Impact Aid applications will be sent out Oct. 26

  • Published
  • By Larry Lumpkin, school liason specialist
  • 17th Training Wing Airman and Family Services
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  About this time every year parents who have been identified as eligible during their child's public school enrollment, receive the annual Impact Aid surveys in their mailboxes.

San Angelo Independent School District is sending out surveys on Oct. 26. The importance of returning these completed inquiries could make a significant difference in providing better education. Here are the basic ABCs of Impact Aid.

The Impact Aid law, now Title VIII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, provides assistance to local school districts with concentrations of children residing on Indian lands, military bases, low-rent housing properties, or other Federal properties and, to concentrations of children who have parents in the uniformed services or employed on eligible Federal properties who do not live on Federal property.

In general, to be eligible for assistance a local school district must educate at least 400 such children in average daily attendance or the federally connected children must make up at least 3 percent of the school district's total average daily attendance.

Payments for Children with Disabilities provide additional assistance to school districts that educate federally connected children who are eligible for services under the Individuals with Disabilities Act. These payments are in addition to Basic Support Payments and IDEA funds provided on behalf of these children.

Filling out correctly the appropriate information is essential for residents living in the community or base housing. Particularly, those living on base and in privatized housing formerly known as the Landings please note the survey section: PUPIL RESIDENCE INFORMATION ON OCT. 26. Their address is on Federal property and should be marked YES: IS THIS ADDRESS ON FEDERAL PROPERTY. Next enter Goodfellow Family Housing: NAME OF FEDERAL PROPERTY. Due to recent cutbacks in state education funding, it is even more important to supplement these with qualifying Impact Aid.