Advancing Toward Impact Aid Full Funding Act

Advancing Toward Impact Aid Full Funding Act is a bill that would revise how much federal money Congress authorizes for Impact Aid, a federal program that helps local school districts offset funding losses caused by federal activity (such as military bases or Native lands) and support students affected by federally connected circumstances. The bill would replace existing subsections of Section 7014 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) with a new schedule of annual funding authorizations through fiscal year 2031 across several Impact Aid components: payments tied to Federal acquisition of property, basic payments to heavily impacted local educational agencies (LEAs), payments for children with disabilities, and construction activities. The stated aim is to gradually move toward full federal funding for Impact Aid, rather than maintain the previous funding levels. The authorizations are explicit and prescriptive, outlining specific dollar amounts for each fiscal year from 2026 through 2031, effectively setting a ramped path for federal support. Since these provisions authorize but do not require actual appropriations, the bill signals Congress’s intent to increase federal funding gradually, contingent on subsequent appropriations, and would impact how the Department of Education allocates funds to impacted districts if these authorizations are enacted and funded.