WASHINGTON, DC –Congressman Robin Hayes (NC-8) today, introduced the Military Children’s School Investment Act, which establishes a discretionary grant program for expansion, modernization, or construction of new of public kindergarten, elementary and secondary education facilities affected by U.S. military actions including Base Realignment and Closures (BRAC), Global Rebasing, and other Department of Defense actions.  Additionally, this bill is cosponsored by Rep. Chet Edwards (TX- 17) and Rep. Mike McIntyre (NC-7).

The grant program is established under Title VIII (Impact Aid) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.

“The Eighth District of North Carolina is just one of the many hundreds of Impact Aid affected school districts that are already beginning to see a dramatic increase in military children due to BRAC, which is just one component of the Department of Defense’s restructuring activities,” said Hayes. “The other two components are Global Rebasing and Army Modularization-both will also increase the number of children with the Impact Aid Program. 

“BRAC and Global/Re-basing will significantly impact military installations and the school districts that serve them in this country.  I am increasingly concerned about how these military shifts are affecting our local schools.”

Hayes noted that currently, there are over one million federally connected children and Global Re-basing is expected to bring 60,000-70,000 uniformed personnel and approximately 100,000 family members and civilian employees state-side, including over 40,000 military students, according to the Department of Defense.

“As the BRAC process continues to transform the region around Ft. Bragg, one concern that continues to rise is the strain on local school systems and the need for additional classroom space.  School construction has traditionally been left to state and local governments, and measures to get the federal government involved in local school construction has met controversy.  I feel this bill should help us reach common ground because this is legislation authorizes federal assistance when it is the federal government creating the problem.” 

Paul Dordal, Executive Director of the Fort Bragg/ Pope AFB BRAC Regional Task Force said: “Due to BRAC and other mission growth at Fort Bragg our communities will receive an additional 6,300 military connected students over the next five years -- an extraordinary impact on our local school systems.  The shortfall in capital construction requirements for new classrooms and schools to accommodate new students for the school districts affected by this growth is projected at $295,000,000, which is on top of normal growth projections and planning. 

Legislation introduced by Congressman Robin Hayes for the ‘Military Children’s School Investment Act’ would provide tremendous assistance to ensure that we have classrooms, teachers and schools for these students and that the quality of education in our schools remains high.”

Dr. William Harrison, Cumberland County Schools Superintendent said: “We appreciate Congressman Hayes’ support of our military families and the school systems that serve them.  We are excited about the influx of new military families to our community.  While we are looking forward to having roughly 2500 new students joining our system, we have had concerns about building capacity and from where the resources would come.  Congressman Hayes’ bill will certainly be beneficial to the Cumberland County Schools and many school systems across the nation serving military children.  He has always been there when we have called.”

John B. Forkenbrock, Executive Director National Association of Federally Impacted Schools said: “The need for facility assistance for those districts being impacted by the actions of the Department of Defense is something that we cannot ignore.  As more children of Department of Defense related personnel, both military and civilian, enroll in school districts serving military installations, the need for facility expansion will become more of an issue. Many of these school districts have previously funded capital projects and find themselves with both a significant debt service and little if any bonding capacity remaining.  This legislation provides much needed assistance to these growth districts and it does so by fostering a partnership between the federal government and the community.  It is a responsible approach to solving a financial crisis that will confront these communities over the next four to five years.” 

Eligibility

Eligible local educational agencies (LEAs) are those that have in the prior year been eligible to receive a payment under Section 8003 (Basic Support Payments) and have had an overall increase in enrollment of not less than 250 or 10 percent (whichever is lower) of total enrollment of children who are civilian dependents of the employees of the Department of Defense as a result of (1) Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) or global rebasing, as determined by the Secretary of Defense (2) Force Structure changes or force reductions (3) An action initiated by the Secretary of Defense.

Eligible projects include: new construction of a school; construction of additional academic learning space at existing schools; repair or upgrading of classrooms; and the leasing of buildings or portion of buildings for the purpose of providing school space, with the Secretary’s approval.  Impermissible uses of funds include: payment of maintenance costs; stadiums; or other athletic facilities for which admission is charged.

Reporting Requirements

No later than September 30 of each fiscal year, each LEA must submit to the Secretary of Education and Secretary of Defense a report on the agencies use of such grant funds.  No later than December 31 of each year the Secretary of Education and Secretary of Defense must submit a report to the Senate and House Education and Labor and Armed Services Committee on grants made under this subsection. 

Grant Amount

Grants must not exceed the total cost of construction, modernization or repair.  Federal funds are meant to supplement, not supplant the amount of funds contributed by the LEA. 

The legislation authorizes the appropriation of $500,000,000 for fiscal year 2009 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the seven succeeding fiscal years.

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