House Leaders Unveil Education Relief for Families & Schools Impacted by Hurricanes 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. House Education & the Workforce Committee leaders, led by Chairman John Boehner (R-OH) and Rep. Bobby Jindal (R-LA), today unveiled an innovative proposal to assist the students and families affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, as well as the public, private, and charter schools that have enrolled displaced students.  For one year, the proposal creates Family Education Reimbursement Accounts to allow families and schools to bypass existing bureaucracies and provide direct reimbursement to schools on behalf of children displaced by the storms.

“The hurricanes have put a strain on schools across the nation, yet public, private, and charter schools have all risen to the challenge, opening their doors and welcoming displaced students as their own,” said Boehner.  “Our hurricane recovery efforts must be focused on empowering individuals, and that’s why this proposal provides direct aid to parents and families rather than simply writing a blank check to existing government bureaucracies.”

"Thousands of kids from across Louisiana and the Gulf Coast have evacuated their homes and have been forced into new schools and new learning environments," Jindal said.  "We owe it to them, and their families, to find innovative solutions that make sure that parents are empowered to provide the best educational opportunities for their children.  I am proud to take the lead on this legislation to bring real support and a tangible solution to the educational challenges being faced by so many.  These accounts will keep kids in schools, empower parents to make sure that their children's needs are being met, and make sure all schools that have taken in needy students are supported for their generosity."

“Parents, schools, and communities impacted by the storms don’t need another layer of bureaucracy to navigate – they need meaningful relief that can be provided quickly and efficiently.  These schools that have welcomed displaced students need a simple, straightforward plan to be reimbursed on behalf of the children they have enrolled.  That’s exactly what these accounts will provide,” said Rep. Charles Boustany (R-LA).

 “The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina has shown us what Americans are made of.  We want to help those who can’t help themselves.  There are countless Hurricane Hero stories.  Our schools are no different.  It’s time we say thank you for all they are doing to help folks rebuild their lives,” said Employer-Employee Relations Subcommittee Chairman Sam Johnson (R-TX).

“Among the many victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita were the thousands of displaced students.  I applaud Texas schools for helping to meet these victims’ education needs in a time of crisis,” said Rep. Kenny Marchant (R-TX).  “This bill provides assistance for schools who took it upon themselves to help our Gulf Coast neighbors, ensuring that no student will be deprived of educational opportunities, even in the face of disaster.”

Reps. Johnson and Marchant have led efforts to ensure the public, private, and charter schools enrolling displaced students are able to be reimbursed, particularly for states like Texas that have welcomed significant numbers of students in the aftermath of the hurricanes.

Family Education Reimbursement Accounts would offer three key advantages for individuals, schools, and communities impacted by the Gulf Coast hurricanes: simplicity, flexibility, and portability.

• Simplicity for parents and schools.  The accounts would be simple for families to create and simple for schools to receive reimbursement.  Parents would register through the Internet or a toll-free number to create an account for the family for use by each child from pre-K to 12th grade.  The accounts would provide up to $6,700 per child, the average per pupil expenditure in the states enrolling significant numbers of displaced students.  Parents would then provide their account number to the school enrolling the child, and the school would use that information to be reimbursed on behalf of the child.  Schools would receive direct, electronic payment for the period a child is enrolled without having to navigate complex payment systems or overcome the hurdles of a bureaucracy that was not created to withstand the challenges of a natural disaster of this magnitude.

• Flexibility through the power of technology.  The accounts would provide greater flexibility than other proposals to aid the affected region by utilizing technology to respond quickly to the changing needs of families and communities.  Parents displaced by the storms have already enrolled their children in whatever schools were willing to open their doors.  These reimbursement accounts would not punish private or charter schools that have opened their doors and enrolled children, often at free or reduced tuition, but would provide the same reimbursement on behalf of all affected children.

• Portability to provide funds directly and efficiently.  The proposal would also provide greater portability for relief funds, ensuring a more efficient use of resources on behalf of students and schools.  For the current school year, schools would be reimbursed quarterly through the accounts based on the number of weeks each child is enrolled.  Rather than forcing welcoming schools to navigate federal, state, and local education bureaucracies, the plan calls for an experienced, independent contractor to act quickly to establish a system that would reimburse schools directly.  

The accounts would provide a seamless funding process, allowing multiple schools to be reimbursed using the same account with no duplication, no waste, and no complex paperwork or registration process.  At the end of the current school year, the accounts would be closed and any unused funds would be immediately credited back to the federal government.

Additional details about Family Education Reimbursement Accounts are available by clicking here and here.  For more information on efforts to assist students, schools, workers, families, and communities impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, visit the Education & the Workforce Committee’s “Gulf Coast Hurricanes Rebuilding & Recovery” website at http://edworkforce.house.gov/issues/109th/hurricane/hurricane.htm.

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