January 2025 – News You Can Use

Impact Aid Grantees,

Happy New Year to our Impact Aid Community!  Now is the time to start your fiscal year (FY) 2026 Impact Aid Application.

The Impact Aid Section 7002 and Section 7003 applications for FY 2026 are due January 31, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

The application is not complete until the signature task is submitted. Applications with the status “Application” or “Signature” are not complete.

FY 2026 Applications – By the Numbers (as of January 6)

  • 24% of school districts that applied last year do not have an active core user account for the Impact Aid Grant System.
  • We have received only 17% of expected 7002 applications. 30% are incomplete because they have no signature.
  • We have received only 6% of expected 7003 applications. 26% are incomplete because they have no signature.
  • Applications received between February 1-April 1, 2025, are assessed a 10% late penalty to all resulting payments.

Act now to ensure your IAGS accounts are active and an authorized representative can sign the application!

Impact Aid Grant System (IAGS) Reminders

  • Each Local educational agency (LEA) must have one, and only one, core user. Your LEA’s core user account must be active to start an application. To remove or add a core user to your LEA’s record, request a new account or contact your Impact Aid state analyst. New core users will receive instructions for account setup by email and may find this IAGS user guide helpful. Core users can create or manage up to two IAGS accounts for others.
  • If you have not logged in since September 9, 2024, your account is likely inactive. Core users can request account reactivation by filling out the information in the green box.
  • You may receive a 401 “unauthorized access” error message if the Impact Aid Grant system cannot match the username (email address) entered in the Login.gov portal with an IAGS account username. To resolve, when prompted on the Impact Aid Grant System Login.gov sign-in page, enter the email that is your IAGS Username. You should have already added this email address to your Login.gov account. The email address you enter must be the one associated with your IAGS account.
  • The Login.gov helpdesk is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and can be reached through https://login.gov/help or by phone at (844) 875-6466.

FY 2025 Funding Update

As of today, the Department of Education is funded for FY 2025 through March 14, 2025. We are currently paying Section 7003 LEAs at a proration of 50% and initial payments for Children with Disabilities at $500 per Weighted Student Unit. If there is money available after making these initial payments, we will start making payment increases for LEAs qualifying for Generally Comparable District Local Contribution Rates at a proration of 50%. We are also making foundation payments for Section 7002 LEAs as funds allow.

Virtual Application Workshops

Our virtual 7003 application workshops are our most hands-on sessions. Consider joining if this is your first year submitting a Section 7003 application, you feel lost navigating the Impact Aid Grant System, or you want to walk through the application with a small group. All our sessions are held virtually using Microsoft Teams. We will assign you to a small group of similar school districts led by an Impact Aid analyst. Together you will have the opportunity to complete the FY 2026 Section 7003 application with time to share your screen and ask questions as you work.

Please register for only ONE workshop to allow as many people as possible attend these space limited workshops. Registration will close at 5 p.m. Eastern time the day before the workshop.

You will receive a calendar invitation in your email with the Microsoft Teams link to attend.

Date Eastern Time    Pacific Time    Link to Register
Wednesday, January 22, 2025 2 p.m. 11 a.m. Register Here
Tuesday, January 28, 2025 2 p.m. 11 a.m. Register Here

Upcoming Live Webinars

Our live webinar schedule through September 2025 is available on our website. Our webinars are FREE, open to all, and accessed through Microsoft Teams. Registration is required. Once you register, you will receive a calendar invitation with a link.

Topic  Date   Eastern Time Pacific Time Link to Register 
IAGS Navigation 1/7/2025 2 p.m. 11 a.m. Register Here
Ask an Analyst 1/29/2025 3 p.m. 12 p.m. Register Here
Ask an Analyst 1/30/2025 3 p.m. 12 p.m. Register Here

We look forward to assisting you during this busy application season.

Faatimah Muhammad,

Impact Aid Program Director

FY 2026 Section 7003 Application Workshops – Registration Open

Is this your first year submitting a Section 7003 application?  Do you feel lost in IAGS?  If so, join us for a hands on, virtual application workshop!  In these Microsoft Teams sessions, participants will view a demonstration of the application submission and then work in a small group with an Impact Aid analyst to complete the FY 2026 Section 7003 application.  You will be able to share your screen and ask questions as you work.

Space is limited and we ask that each person register for ONE workshop.  Please gather and organize the information you will need to complete the application before attending.  This information is summarized on the Pre-Work Checklist (MS Word file).  If you complete the checklist and come prepared, you will be able to submit your application for signature during the workshop.

Registration links are below and sign ups will close at 5 p.m. Eastern Time on the day before the workshop.  Act now to reserve your spot!  If your spot is confirmed, you will receive a calendar invitation in your email with the Microsoft Teams link to attend.

Date Eastern Time Pacific Time Link to Register
Wednesday, January 22, 2025 2 p.m. 11 a.m. Register Here
Tuesday, January 28, 2025 2 p.m. 11 a.m. Register Here

December 2024 – News You Can Use

The Impact Aid Section 7002 and Section 7003 applications for fiscal year (FY) 2026 are now available in the Impact Aid Grant System (IAGS). The deadline for both applications is January 31, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

The application is not complete until the signature task is submitted. Applications with the status “Application” or “Signature” are not complete.

Check out some of our resources:

New Requirement – Supporting Documentation for Properties Requiring Annual Review

If your local educational agency (LEA) claims a property requiring an annual eligibility review, the IAGS will require you to upload the survey documentation to support the children claimed. Examples of properties requiring parent-pupil survey forms or source checks include “rent to own” properties funded under the Native American Housing and Self-Determination Act, mining and grazing land, ships, and any other property that may change eligibility status from year to year.  The supporting documentation must contain all required information and be fully certified. IAGS will give an error and you will not be able to include these “annual review” properties on your application unless you upload the survey documents for the property.

Electronic Data Collection (EDC) Pilot for FY 2026 Application

LEAs that want to collect Section 7003 survey data online for the first time should submit a proposal for the Impact Aid Program to review and approve before they send the survey out to parents. Once approved for the first, “pilot” year, the LEA’s application will be monitored to ensure that the data collected is auditable and conforms to the program regulations. Due to the length of time necessary to review and approve proposals, if LEAs want to take part in an EDC pilot for the Impact Aid application due January 31, 2025, they must inform us by December 6, 2024. Any request or proposal received after December 6 will be considered for the FY 2027 application due January 2026.

If you have any questions, please reach out to the EDC Pilot Team at EDCPilot@ed.gov.

IAGS Reminders

  • Your account may be deactivated if you have not logged into the system since August 3. You can request account reactivation by entering your email in the green box.
  • All users must use Login.gov to access the IAGS. Review the Instructions for Account Setup for help getting started with Login.gov.
  • Each LEA must have one, and only one, core user. To remove or add a core user to your LEA’s record, request a new account or contact your Impact Aid state analyst. New core users will receive instructions for account setup by email and may find this IAGS user guide helpful. Core users can create or manage up to two IAGS accounts for others.

FY 2025 Funding Update

Our office continues to release basic support payments for LEAs who have requested an early payment as funds allow. Review our user guide for submitting an early payment if you still need to submit an early payment request.

We anticipate releasing some initial payments for LEAs who have not requested an early payment beginning December 16, depending on the availability of remaining funds.

Upcoming Live Webinars

Our live webinar schedule through September 2025 is available on our website.  Our webinars are FREE, open to all, and accessed through Microsoft Teams. Registration is required.  Once you register, you will receive a calendar invitation with a link.

Topic Date Eastern Time Pacific Time Link to Register
IAGS Navigation 12/4/2024 2 p.m. 11 a.m. Register Here
IAGS Navigation 1/7/2025 2 p.m. 11 a.m. Register Here
Ask an Analyst 1/29/2025 3 p.m. 12 p.m. Register Here
Ask an Analyst 1/30/2025 3 p.m. 12 p.m. Register Here

We look forward to assisting you during this busy application season.

Faatimah Muhammad,

Impact Aid Program, Director

Director’s Quarterly Update – FY 2025, Q1

Happy Holidays from Impact Aid Director Faatimah Muhammad!

Welcome to the first issue of this year’s Impact Aid Director’s Quarterly Update.

We are close to completing the monitoring review of fiscal year (FY) 2025 applications, with only five reviews remaining. We are on track to launch the FY 2026 application on December 2, 2024. We encourage you to explore the resources provided in this issue and on our website to get an early start on your application well ahead of the January 31, 2025, deadline.

As we approach the upcoming holiday season, we wish you and your family a very Happy Holiday!

Funding Updates

The Impact Aid Program has begun releasing basic support payments for local educational agencies (LEAs) that have requested an early payment. To date, we still have about 50% of the funds available under the continuing resolution that funds the Department of Education through December 20, 2024.  We will continue to release additional payments for LEAs who request an early payment on a rolling basis as funds allow.

Resource Spotlight– Impact Aid Videos

This month, we highlight one of our most requested resources – videos!  Many attendees of our live webinars request a recording of our events. Over the last few years, we have responded to that request by creating short videos of the most important topics from our live presentations to help you to make the most of your time and provide a resource you can share with others! Each video also contains links to resources and a transcript if you prefer to read the narration.

Impact Aid Best Practices:  Getting Ready for your FY 2026 Application due January 31, 2025. 

The FY 2026 application will be available on December 2, 2024. Please review the tips below for a great start to your application.

  • Surveying is the first step to your Impact Aid Application. If you have not done so, choose your survey date and method and check out some these resources below for help.
  • Impact Aid Grant System (IAGS) accounts are required to complete the application. All users must sign in with Login.gov to edit or view the application.
    • Request access if you are your LEA’s designated core user AND you do not already have an account. Core users can create, delete, and otherwise manage accounts for up to two others in the LEA.
    • If you have not logged in recently, you can request account reactivation by entering your email in the green box.
    • The Login.gov helpdesk is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and can be reached through https://login.gov/help or by phone at (844) 875-6466.
  • IAGS user changes can be made by your LEA’s core user. Your Impact Aid analyst can make core user changes.
    • Core users may find our Core User Guide helpful for adding or managing users.
  • For even more help, feel free to contact your LEA’s state assigned program analyst directly.
  • Finally, start early to meet the deadline of January 31, 2025, and avoid the 10% late penalty.
Upcoming Webinars

Join the Impact Aid staff in an upcoming webinar. Please see below. Our webinars are FREE and open to all.

See our complete webinar schedule through September 2025.

Topic Date Eastern Time Pacific Time Link to Register
7002 Overview 11/14/202 2 p.m. 11 a.m. Register Here
IAGS Navigation 12/4/2024 2 p.m. 11 a.m. Register Here
IAGS Navigation 1/7/2025 2 p.m. 11 a.m. Register Here
Ask an Analyst 1/29/2025 3 p.m. 12 p.m. Register Here
Ask an Analyst 1/30/2025 2 p.m. 11 a.m. Register Here

 

Faatimah Muhammad

Director, Impact Aid

October 2024 – News You Can Use

We are excited to enter a new fiscal year (FY). Last month, our team completed over 95% of FY 2025 application reviews and released all previously blocked FY 2024 payments.

FY 2025 Funding Update

The continuing resolution signed into law on September 23, 2024, provides funding through December 20, 2024.  This means that the Impact Aid Program will receive a small percentage of the funds received for FY 2024 to start distributing initial payments.  It takes several weeks for the funds to make their way through the Department of Treasury, Office of Management and Budget and to the Department of Education, where they will be allotted to our account for distribution.  We expect that local educational agencies (LEAs) who have requested early payments will begin receiving vouchers for initial payments near the end of October.

Early Payment Requests

If your LEA must receive its first FY 2025 Impact Aid payment before the end of December 2024 to meet its expenses, please request an early payment in the Impact Aid Grant System. We will prioritize initial payments for LEAs that need them the most. See the user guide for instructions with screenshots.

Online Resources for the Upcoming Application

We have many training resources available as you prepare for your FY 2026 Impact Aid application, due January 31. We encourage you to visit our training page to review Section 7002 videos and Section 7003 videos, which cover important highlights of our webinars, including how to survey Federally connected children.

You may also find it helpful to visit our resources page to view our new Handbook for Applicants and Grantees, and various tools to support your application preparation.

Upcoming Live Webinars – New Schedule

Does your LEA have staff who are new to Impact Aid or need a refresher? Our updated live webinar schedule through September 2025 is available now.

Our webinars are FREE, open to all, and accessed through Microsoft Teams. Registration is required.  Once you register, you will receive a calendar invitation with a link.

Topic Date Eastern Time Pacific Time Link to Register
How to Conduct a Survey 10/9/2024 2 p.m. 11 a.m. Register Here
IPPs and Waivers 10/24/2024 3 p.m. 12 p.m. Register Here
7003 Overview 11/7/2024 2 p.m. 11 a.m. Register Here
7002 Overview 11/14/2024 2 p.m. 11 a.m. Register Here

Webinar Schedule for FY 2025 – October 2024 to September 2025

The Impact Aid Program is announcing new training opportunities through Microsoft Teams.  Classes are free to all.  You will find class descriptions and registration links by clicking the headers below.

After registering, you will receive a calendar invitation in your email with a Microsoft Teams link and joining instructions.  Microphones and video will be turned off for participants but you can use the chat feature to ask questions.

Slides: The Resources page has PDF or PowerPoint copies of the slide decks for most sessions.

Find session descriptions and registration links by clicking the headers below.

TopicDateTime (Eastern)Time (Pacific)Registration
How to Conduct a Survey10/9/20242 p.m.11 a.m.Register Here
IPPs and Waivers10/24/20243 p.m.12 p.m.Register Here
7003 Overview11/7/20242 p.m.11 a.m.Register Here
7002 Overview11/14/20242 p.m.11 a.m.Register Here
IAGS Navigation12/4/20242 p.m.11 a.m.Register Here
IAGS Navigation1/7/20252 p.m.11 a.m.Register Here
Ask an Analyst1/29/20253 p.m.12 p.m.Register Here
Ask an Analyst1/30/20252 p.m.11 a.m.Register Here
Monitoring3/4/20252 p.m.11 a.m.Register Here
7003 Payment Formula4/1/20253 p.m.12 p.m.Register Here
Electronic Data Collection5/14/20252 p.m.11 a.m.Register Here
7003 Overview8/13/20253 p.m.12 p.m.Register Here
How To Conduct a Survey8/19/20252 p.m.11 a.m.Register Here
Electronic Data Collection8/26/20253 p.m.12 p.m.Register Here
How To Conduct a Survey9/10/20252 p.m.11 a.m.Register Here
IPPs and Waivers9/16/20252 p.m.11 a.m.Register Here
7002 Overview9/25/20253 p.m.12 p.m.Register Here

We will focus on the requirements for the annual Impact Aid survey that school districts use to count Federally connected children. The survey must be completed before the LEA submits the Section 7003 grant application due January 31.

DateTime (Eastern)Time (Pacific)Registration
10/9/20242 p.m.11 a.m.Register Here
8/19/20252 p.m.11 a.m.Register Here
9/10/20252 p.m.11 a.m.Register Here

We will provide an overview of the Electronic Data Collection pilot process for LEAs interested in leveraging a parent portal or other software to conduct the Impact Aid survey online. The focus will be on the system requirements for producing survey data that is compliant with the program statute and regulations.

DateTime (Eastern)Time (Pacific)Registration
5/14/20252 p.m.11 a.m.Register Here
8/26/20253 p.m.12 p.m.Register Here

We will provide an overview of the data necessary to submit the annual Section 7002 grant application, as well as the payment calculation. Section 7002 school districts receive funds based on the number of eligible Federal acres within their boundaries. If you apply for Impact Aid based solely on a count of Federally connected children, this session is not for you.

DateTime (Eastern)Time (Pacific)Registration
11/14/20242 p.m.11 a.m.Register Here
9/25/20253 p.m.12 p.m.Register Here

We will give a broad overview of all aspects of the Section 7003 program (Payments for Federally Connected Children), including the data collection process, application submission, review timeline, and payment information. This session is particularly targeted to those who are brand new to Impact Aid and need to know a little bit of everything.

DateTime (Eastern)Time (Pacific)Registration
11/7/20242 p.m.11 a.m.Register Here
8/13/20253 p.m.12 p.m.Register Here

LEAs claiming children living on Indian lands on the Section 7003 application must have Indian Policies and Procedures (IPPs) or a waiver updated annually. This session will cover the requirements in the Impact Aid program regulations related to IPPs and waivers.

DateTime (Eastern)Time (Pacific)Registration
10/24/20243 p.m.12 p.m.Register Here
9/16/20252 p.m.11 a.m.Register Here

This webinar will take attendees step-by-step through the Section 7003 formula payment calculation and show you how to find the data inputs on your payment voucher. The session is particularly useful for LEAs who need to estimate future Impact Aid payments as part of their budgeting process.

DateTime (Eastern)Time (Pacific)Registration
4/1/20253 p.m.12 p.m.Register Here

This webinar will provide a basic orientation to the Impact Aid Grant System, including account setup. We will address common questions such as how to find a payment voucher, see your application’s status, start and sign an application, and complete assigned tasks.

DateTime (Eastern)Time (Pacific)Registration
12/4/20242 p.m.11 a.m.Register Here
1/7/20252 p.m.11 a.m.Register Here

These sessions are open “office hours” with no particular agenda. Bring your application questions!

DateTime (Eastern)Time (Pacific)Registration
1/29/20253 p.m.12 p.m.Register Here
1/30/20252 p.m.11 a.m.Register Here

This session will be targeted towards LEAs selected for monitoring of their FY 2025 application, although the training is also open to all who would like to join.  We will go over what documentation your analyst will need to see and how to organize and submit documents in the IAGS.

DateTime (Eastern)Time (Pacific)Registration
3/4/20252 p.m.11 a.m.Register Here

Director’s Quarterly Update – FY 2024, Q4

Hello everyone!  

Welcome to the fourth issue of the Impact Aid Director’s Quarterly Update.  

As of today, the team has completed 97% of initial monitoring reviews for fiscal year (FY) 2025 and 68% of our final reviews. We are on track to make initial payments for FY 2025, contingent a full appropriation on October 1, 2024, and final payments by Spring 2025. All remaining FY 2024 blocked payments are scheduled for release after October 1, 2024. 

Start early! Now is a good time to start thinking about preparing for your FY 2026 Impact Aid application. We encourage you to read through our best practice tips and consider participating in one of our upcoming technical assistance opportunities listed below. The upcoming training session can be found on our portal under here. 

Our brand-new Impact Aid Handbook is also an excellent resource. The handbook gives a broad overview of Impact Aid basics and answers frequently asked questions, with citations to the program statute and regulations. In our annual Grantee Satisfaction Survey, we’ve received comments over the years to revive the handbook (the old “yellow book”), and this year we were able to fulfill that request. We hope you find it useful. 

We wish you a wonderful start to the new school year! 

Early Payment Requests 

If your local educational agency (LEA) must receive your first FY 2025 Impact Aid payment before the end of December 2024 to meet its expenses, please let us know by requesting an early payment in the Impact Aid Grant System (IAGS). If we are operating under a Continuing Resolution for the start of FY 2025, meaning that we receive a small percentage of our 2024 appropriated funds rather than the full appropriation for the year, we will prioritize initial payments for LEAs that need them the most. Please note that the button to request an early payment has moved from the IAGS payment history page to the application page. See the new user guide for instructions with screenshots. 

Special Team Spotlight – Electronic Data Collection (EDC) Team 

This quarter we recognize our EDC team who provides technical assistance to LEAs in their first year (called the pilot year) and beyond. The team consists of team lead Shaunton Alston, Kisha Spruill, and Robin Gregory. EDC allows LEAs to use their student information system to collect survey data for their Impact Aid application. The primary purpose is to enhance efficiency and assist in producing accurate, complete, and validated data for the LEA’s application. Currently, 58 LEAs are participating in EDC. Kudos to the team for their work in this process. If you wish to explore this option for your LEA, please contact our EDC team at edcpilot@ed.gov.  

Impact Aid Best Practices:  Survey Method  

Have you reviewed your survey method recently?  If it has been a while, now is a great time to review your methods. For best results, we suggest you:  

  • View our on demand video here on how to conduct a survey.  
  • Participate in a virtual training. The schedule is listed below and always available on our website.  
  • Reach out to your LEA’s state analyst, who can recommend the best survey method based on the federally connected categories you claim.  
Upcoming Webinars  

Join the Impact Aid staff in an upcoming webinar. Please see below. Our webinars are FREE and open to all.  

Topic  Date  Eastern Time  Pacific Time  Link to Register 
Indian Policies and Procedures & Regulations  9/11/2024  2 p.m.  11 a.m.  Register Here 
Section 7002 Overview  9/17/2024  2 p.m.  11 a.m.   Register Here 
How To Conduct a Survey  9/25/2024  3 p.m.  12 p.m.  Register Here 

As always, reach out to us anytime for assistance, and feel free to contact your program analyst directly.

Faatimah Muhammad  

Director, Impact Aid   

Final FY 2024 Payments Released – ALL PROGRAMS

The Impact Aid Program Office is thrilled to announce that as of June 20, 2024, we have made the final payments for all sections of 7003(b) Basic Support Payments, 7003(d) Children with Disabilities, 7002 Federal Property, and 7007(a) Formula Construction for fiscal year 2024. This marks the first time in the 74-year history of the program that the office has completed final payments within the same fiscal year. 

Section 7003(b) Basic Support payments were made with a ratable increase to LOT of 3.41%, and section 7003(d) payments for Children with Disabilities were disbursed at a rate of $1,302.52 per Weighted Student Unit. 

The provided data represents payments completed to date and excludes the final payment to districts that have requested payments blocks for FY 2024.

Additional details are provided below. 

Payment Type 

Number of LEAs 

Total Funds 

7002 – Foundation 

200

$64,250,923 

7002 – Remaining Funds 

162 

$13,542,077 

7003(b) – Basic Support 

943 

$1,473,879,714 

 

7003(b)(2) – Heavily Impacted 

24 

$299,219,843 

 

7003(e) – Basic Support Hold Harmless 

288 

$68,200,164 

7003(d) – Children with Disabilities

770 

$48,312,605 

 

7007(a) – Formula Construction, Indian Lands 

142 

$9,499,946 

7007(a) – Formula Construction, Uniformed Services 

27 

$9,499,808 

I would also like to take a moment to express my gratitude to my staff for achieving this significant milestone in the program’s history. We are proud to serve federally connected children. 

All the best,

Faatimah

Director’s Quarterly Update – FY 2024, Q3

Hello everyone!

Welcome to the third issue of the Impact Aid Director’s Quarterly Update.  The Impact Aid program team is thrilled to announce that we will be closing out the fiscal year (FY) 2024 in the coming weeks.  This marks the first time in the program’s history that final payments will be processed within the same fiscal year, a milestone made possible in part by the diligent work of our payment team, who are featured below.

As of today, the team has completed 76% of initial monitoring reviews for FY 2025.  We are on track to be ready to make initial payments for FY 2025, pending a full appropriation on October 1, 2024, and final payments by Spring 2025.

As you wrap up the school year, we encourage you to read through the best practice tips and upcoming technical assistance opportunities listed below.  Our goal is to ensure a successful application season for FY 2026!

Funding Updates

We have released all section 7003(b) Basic Support payments at 100% of Prorated LOT; and section 7003 (d) Payments for Children with Disabilities at a rate of $1,200 per Weighted Student Unit.  Section 7002 local educational agencies (LEAs) have received their foundation .  We also made the final section 7007 formula construction payments for FY 2024 in May.

We plan on releasing final FY 2024 payments for both 7002 and 7003 later in June.  If you are concerned about receiving unplanned funds late in your fiscal year, you can request a payment block in the Impact Aid Grant System (IAGS).  Once you’ve signed in, scroll to the bottom of your Home page to find the new Batched Payments section.  Click the $ button on the top right of the box to go to your LEA’s full Payment History page.  Then, click the Request Payment Block button on the top right of the Payment History page to start the payment block process.

FY 2024 Final Appropriation FY 2024 Distributions as of 5/30/24
Basic Support $1,474,000,000 $1,336,980,780.00
Federal Property $79,000,000 $65,457,923.00
Children with Disabilities $48,316,000 $44,314,480.00
Construction $19,000,000 $18,999,757

FY 2025 Application Update

If you need to amend your FY 2025 application, you may do so until July 1, 2024.  The IAGS Navigation webinar on June 5 at 3 p.m. Eastern Time will show you how (registration information is below).

Special Team Spotlight – Payments

This quarter we recognize our payments team.  This team consists of the Team Lead Kisha Spruill, and team members Shaunton Alston, Ulyssa Rempson, and Melissa Torchon-Duke.  This is the behind-the-scenes team that ensures any errors with your payments are quickly and accurately corrected to ensure your payments reach you in a timely manner.  This team also assists LEAs with updating their bank data in coordination with the G6 (formerly G5) payment system and performs a reconciliation of payments to ensure the IAGS and G6 transactions match.  This team uses their extensive knowledge of the payment system to support the program with efficiency and professionalism.  Have a question about payments?  Send an email to Impact.Aid@ed.gov.

Impact Aid Best Practices: Staff Transitions

For many districts, the end of the school year and the beginning of another year signals changes with staff. Here is what we suggest to ensure a successful start to your new Impact Aid Year:

  • Update your LEA’s contact person in IAGS. After signing in to IAGS, click on LEAs on the top blue menu, then the name of your school district.  Click the Update LEA Details button at the top right to change the contact information.
  • Make sure the next person has access to your LEA’s past Impact Aid survey records. You must keep your backup documentation until three years after the final payment for that year was made.  Currently, your LEA should have the records from your FY 2021 application (school year 2019-2020 survey data), and forward.
  • Visit our New to Impact Aid page for a basic overview of our Section 7002 and 7003 prog There you’ll find links to training videos and the basic information you need to get started.

For even more help, feel free to contact your LEA’s state assigned program analyst directly here: https://impactaid.ed.gov/iap_staff/.  They can also assist you with setting up new accounts in IAGS, if necessary.

Upcoming Webinars

Join the Impact Aid staff in an upcoming webinar.  Our webinars are FREE and open to all. Click this link for a complete schedule through September 2024.

Topic Date Eastern Time Pacific Time Link to Register
IAGS Navigation 6/5/2024 3 p.m. 12 p.m. Register Here
Section 7003 Overview 8/6/2024 2 p.m. 11 a.m. Register Here
How To Conduct a Survey 8/14/2024 3 p.m. 12 p.m. Register Here
Electronic Data Collection 8/22/2024 3 p.m. 12 p.m. Register Here

As always, reach out to us anytime for assistance, and feel free to contact your program analyst directly here: https://impactaid.ed.gov/iap_staff/.

Faatimah Muhammad

Director, Impact Aid

 

 

 

May 2024 – News You Can Use

Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Payment Updates

Impact Aid has released interim section 7003(b) Basic Support payments at 100% of Prorated LOT; and section 7003(d) Payment for Children with Disabilities (CWD) at $1,200 per weighted student unit. All eligible Section 7002 districts have received their foundation payment.  Generally Comparable District and Heavily Impacted adjustments are complete. Look for section 7007 construction payments for eligible Section 7003 grantees and remaining funds payments for 7002 grantees this summer.

Payment Blocks

We anticipate issuing final FY 2024 Section 7003 payments much earlier than usual this year.  If you have concerns about receiving unplanned funds at the end of your school fiscal year, you may request a payment block to hold those funds. Here’s how:

  1. Log in into to the Impact Aid Grant System (IAGS) using Login.gov at https://impactaidgrant.ed.gov/suite/sites/impact-aid
  2. Click the $ button under 7003 Application Status or 7002 Application Status.
  3. Click the Request Payment Block button at the top right of the Payment History page.
  4. Choose the date you would like the payment block to end and choose 2024 as the fiscal year for which you would like to block your payments.
  5. Click the Send to Review button.

When the request is approved, you’ll receive an email confirmation.  We cannot make payments to your LEA until the block expires or you change the date, so please plan carefully.

Amending FY 2025 Applications

The deadline to submit an amendment is July 1, 2024.  Typically, the annual amendment deadline is June 30, but as that falls on a Sunday this year, the deadline is the next business day.

Please visit this training page to view our amendment user guide, quick tips and short video to assist you in completing an application amendment through the IAGS .

FY 2024 Formula Construction 7007(a) Updates

As this is an even-numbered fiscal year, we received appropriated funds for formula construction grants totaling $19 million, a slight increase over the $17.4 million appropriated for FY 2022.  To be eligible to receive these funds, a local educational agency (LEA) must:

  • Be eligible under section 7003(b)(2)- Payments for Heavily Impacted LEAs; or
  • Have at least 50% military connected children in categories B and D(i): or,
  • Have at least 50% children who reside on eligible Indian lands in category C.

LEAs do not apply for these funds.  Payments are calculated using the FY 2024 Section 7003 application child counts.  LEAs must use these funds for construction and report expenditures on their next Impact Aid application.

Impact Aid Customer Service Survey

Did you know that you can provide anonymous feedback on the assistance you received from an Impact Aid analyst?  Each analyst has a link to our customer service survey at the bottom of their email signature.  Please use this form to let us know what we’re doing well and where we can improve!

Grantee Satisfaction Survey

The 2024 Grantee Satisfaction Survey launched on April 4, 2024, and if you were selected, you should have received the survey from the “CFI Group on behalf of the Department of Education.”  The email subject line is “Department of Education Grantee Satisfaction Survey 2024.” The survey is administered by an independent third-party research firm, so our staff will not receive individual survey responses and will have no way of knowing how individual grantees responded.  While the survey is voluntary, we count on everyone’s participation to provide representative results and to help us identify how best to serve you.  The survey should take less than 15 minutes to complete, and our success depends on how many of you respond.

Upcoming Webinars

Does your local educational agency have staff who are new to Impact Aid or need a refresher?

Join the Impact Aid staff in an upcoming webinar.  Our webinars are FREE and open to all. Click this link for a complete schedule through September 2024.

Topic Date Eastern Time Pacific Time Link to Register
Electronic Data Collection 5/21/2024 2 p.m. 11 a.m. Register Here
IAGS Navigation 6/5/2024 3 p.m. 12 p.m. Register Here

April 2024 – News You Can Use

Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Appropriation News 

On March 23, 2024, the President signed the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024. The act includes provisions for Impact Aid as follows: 

  • $1,474,000,000 for basic support payments under section 7003(b),  
  • $48,316,000 for payments for children with disabilities under section 7003(d),  
  • $19,000,000 for construction under section 7007(a) [formula grants],  
  • $79,000,000 for Federal property payments under section 7002, and  
  • $4,835,000 for facilities maintenance under section 7008 [for Department of Education-owned schools].  

It takes several weeks for the funds to make their way through the Department of Treasury, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and to the Department of Education, where they will finally be allotted to our account for distribution.   We have started making Section 7003(b) interim payments at a proration of 100% using an “above the continuing resolution” increase of $397 million that OMB granted Impact Aid in mid-March, based on our historical rate of obligations.  We are able to pay at a higher proration than the usual 90% interim rate because the FY 2024 maximum payment data is close to final, and we received an increase in appropriated funds for basic support.  We will finish sending out the remainder of interim payments as soon as our full-year funds are available in our accounts.  At that time, we will also raise the rate for 7003(d) payments to send out additional Children with Disabilities funds.  We expect all interim 7003 payments to be released before the end of April. 

Amending FY 2025 Applications 

The deadline to submit an amendment is June 30, 2024.  

Please visit this training page to view our amendment user guide, quick tips and short video to assist you in completing an application amendment through the Impact Aid Grant System (IAGS).  

Upcoming Webinars 

Does your local educational agency have staff who are new to Impact Aid or need a refresher? 

Join the Impact Aid staff in an upcoming webinar.  Our webinars are FREE and open to all. Click this link for a complete schedule through September 2024.    

Topic  Date  Eastern Time  Pacific Time  Link to Register 
The 7003 Payment Formula  4/25/2024  2 PM  11 AM  Register Here 

 
Electronic Data Collection  5/21/2024  2PM  11 AM  Register Here 

 

 

Faatimah Muhammad, 

Impact Aid Program Director 

Director’s Quarterly Update – FY 2024, Q2

IAP Director’s Quarterly Newsletter Q2 FY24 (PDF file)

Hello everyone!

Welcome to our second issue of the Impact Aid Director’s Quarterly Update.  We are excited to feature one of our special teams in this edition. Their work plays a critical role in the distribution of Impact Aid grant funds. In the next quarterly newsletter, we look forward to featuring best practices from one of our stellar federally impacted districts.

Funding Updates

As of today, the Department of Education is funded through March 22, 2024.  For fiscal year (FY) 2024, we are currently paying Section 7003 local educational agencies (LEAs) at a proration of 50%, including payment adjustments due to Generally Comparable District Local Contribution Rates and Heavily Impacted payments under Section 7003(b)(2).  All eligible grantees received an initial payment for Children with Disabilities at $500 per Weighted Student Unit.  Section 7002 LEAs have received their foundation payments.

 

 

FY 2023 Final Appropriation

FY 2024 Distributions Under Continuing Resolution as of 3/4/24
Basic Support

$1,468,242,000

$583,623,627
Federal Property

$78,313,000

$63,088,553
Children with Disabilities

$48,316,000

$18,423,220
Construction

$18,406,000

$0

Special Team Spotlight

The Generally Comparable District (GCD) team has showcased their skills by initiating the GCD process earlier this year, leading to an earlier disbursement of Impact Aid payments. This strategic move not only underscores the team’s dedication but also exemplifies their commitment to ensuring LEAs receive their maximum payment under this provision.

The FY 24 GCD team consists of the following analysts: Chad Eggleston (lead), Michael Thomas, Alejandra Villalobos, and Lloyd Matthews. Kudos to the team for their hard work in this process of grantmaking.

FY 2025 Application Season Update

We received 1,004 Section 7003 applications and 206 Section 7002 applications in January, with 56% percent submitted in the final week before the deadline.

Facilities Maintenance – Section 7008

On Tuesday, December 19, 2023, the Impact Aid Director signed the Transfer of Ownership package for the new Randolph Field Elementary School located on Joint Base San Antonio, Texas.  Congratulations to the Randolph Field School District!  There are now only four Department of Education-owned school buildings on military installations, and we expect two of the remaining facilities to transfer to LEAs in FY 2024.

Grantee Satisfaction Survey

The Department of Education is ramping up its FY 2024 Grantee Satisfaction Survey.  All 7002 applicants will be surveyed and 20% of section 7003 applicants will be randomly selected for the survey. The launch date is slated for April 1, 2024.

As always, reach out to us anytime for assistance, and feel free to contact your program analyst directly here: https://impactaid.ed.gov/iap_staff/.

 

Faatimah Muhammad

Director, Impact Aid

 

March 2024 – News You Can Use

Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Monitoring Notifications 

Monitoring notifications for the fiscal year (FY) 2025 application have been emailed to selected grantees. If you have received one of these notifications and need assistance, you should contact the Impact Aid analyst listed on your monitoring notification email.  Our March 6th webinar will specifically focus on providing assistance to districts that were selected for monitoring. Registration links for those webinars have been sent out in the monitoring notices and are included below for your convenience.  We highly recommend attending the webinar.  For local education agencies (LEAs) using electronic data collection (EDC), there will be a special webinar on March 7th at 2 PM ET.  

Late FY 2025 Application 

Did you miss the application deadline?  The FY 2025 late application deadline for Section 7002 and Section 7003 is April 1, 2024.  Late applications are assessed a 10% payment penalty.  

Amending FY 2025 Applications 

The deadline to submit an amendment is June 30, 2024.  

Please visit this training page to view our amendment user guide, quick tips and short video to assist you in completing an application amendment through the Impact Aid Grant System (IAGS).  

Upcoming Webinars 

Does your LEA have staff who are new to Impact Aid or need a refresher? 

Join the Impact Aid staff in an upcoming webinar. Our webinars are FREE and open to all. Click this link for a complete schedule through September 2024.  

Topic  Date  Eastern Time  Pacific Time  Link to Register 
Impact Aid Monitoring – Tips for Success  3/6/2024  3 PM  12 PM  Register Here 
Impact Aid Monitoring – EDC Tips for Success  3/7/2024  2PM  11 AM  Register Here 

 

February 2024 – News You Can Use

Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Application Reminders

Did you miss the application deadline?  There is still time to apply for Impact Aid!  The fiscal year (FY) 2025 late application deadline for Section 7002 and Section 7003 is April 1, 2024.  Late applications are assessed a 10% payment penalty.

The deadline to submit an amendment is June 30, 2024. 

To start an amendment, log in to the Impact Aid Grant System.  On the Home page under the Status box, click the blue person icon to open your 7003 Application or the blue map icon to open your 7002 Application.  On the top right of the application record page, click the button to start an amendment.  Note that starting an amendment stops our review of your application and the review will not resume until your amended application is either canceled or signed and submitted.

On Demand Videos

You can find videos covering many of the most important topics from our webinars by clicking on our training page. You may click on the Section 7003 (Basic Support Payments) Training or Section 7002 (Payments for Federal Property) Training links depending on your interest.

Each video is best viewed in “full screen” mode and has a transcript and related links under the video playlist. 

Upcoming Webinars

Does your local education agency (LEA) have staff who are new to Impact Aid or need a refresher?

Join the Impact Aid staff in an upcoming webinar.  Our webinars are FREE and open to all. Click this link for a complete schedule through September 2024.  Join us on March 6 to find out what happens when your LEA is selected for an in-depth application review.

Topic Date Eastern Time Pacific Time Link to Register
Impact Aid Monitoring – Tips for Success 3/6/2024 3 PM 12 PM Register Here

 

Faatimah Muhammad,

Impact Aid Program, Director

Impact Aid FY 2025 Applications Due SOON

DO NOT WAIT!! The deadline to submit your school district’s fiscal year (FY) 2025 Impact Aid application is at 11:59 p.m. EST on January 31, 2024.  Start now to avoid a 10% payment penalty.   

As of January 23, roughly 21% of applications are submitted, 52% are in progress, and 27% have not been started.  Given the large number of applicants that have not started, we may not be able to assist everyone. It is imperative that you complete your application as soon as possible. 

The Impact Aid Program office closes at 6 p.m. EST on January 31. 

Remaining Application Training  

Topic 

Date 

Eastern Time 

Link to Register 

Tuition vs. Open Enrollment 

1/25/2024 

2 PM EST  

Register Here 

Tuition vs. Open Enrollment is a new popup training on how to determine whether to count students on the tuition in or tuition out lines of the membership table and in the federally connected categories. 

Ask an Analyst 

1/25/2024 

3 PM EST 

Register Here 

Ask an Analyst 

1/29/2024 

2 PM EST 

Register Here 

We will spend 100% of these sessions answering your Impact Aid-related questions. Come to find answers or listen and learn. 

 

January 2024 – News You Can Use

Impact Aid Grantees,

Happy New Year to the Impact Aid Community! Now is the time to start your Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 application.

Impact Aid Main Phone Line

The main telephone number for Impact Aid ((202) 260-3858) has been discontinued as planned. Please contact your State assigned analyst directly for any assistance and contact the analyst’s supervisor if you have not received a response within two business days.

FY 2025 Application Update by the Numbers

  • FY 2025 applications are due on January 31, 2024, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time.
  • Applications received after the deadline are assessed a 10% late penalty.
  • To date, 64% of school districts that applied last year have not started an application.
  • To date, 3% of school districts that applied last year do not have an active core user account for the Impact Aid Grant System (IAGS).

IAGS System Reminders

If you have not logged into the IAGS since August 29, 2023, you likely have not completed the required Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) setup process through Login.Gov.  For more information about account setup, visit this page on our portal November 2023 – News You Can Use.

Application Workshops

This month we will offer three application workshops for Section 7003 local educational agencies (LEAs) that have collected all of the necessary information to enter on the FY 2025 application but want guidance on entering it correctly in the IAGS.  Space will be limited, so please register for just one workshop on either 1/17, 1/18, or 1/23 at 2 p.m. Eastern time.  At the end of each workshop, most attendees will be able to confidently submit their application forward for signature.

New 7002 Videos

We’ve recording two new videos for 7002 applicants, covering the topics of eligibility, how to apply, and the payment formula.   You can find the videos by going to the Training menu on our website, or by clicking here.  Each video is best viewed in “full screen” mode and has a transcript and related links under the video playlist.

 Upcoming Webinars

Does your LEA have staff who are new to Impact Aid or need a refresher?

Join the Impact Aid staff in an upcoming webinar.  Our webinars are FREE and open to all. Click this link for a complete schedule through September 2024. Check out our offerings through January below.

Topic Date Eastern Time Pacific Time Link to Register
IAGS Navigation 1/11/2024 3 PM 12 PM Register Here
Ask an Analyst 1/25/2024 3 PM 12 PM Register Here
Ask an Analyst 1/29/2024 2 PM 11AM Register Here

Listserv Changes

This month, we will be transitioning to a new listserv platform.  Your subscription will automatically roll over to the new platform.  We will update our website with new listserv registration links once available.

 

Faatimah Muhammad,

Impact Aid Program, Director

Registration Open for Virtual Application Workshops

Is this your first year submitting a Section 7003 application?  Do you feel lost in IAGS?  If so, join us for a hands on, virtual application workshop!  In these Microsoft Teams sessions, participants will work in a small group with similar school districts and an Impact Aid analyst to complete the FY 2025 Section 7003 application.  You will be able to share your screen and ask questions as you work.

Space is limited and we ask that each person register for ONE workshop.  In order to be considerate of everyone’s time, we also ask that you gather and organize the information you will need to complete the application before attending.  This information is summarized on the Pre-Work Checklist (MS Word file).  If you complete the checklist and come prepared, you will be able to submit your application for signature during the workshop.

Registration links are below and sign ups will close at 5 p.m. Eastern Time the day before the workshop, or when the session is at capacity.  Act now to reserve your spot!  If your spot is confirmed, you will receive a calendar invitation in your email with the Microsoft Teams link to attend.

  • Wednesday, January 17 at 2 p.m. Eastern/11 a.m. Pacific Time (REGISTRATION CLOSED)
  • Thursday, January 18 at 2 p.m. Eastern/11 a.m. Pacific Time (REGISTRATION CLOSED)
  • Tuesday, January 23 at 2 p.m. Eastern/11 a.m. Pacific Time (REGISTRATION CLOSED)

If the session you want to attend is FULL, sign up for the waitlist and we’ll notify you if there’s a cancellation.

December 2023 – News You Can Use

Now is the time to start your fiscal Year (FY) 2025 application.  Get started today with your LEA’s application today and cross one thing off your to do list!

FY 2025 Application Update by the Numbers

  • FY 2025 applications are due on January 31, 2024, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time.
  • Applications received after the deadline are assessed a 10% late penalty.
  • To date, 92% of school districts that applied last year have not started an application.
  • To date, 3.4 % of school districts that applied last year do not have an active core user account for the Impact Aid Grant System.
  • To date, 38% of active users have not yet signed in with a Login.gov account.

Impact Aid Grant System (IAGS) System Reminders

If you have not logged into the IAGS since August 29, 2023, you likely not completed the required Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) setup process through Login.Gov.  For more information about account setup, visit this page on our portal November 2023 – News You Can Use.

Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Payments Update

The Impact Aid Program has begun releasing basic support payments for local educational agencies (LEAs) that have requested an early payment.  We have released 941 payments set at 50% proration and $500 per weighted student unit for Children with Disabilities (CWD).

If your LEA will require an FY 2024 initial Impact Aid payment before December 30, 2023, to meet operational expenses, you can request an expedited payment through the Impact Aid Grant System (IAGS). Go to this link for instructions for submitting the request through IAGS.  We will release additional payments as we receive additional funds in the future.

Upcoming Webinars

Does your LEA have staff who are new to Impact Aid or need a refresher?

Join the Impact Aid staff in an upcoming webinar.  Our webinars are FREE and open to all. Click this link for a complete schedule through September 2024. Check out our offerings through January below.

Topic Date Eastern Time Pacific Time Link to Register
Section 7002 Overview 12/7/2023 2 PM 11 AM Register Here
IAGS Navigation 1/11/2024 3 PM 12 PM Register Here
Ask an Analyst 1/25/2024 3 PM 12 PM Register Here
Ask an Analyst 1/29/2024 2 PM 11AM Register Here

 

You can submit questions from inside the application system when you need help, send an email to Impact.Aid@ed.gov or contact your analyst directly at Impact Aid Staff.

 

Listserv Changes

In January, we will be transitioning to a new listserv platform.  Your subscription will automatically roll over to the new platform.  We will update our website with new listserv registration links once available.

 

Faatimah Muhammad,

Impact Aid Program, Director

Section 7002 and Section 7003 Fiscal Year 2025 Applications Published Today

The Impact Aid section 7002 and section 7003 applications for Fiscal Year 2025 are now available online in the Impact Aid Grant System (IAGS).

Deadline

The application submission deadline for the Section 7002 and Section 7003 applications is January 31, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. We urge you to begin working on your application well before the deadline. Do not wait until the last minute to submit your application. Applications received after the deadline are assessed a 10% late penalty.

Selecting the Correct Application

If you count federally connected children, select the 7003 application.  If you count federal acres within your school district boundaries, select the 7002 application.  Some LEAs apply for both.

Getting Started

Log in to the Impact Aid Grant System to start your application.  You must have a Login.gov account to access IAGS.  You can find the instructions for creating a Login.gov account here. If you have not logged in in the past 120 days, you can reactivate your account by entering your email address in the top green box here.  Make sure you have all your application users updated before you begin your application.  Users added after the application is started will not have access, and you will need IAP staff assistance to reassign the application to the new account.

The application is a 3-step process.  Enter the data, review the data, and sign the application.  The application is not complete until the signature task is submitted. Applications with the status “Application” or “Signature” are not complete.

Resources

If you need a refresher on IAGS account set up and how to complete an application, see the slide deck, A Guide to Submitting a 7003 Application in the IAGS or Register Here to attend our next live IAGS Navigation Webinar on Tuesday, December 5th at 2 PM Eastern/ 12 PM Pacific.

We have a number of helpful tools available on our IAGS Training and Resources pages to help you submit your application. Once you have started the application, the full set of instructions are available to download at the top of every page of the application.  If you want to print a complete set of instructions, you may download them on the Impact Aid website under Resources.