Federally impacted school districts have limited bonding capacity to generate revenue for school facilities due to the presence of nontaxable Federal property. Since 1950, the Federal government has recognized its obligation to support construction and facilities needs for federally impacted schools, with money allocated by formula and competitive grants through Section 7007 of the Impact Aid statute. Funding for this section of the law falls far below what is required to meet federally impacted school districts’ needs. NAFIS promotes awareness of those needs and advocates for increased funding to meet them.
Recent School Construction Activity
H.R. 6698, S. 2808: The Impact Aid Infrastructure Partnership Act (12/11/23)
This bill authorizes $1 billion over four years ($250 million per year) to provide funding to local educational agencies (LEAs) eligible to receive payments under the Impact Aid program.
Sign-on Letter to Secretary Cardona Requesting Extension for Spending on School Construction and Capital Projects (1/21/22)
NAFIS joins 30+ organizations in a letter sent to Secretary Cardona asking him to consider how the Department can extend the timeline school districts have to expend funding for school construction and capital projects under the American Rescue Plan through December 2026.
NAFIS Letter to Secretary Cardona Requesting Impact Aid Construction Funding in Reconciliation Bill (8/18/21)
NAFIS requests that Impact Aid school construction funding be included in the FY 22 budget reconciliation. We also request that if funding is made available, the regulations prohibiting teacher housing projects be waived for competitive grant applications.
Sign-on Letter Urges Congress to Include School Construction Funds in Infrastructure Plan (7/28/21)
NAFIS joins more than 130 organizations on the [Re]Build America’s School Infrastructure Coalition (BASIC) letter requesting $100 billion in direct grants to improve the nation’s public school facilities be included in a reconciliation bill on a broader infrastructure package.
Statement of Support for Economic Justice Act (11/10/20)
NAFIS supports the Economic Justice Act, which uses funding previously appropriated through the CARES Act for a broad range of community investments, including $115 billion for a “Down Payment on Building 21st Century Infrastructure.” The bill includes $119,568,765 for Impact Aid construction spread over three years.
School Construction Resources
Impact Aid School Construction One-Pager (4/23/24)
This one-pager gives a summary of the Impact Aid Construction Program, Section 7007 of the Every Student Succeeds Act.
Impact Aid Infrastructure Partnership Act One-Pager (3/9/24)
This one-pager offers a summary and overview of S. 2808/H.R. 6698, the Impact Aid Infrastructure Partnership Act (IAIPA). Targeted to congressional staff, it was distributed at the 2024 NAFIS Spring Conference.
Impact Aid Infrastructure Act One-Pager (4/19/21)
This one-pager gives a summary and overview of H.R. 1886, S. 945: The Impact Aid Infrastructure Act.
Impact Aid Infrastructure Act (7/10/19)
Proposed legislation would provide a one-time infusion of funds into the Impact Aid Construction program to address the significant backlog of infrastructure projects in federally impacted school districts.
Statement for the Record – Senate Indian Affairs Committee Roundtable, School Infrastructure Needs in Indian Country: Examining Opportunities for Success (7/26/18)
NAFIS recommends a one-time, $1 billion investment in the Impact Aid Section 7007 line item to address the significant backlog of needs for public school facilities educating American Indian students.
NAFIS School Construction Report (8/28/17)
Foundations for Learning: The Facilities Needs of Federally Impacted Schools describes the troubling findings of a survey of NAFIS member school districts’ facilities needs. Many federally impacted school districts have facilities in dire conditions and lack the local resources to upgrade them. More than $4.2 billion in projects are identified as “the most pressing construction need.” Health and safety, heating and cooling, roofing and capacity complications are widespread, and there is a lack of funds for technology and modernization to support 21st century learning environments. The mounting costs and risks of deferred maintenance on student well-being and academic potential are concerning.
- Download the full report, Foundations for Learning: The Facilities Needs of Federally Impacted Schools
- Download the School Construction Overview Infographic
- View the accompanying School Construction Press Release
- View opening statements from school district leaders at the NAFIS Capitol Hill briefing Press release from Hill briefing
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