A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

   FOR RELEASE                             Contact:  David W. Thomas    June 23, 1994                                      (202) 401-1579
              
LOS ANGELES SCHOOLS TO RECEIVE $85 MILLION IN QUAKE RELIEF
                U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley today announced    the award of $85 million in Impact Aid funds to the Los Angeles    Unified School District to help pay for expenses related to    January's Northridge earthquake.

        "Schools are at the heart of communities," Riley said.     "They are a focal point for restoring normalcy in the lives of    children and their families.  This assistance will complement the    unprecedented local, state and federal effort to help Los Angeles    schools resume operations."

        The Department already has advanced $17 million to meet    immediate needs and other allowable expenses.

        "This is another example of the federal government's quick    response to our requests for earthquake relief assistance," said    Superintendent Sidney A. Thompson.  "It's further demonstration    of President Clinton's promise of quick and massive federal    assistance."

        The funds will be used to cover quake-related expenses such    as instructional support to help students make up for lost time,    extended day programs, counseling, staff training to help respond    to students' needs, substitute costs for employees unable to    report to work, and emergency supplies and equipment.

        Specifically, funds were awarded for the following    activities related to the extra costs caused by the disaster: 

$56.3 million to help restore five days of instruction              when all schools were closed for a week;     
$20 million for school-based programs to meet certain              site-specific needs as determined by each school;     
$5.3 million as reimbursement for additional operating              costs resulting from the school district's inability to              reorganize school staffing assignments at the beginning              of the second semester (school-site staff normally are              reassigned at the beginning of each semester in              response to enrollment reductions);      
$1.9 million for support services such as              transportation, police protection, counseling, and              mental health and outreach services;     
$1.2 million for loss of revenue from food services;     
$300 thousand for earthquake program management;     
$70 thousand for emergency communications needs;     
$300 thousand to assist children's centers, including              preschool and after-school education programs operating              in conjunction with the regular K-8 program.  
        The funds are being provided under the authority of section    7 (a) of the Impact Aid Act of 1988, (P.L. 81-874), as amended.