Since 2001, hundreds of thousands of elementary, secondary, and postsecondary education students have been adversely affected by natural disasters, such as hurricanes and floods, and by national emergencies, such as the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. To assist Congress in responding to catastrophic events, this report provides a general overview of existing statutory and regulatory authorities, flexibilities, and programs that are available to assist students and educational institutions affected by a major disaster or a national emergency. The report also reviews several no-longer-authorized temporary provisions that were enacted by Congress to provide additional assistance to support education-related disaster recovery. Some of the initial education-related problems that may need to be addressed following a disaster relate to utilities outages, displaced students, homeless students, damage to buildings and school property, and school closures. To address such problems, the federal government has responded in various ways to disasters that have affected the provision of education. These responses have included the provision of financial support, waivers of existing statutory and regulatory provisions, and the creation of new programs. The majority of federal assistance for disaster management is made available from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), as authorized under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act: P.L. 93-288 ). The public assistance available under the Stafford Act largely provides funds for disaster relief activities such as debris removal, emergency protective measures, and the repair, replacement, or restoration of public facilities damaged during the disaster. On several occasions, Congress has also enacted legislation to create temporary targeted assistance programs to support Department of Education (ED) administered programs at the elementary, secondary, and postsecondary education levels. Such assistance was authorized to meet the needs of students, schools, and states during specific disasters. For example, temporary programs have provided funds to restar t school operations, reopen schools, and re-enroll students. In addition to the assistance authorized by the Stafford Act and temporary targeted assistance programs, a wide range of disaster aid is provided by ED under statutory authority that specifically refers to disaster assistance, as well as under general assistance provisions. At the elementary and secondary education level, schools, local educational agencies (LEAs), and states have needed assistance in complying with various educational accountability requirements included in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and in meeting fiscal requirements. A number of statutory flexibilities can be triggered to provide adjustment to, and in some instances exemptions from, such requirements during periods of disaster. At the postsecondary education level, institutions of higher education (IHEs) have needed assistance complying with the statutory requirements pertaining to the disbursement and reimbursement of federal student aid (e.g., Pell Grants and Direct Loan program loans), and students have needed assistance in securing, maintaining eligibility for, and repaying federal student aid. Where federal student aid is concerned, relief has been provided related to the interruption or cancelation of periods of study and ensuing challenges associated with reimbursement of funds for the federal government from IHEs and/or students and portability of aid should students need to be relocated. The first part of this report briefly describes recent education-related developments in response to numerous disasters in 2017. It then describes education-related federal assistance provided by FEMA in the aftermath of disasters generally. This is followed by an examination of education-related disaster recovery and issues related to elementary and secondary education, postsecondary education, and various ED-administered programs typically serving adult learners. The report also includes an appendix summarizing education-related disaster appropriations administered by ED from between 2005 and 2010. In August and September of 2017, the United States experienced several major hurricanes and tropical storms in quick succession. In response to Hurricane and Tropical Storm Harvey, President Trump issued a major disaster declaration for Texas and an emergency declaration for Louisiana ; in response to Hurricane Irma, President Trump issued emergency declarations for Florida, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico; and in response to Hurricane Maria, President Trump issued major disaster declarations for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In December 2017, California experienced multiple wildfire incidents. The scope of the adverse effects from these natural disasters is extensive. Included among the currently known and expected adverse effects are physical damage to local elementary, secondary, and postsecondary schools, possible school closures, and temporary or permanent displacement of students. As of the date of this report, legislation has been enacted in response to the 2017 hurricanes to provide the Secretary of Education (the Secretary) with waiver authority for certain statutory provisions not otherwise authorized, which relates to the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA; P.L. 89-329) Title IV campus-based student aid programs, and to permanently make private schools eligible for funding under the Project School Emergency Response to Violence Program (Project SERV), as authorized under the ESEA. In addition, ED has released updated guidance for elementary and secondary schools, for IHEs and students related to the federal student aid programs authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Act, and for other programs administered by ED, including general guidance on grants administration. Finally, ED awarded Project SERV Grants to various state and territory departments of education to assist with hurricane recovery efforts. On February 9, 2018, the Further Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act, 2018 (Division B, Subdivision 1 of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018; P.L. 115-123 ) was enacted. It includes FY2018 supplemental appropriations for disaster relief for "covered disasters or emergencies" (i.e., Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria, or wildfires in 2017 for which a major disaster or emergency has been declared under Sections 401 or 501 of the Robert T. Stafford Disasters Relief and Emergency Assistance Act), including for education-related programs and activities. The act includes the following education-related disaster relief provisions: $2.5 billion for immediate aid to restart school operations and for temporary emergency impact aid for displaced K-12 students. These programs are identical to disaster relief programs passed in response to the 2005 hurricane season and authorized under P.L. 109-148 . Funds are targeted to schools that have been damaged by a covered disaster or emergency and to states and LEAs that have enrolled students displaced as a result of a covered disaster or emergency. Funds under the temporary emergency impact aid program are distributed to the states and LEAs based on the numbers of displaced students enrolled. Extra funds are provided to schools for displaced students with disabilities and displaced students who are English Learners. Up to $35 million for the Project SERV program, authorized under Section 4631(b) of the ESEA, for education-related services to help students in affected areas recover from the trauma associated with natural disasters. $25 million for assistance to LEAs serving homeless children and youths displaced by a covered disaster or emergency, consistent with the Education for Homeless Children and Youth program authorized under Section 723 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. $100 million for the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) program, the Federal Work-Study (FWS) program, and the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE). Funds shall be for IHEs located in areas affected by a covered disaster or emergency and students enrolled in such institutions. Matching requirements under FSEOG and FWS are waived for IHEs receiving such funds. Funds may be used for a variety of expenses including student financial assistance, staff salaries, student supplies and equipment, or any other purpose authorized under the HEA. Up to $75 million for IHEs to help defray the unexpected expenses associated with enrolling students displaced from IHEs at which operations have been disrupted by a covered disaster or emergency. Authorization for the Secretary to waive, modify, or provide extensions for any statutory or regulatory provisions applicable to the HEA Title IV programs or student eligibility or institutional eligibility provisions in the HEA for affected individuals, students, and IHEs in covered disaster or emergency areas, if the Secretary deems such waiver, modification, or extension necessary in connection with a covered disaster or emergency. Authorization for the Secretary to modify required and allowable uses of funds under the various minority-serving grant programs authorized under HEA Title III, Parts A and B, and under the TRIO and GEAR-UP programs. Authorization for the Secretary to forgive any outstanding balance owed to ED under the HBCU Hurricane Supplemental Loan program established under P.L. 109-234 and in response to the 2005 hurricane season. $4 million to ED's Office of the Inspector General for carrying out administrative and oversight activities. This report reflects the most recently available information on laws and guidance related to education-related disaster response and flexibilities. It will be updated should new or additional statutes be enacted or guidance be issued. The principal authority governing federal assistance for emergencies and major disasters in the United States is the Robert T. Stafford Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act; P.L. 93-288 , 42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.). The Federal Emergency Management Agency of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been given the responsibility of administering almost all of the President's Stafford Act authorities through other law, a series of Executive Orders, and a DHS delegation. If a major disaster or emergency has been declared by the President under the authority of the Stafford Act, federal assistance can be made available to the declared tribal governments, states, local governments, owners of certain private nonprofit facilities, and individuals and families. If located in a declared disaster area, public educational institutions, and certain private nonprofit institutions, may receive disaster assistance grants through FEMA's Public Assistance (PA) Program.