HOUSTON - Education Secretary
Margaret Spellings said schools with students displaced by last year's hurricanes have received about $1.2 billion in federal aid and more could be on the way, but some educators questioned Thursday whether it would be enough.
Our first order of business is to make sure schools have adequate resources to finish out this year properly," said Spellings, who toured the New Orleans West charter school in Houston, which was set up for evacuees.
"As we see what the numbers are, how many students will return, then we'll plan for next year," she said.
About 158,000 students were displaced when the hurricanes slammed into the Gulf Coast last year. About 36,000 enrolled in Texas schools, with the majority enrolled in Houston-area schools.
The Houston school district has estimated it will spend over $20 million to educate more than 5,500 evacuees this school year. The federal government has given the district $13 million so far, said spokesman Terry Abbott.
DeEtta Culbertson, a spokeswoman with the Texas Education Agency, said federal funding only covers some of the costs.
"We're still hopeful they will increase the amount of funding we receive for these students," she said.
Spellings said federal education officials hoped Congress would give school districts about $6,000 per student, up from the current $4,000.
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
How many test scores will be downed? Some of the kids may be deficient in services they need for learning disabilities and they may not be taught the same
Published Author and Poet
Teacher Education Student.