To authorize the Secretary of Education to make payments to State educational agencies to provide immediate services or assistance to local educational agencies and non-public schools that serve an area in which a major disaster or emergency has been declared, and for other purposes.
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7262
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-01-27: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-01-28T09:05:35Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Restarting Education After Disasters Act (READ Act) aims to provide quick financial support to help schools reopen and resume operations after a major disaster or emergency. It authorizes the U.S. Secretary of Education to send funds to state education agencies, which then distribute aid to local public schools and eligible private (non-public) schools in affected areas.
Key Provisions
- Payments to States: The Secretary of Education can allocate funds to state educational agencies (SEAs) based on the number of students enrolled in schools closed due to a disaster. Priority goes to schools shut down for 30 or more days.
- Distribution by States: SEAs must pass aid to local educational agencies (LEAs, like school districts) and non-public schools, considering factors like student numbers and the disaster's severity. Aid must be equitable between public and non-public schools and delivered promptly.
- Application Process: Schools apply to their SEA with basic information to speed up aid delivery.
- Allowed Uses of Funds:
- Recovering student records, staff data, and electronic files.
- Replacing school IT systems (hardware and software).
- Covering financial operations, transportation costs, and rentals for temporary learning spaces (e.g., mobile units).
- Replacing textbooks, equipment, and materials; redeveloping lesson plans and curricula.
- Providing education and support services; minor repairs to facilities and equipment.
- Other related activities approved by the Secretary.
- Restrictions:
- Funds cannot cover new construction or major building renovations.
- All aid, including materials, must be secular (non-religious), neutral, and non-ideological.
- Aid supplements (adds to) other federal (e.g., FEMA), state, or local funds but does not replace them. If duplicate aid is received later, schools must repay the excess.
- Support for Non-Public Schools:
- SEAs must reserve a share of funds proportional to non-public school enrollment (based on recent national data).
- If reserved funds go unused after 120 days, they can shift to public schools.
- Public agencies control the funds and any purchased items for non-public schools to ensure oversight.
- Definitions:
- "Covered disaster or emergency": A major event declared under federal law (via the Stafford Act) or state law.
- Standard terms like "elementary school," "local educational agency," and "state educational agency" follow definitions from the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).
- "Non-public school": Accredited private elementary or secondary schools operating legally and existing just before the disaster declaration.
- Funding: Authorizes $200 million annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2030, available until spent.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces a new federal program specifically for education recovery after disasters, which does not currently exist in this form. It builds on existing disaster relief laws (like the Stafford Act for FEMA aid) by adding education-focused support through the Department of Education. Unlike general FEMA funds, this targets school operations and requires coordination to avoid overlap, with built-in repayment rules for duplicates.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The Department of Education gains authority to distribute targeted aid, potentially easing the burden on FEMA by focusing on education. SEAs and LEAs will handle applications and distribution, increasing administrative workload but speeding up school reopenings.
- On Citizens: Students and families in disaster areas benefit from faster access to learning materials, safe spaces, and services, reducing educational disruptions. Teachers and school staff gain support for data recovery and operations.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic U.S. education systems.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- State and Local Educational Agencies: Receive and distribute funds; must ensure equitable aid.
- Public and Non-Public Schools: Eligible for assistance to restart operations; non-public schools get proportional shares under public oversight.
- Students and Educators: Primary beneficiaries through restored services, materials, and facilities.
- U.S. Department of Education and Secretary: Responsible for authorizing and overseeing payments.
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Indirectly affected, as this aid coordinates with (but supplements) their disaster relief.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Emphasizes "supplement not supplant" to comply with federal funding rules, preventing waste or overlap with FEMA or state aid. Repayment provisions address potential duplicative benefits under disaster laws.
- Constitutional: Requirements for secular, neutral, and non-ideological aid protect against Establishment Clause violations (which prohibits government funding of religion), ensuring fairness for non-public (including religious) schools while maintaining public control.
- Political: Could enhance federal support for education in disaster-prone areas (e.g., hurricanes, wildfires), promoting bipartisanship on recovery issues. The five-year funding authorization signals long-term commitment but depends on congressional appropriations. Equity rules for non-public schools may spark debates on public-private funding balance.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Mannion, John W. [D-NY-22]
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28]
Recent Actions
- 2026-01-27: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 2026-01-27: Introduced in House
- 2026-01-27: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Restarting Education After Disasters Act — issued 2026-01-27 — PDF (9 pages)