The Federal Impact Aid Program is authorized by Title VIII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). It has existed since 1950. The program provides funding aid to partially reimburse school districts that lose revenue (income, sales or property taxes) due to the presence of tax-free federal properties (i.e., low-income housing, military installations/housing, Native American lands, national parks). The reimbursement helps make up for some of the cost of educating so-called federally connected students, those whose parents live on or work on federal properties. 

Yes. Schools with federally connected students are funded in the same manner as schools without federally connected students. The receipt of Impact Aid funds allows the school system to provide a higher level of service for all students than would otherwise be possible.

These federal reimbursements for a portion of the cost of serving federally connected students are critical in supporting all Hawaiʻi public schools and students. Historically, funding has offset costs for Hawaiʻi Common Core-aligned curriculum resources, student transportation, school utilities (electricity), teacher substitutes, the Military Liaison program, school portables and other services. If not for the receipt of these federal funds, the Hawaiʻi school system would have $40 million to $50 million less a year to operate with, and would need to reduce support for all schools to pay all its expenses.

If a parent/guardian is:

• Living on federal land
• Active duty military, including National Guards and Reservists on active duty, and foreign military
• Working on federal lands
• Living on federal low-rent housing

The information on the completed form helps determine if a parent/guardian resides or works on federal property. The survey is distributed annually to about 170,000 students statewide, across all islands, and schools. The goal is a 100% return rate. Your support in the completion of the survey form is appreciated by schools in an effort to meet their goal.

Every Hawaiʻi public school and each student benefits from the federal Impact Aid funding. Please see: “How does the Department use Impact Aid funds?” above.

In Hawaiʻi, a Weighted Student Formula allocates funds equitably to schools based on enrollment and the needs of individual students. Impact Aid funds are general aid for statewide expenditures. School districts file for Impact Aid tax reimbursements after expenses have been incurred. The process is similar to an individual who annually files for federal taxes after the tax year has been completed.

All information provided on the survey will be confidential and hard copies will be destroyed in accordance with federal guidelines.

No, Impact Aid funds partially reimburse the Department for the cost of educating federally connected students.

In the 2022-23 school year, the average cost to educate a public school student in Hawaiʻi was approximately $19,411. However, the average reimbursement received for a federally connected student was $2,113, or 10.89 percent of the total cost. Hawaiʻi taxpayers funded the remaining balance.

In the 2022-23 school year, Hawaiʻi public schools benefited from more than $46.78 million in federal Impact Aid, thanks to more than 22,100 families who filled out their survey form. In Hawaiʻi, Impact Aid helps offset costs for school materials and resources, substitute teachers, student transportation, school utilities such as electricity, and other services at schools statewide.

Parents of Hawaiʻi public school students are encouraged to complete and return the Federal Impact Aid Program survey form to their school. Surveys should be filled out and returned as soon as they are received, however, schools will accept them throughout the school year. If you have not received the survey form, please contact your child’s school.

• U.S. Air Force: Address List (PDF)​
• ​U.S. Army Hawai‘i: Address List (PDF)
• U.S. Marine Corps Base Hawai‘i: Address List (PDF)​
• U.S. Coast Guard D14: Address List (PDF)
• Or contact your school liaison officer​

If you have any questions, please contact your child’s school or call (808) 564-6000 and ask for the Federal Survey Section.

There are no DOD schools in Hawaiʻi, including those on military installations. All public schools are part of the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education.

The school your child can attend will depend on where you will live. Please contact your service’s school liaison officer.

As with any other student enrolling in Hawaiʻi’s public schools, you will need:

• Student Enrollment Form (PDF) or the Supplemental Kindergarten Enrollment Form (PDF) for students entering kindergarten.
• Home Language Survey (PDF)
• Valid photo ID of parent/guardian
• Birth certificate
• Proof of current address
• Health requirements: Health Record Form, immunizations, and a tuberculosis exam
• Copy of transcript from last school
• If necessary, legal documents, other documents from previous school, special needs documents

No, the school your child can attend will be dependent on where you will live.

Yes, the following income should be reported in the application:

• Off-base housing allowance
• Base salary
• COLA
• Food BAS (Subsistence in Kind)
• Clothing allowance (once a year)

Your child’s new public school in Hawaiʻi shall initially honor placement of the student in educational programs based on current educational assessments conducted at the school in your previous state or participation and placement in like programs in the sending state; provided that these programs exist in your child’s new school. The programs include but are not limited to Gifted and Talented programs, Advanced Placement courses​ and English Learner programs. This initial placement shall not preclude the Hawaiʻi school from performing subsequent evaluations to ensure appropriate placement of the student. The new school may allow the student to attend similar educational courses within the school district if it does not offer such educational programs.

Yes, your child’s new public school in Hawaiʻi shall initially honor placement of the student in educational programs based on current educational assessments conducted at the school in your previous state or participation and placement in like programs in the sending state; provided that these programs exist in your child’s new school. The programs include but are not limited to Gifted and Talented programs, Advanced Placement courses​ and English Learner programs. This initial placement shall not preclude the Hawaiʻi school from performing subsequent evaluations to ensure appropriate placement of the student. The new school may allow the student to attend similar educational courses within the school district if it does not offer such educational programs.

The new school shall initially provide comparable services to a student with disabilities based on the student’s current IEP. Additionally, the school shall make reasonable accommodations and modifications to address the needs of incoming students with disabilities, subject to an existing section 504 or Title II Plan, to provide the student with equal access to education. The school can perform subsequent evaluations to ensure appropriate placement of the student.

The criteria for applying for a GE can be found here. The principal at the school you wish to attend outside of your geographic district will make the final decision on the GE application.

Your child is required to attend the school in the geographic area of your residential location. Requests to remain in a school outside of your housing area will be considered by your child’s current school principal. The principal’s decision is most often based on school capacity. For example, some schools serve the newly arrived children residing in temporary lodging facilities (TLF) in addition to military family housing residents within the school geographic area. When families move out of TLF into permanent housing, the school must then accommodate the new families in TLF.

Please refer to the School Calendar. ​Individual school calendars may vary slightly, so please check with your school for a detailed breakdown of its calendar.

Yes, kindergarten is full-day in Hawaiʻi. To attend kindergarten in Hawaiʻi, which is mandatory, a child must be 5 years of age by July 31 to enroll for the school year that begins in August.

Homeschooling requirements can be on the homeschooling page.

Please visit the Hawaiʻi Association for Independent Schools website.