Add as a preferred source on Google

Secretary DeVos Announces New Federal Disaster Assistance for Florida

  • 05/17/18

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos announced today a total of approximately $84.5 million in new federal assistance for Florida under the Immediate Aid to Restart School Operations (K-12 Restart) program. The award announced today is the first in a multiphase award process designed to provide prompt initial funding while offering subsequent opportunities for additional assistance through future applications.

"As Florida continues to recover from Hurricanes Irma and Maria, the Department is committed to helping officials on the ground restore a safe and healthy learning environment," said U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. "We will continue to work closely with Commissioner Stewart and Governor Scott to ensure students and teachers have the resources they need now and in the future."

Under the K-12 Restart program, the Department is authorized to award funds to state educational agencies (SEAs) with students and schools impacted by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria and the 2017 California wildfires. These SEAs, in turn, will provide assistance or services to local educational agencies (LEAs), including charter schools and private schools, to help defray expenses related to restarting school operations and restoring the normal learning environment for students and families.

This initial award to the Florida Department of Education (FLDoE) was made in the amount of $84.5 million. The Department has made initial awards to four additional SEAs: California Department of Education (CDE), Puerto Rico Department of Education (PRDE), Texas Education Agency (TEA) and the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Education (US VIDE). Award amounts were developed based on information provided by the SEAs in their applications, including the number of schools affected as a result of a covered disaster or emergency and how long they were closed.

Congress appropriated a combined amount of approximately $2.5 billion for both the K-12 Restart and Emergency Impact Aid for Displaced Students (K-12 Displaced Students) programs. The amounts awarded under each program will be based on demand and specific data received from eligible applicants. The Department released the application for the K-12 Displaced Students program on April 25.

Featured

  • sapling sprouting from a cracked stone

    Lessons in Resilience: Disaster Recovery in Our Schools

    Facility managers play a pivotal role in how well a school weathers and recovers from a crisis. Whether it's a hurricane, a flood, a tornado, or a man-made event, preparation determines resilience.

  • Preparing for the Next Era of Healthcare Education, Innovation

    Across the country, public universities and community colleges are accelerating investments in healthcare education facilities as part of a broader strategy to address workforce shortages, modernize outdated infrastructure, and expand clinical training capacity. These projects, which are often located at the center of campus health and science districts, are no longer limited to traditional classrooms.

  • Different Starting Points, Same End Goal

    Higher education campuses can enhance student experience by implementing mobile credentials to streamline building access, on-campus payments, and access to other amenities. This enables students to connect to their campuses through the technology they use most: their mobile devices.

  • El Paso District Breaks Ground on New Elementary School

    The Canutillo Independent School District in El Paso, Texas, recently announced that construction has begun on a 119,000-square-foot elementary school, according to a news release. The district partnered with Pfluger Architects, Carl Daniel Architects, and LDCM Solutions on the new Davenport Elementary School, which has an expected completion date of 2027.

Digital Edition