 165 co-sponsors in the U.S. House of Representatives, but has not started moving through the regular process. This bill includes $100 billion in grants for capital facilities funds and $30 billion in interest free bonds.