Katrina Relief
USDOE pushes for funding for families to exercise parental choice

The "Renegade" bus's youngest passenger (photos courtesy of Katya Horner)
Meeting Needs for All Students. Communities in Louisiana significantly impacted by the hurricane had an above average number of children enrolled in private schools�61,000 students in private schools compared to 187,000 in public schools in four severely impacted parishes. These significantly impacted Louisiana communities averaged 25% of students attending private K-12 schools�much higher than the 11% national average of private school students.

    * In recognition of the fact that many families who have been displaced by the hurricane have already chosen to enroll their children in private schools, the Department of Education is proposing up to $488 million to compensate families for the costs associated with attending these private schools.
    * This emergency compensation would be in an amount up to 90% of the state's average per pupil expenditure through the 2005-06 school year, with a maximum annual payment of $7,500 per child. These funds will also be subject to appropriate financial accountability measures.

http://hurricanehelpforschools.gov/