Bill > HR7262

This bill, known as the Restarting Education After Disasters Act or READ Act, authorizes the Secretary of Education to provide funds to State educational agencies, which will then distribute them to local educational agencies (LEAs) and non-public schools in areas affected by a declared major disaster or emergency. The funding is intended to help these schools restart operations and recover from the disaster, with priority given to schools that were closed for 30 or more days. The amount of funding a State educational agency receives will consider the number of students enrolled in affected schools prior to the disaster, and the State educational agency must then consider factors like the number of school-aged children served and the severity of the disaster's impact when distributing funds to LEAs and non-public schools. Importantly, non-public schools will receive equitable services compared to public schools, and the funds can be used for various recovery activities such as replacing data and systems, financial operations, transportation, temporary facilities, instructional materials, curriculum development, and repairs, but not for major construction. The bill also clarifies that these funds are meant to supplement, not replace, other available disaster assistance, and includes provisions for how funds are allocated to non-public schools, ensuring public control over those funds.

Education

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7262/all-info