Arizona is the largest recipient of Impact Aid, which is federal money available for charter schools on or near federal or tribal lands, as well as schools that have parents employed by the federal government.
With a looming government shutdown, Impact Aid could be affected. Arizona has an Arizona State Impact Aid Association nonprofit to provide leadership, advocacy and a united voice. Based on information from the Arizona State Impact Aid Association, 79 district and charter schools receive the federal money, totaling $221,031,427 in 2012.
Schools can use the money for a variety of expenses in accordance with local and state requirements, which could include teacher salaries; textbook, computer and other equipment purchases; after school programs and tutoring; advanced placement classes; and other uses.
The U.S. Department of Education has released a contingency plan outlining how schools that receive funding would be affected by a government shutdown, although Congress appears to be on the verge of approving a temporary spending measure to avert a shutdown. The measure would keep the federal government operating through Dec. 11.
We’ll continue to monitor the federal government actions Impact Aid.
