Evening star., 1953-07-03
House Group
Backs2 Bills
On School Aid
Measure to Provide
Federal Assistance
Due for Nation Soon

DOS IOI INOlIOU SOOu
Federal aid to schools in areas
where heavy Federal employ
ment has overloaded school ia
cilities-including nearby Vir-
ginia and Maryland-would be
authorized by two different bills
approved late yesterday by the
House Education and Labor
Committees.
The measures, one for con-
struction. the other for main
tenance and operation. were
slated for House action next
week. probably Wednesday.
Neither bill would offer any
aid to District schools.
Both bills carry complicated
formulas for calculating the
amount of money to be advanced
to schools in the so-called Fed
eral-impact areas throughout
the country. They continue pre-
vious programs, but on a re-
duced basis.
The construction measure au-
thorizes+but does not appro-
pirate $273 million dollars. This
would help local civilian COM
munities build new schools,
construct facilities on military
bases, in Indian school districts
and provide funds for COM
munities entitled under old law
to get money which Congress |
failed to appropriate. This last |
category would be assigned $95 |
million out of the total carried .
in the bill.
One-Year Program.
The construction bill continues
the program for only one year,
to June 30, 1854. Representa-
tive Kearns, Republican, of
Pennsylvania. author of the
measure, who will handle it on
the House floor, said he hoped
this would be the last extension
of the building program.
To qualify for new Federal
construction money, the bill
would require a community to
prove it had an enrolment due
to Federal children of more than |
the national average 10 per cent |
increase in pupils.
Nearby communities here
would have opportunity to quail
ify for new construction under |
this stricter provision, if they /,
could.
The $95 million figure would |
take care Of communities which
had qualified for help under the
expired school construction law
but did not get it because of |
a shortage of appropriations.
Two Virginia Areas.
Most Of the areas near Wash
ington. however, had become |
eligible and been allocated |
money under the earlier appro-
priation. So the only ones here |
likely to benefit under the $95 |
million fund if the new bill be-
comes law and funds are made
available would be Arlington
County and Alexandria. Only
a few thousand dollars would
be available for Fairfax County
out of the $95 million.
The other counties and cities
In the area already have received
previously authorized and appro-
priated funds, or are slated to
get them soon. This includes
both Montgomery and Prince
Georges County in Maryland.
The program for Federal help
In maintenance and operation
of schools would be extended for
two years by the second bill, also
sponsored by Representative
Kearns.
Would Absorb Some Increase.
The formula in this measure
requires. among other things,
that local schools must absorb
in their present buildings at
least two per cent of the in
creased enrolment. before be-
coming eligible for Federal funds. |
Under the two-year program,
school officials must make ap-
plication by June 80. 1854, al
though the bills authority runs
to June 80, 1856. The measure
authorizes only $50 million for
this year. compared to $50 mil
lion last fiscal year.
Schools in the Washington
Metropolitan Area received about
$1.4 million for maintenance
and operation last fiscal year,
officials said. but would get about
100000 less in this current
year, according to rough esti-
mates.
Although the new mainte-
nance and operation bill does not
carry language in last years
measure prohibiting eligibility
for families if they cross state
lines. one official said this would
have no noticeable benefit in
the Washington area in the
future.
- AZ a.