Gov. Evers demands Department of Education release Impact Aid payments

Federal aid for rural Wisconsin schools that was supposed to be paid out last month has yet to arrive, Gov. Tony Evers said Tuesday. Evers demanded Secretary of Education Linda McMahon release the first round Impact Aid payments for Wisconsin, which are meant to help rural districts cover payroll and pay for transportation, programs and new position. The funds were supposed to arrive in October, but Evers said the Department of Education has not given a timeline on when the payments will arrive. In an October 1 announcement, the Department of Education said there would be no processing of Impact Aid payments because of a lapse in appropriations caused by the federal government shutdown. Wisconsin is supposed to receive over $23 million in Impact Aid for this year. Much of that money would support schools operated by federally-recognized Tribal Nations.