H.R. 7262 — READ Act

This section authorizes the Secretary of Education to make payments to state educational agencies for services or assistance to local educational agencies and non-public schools serving areas affected by a covered disaster or emergency, prioritizing state educational agencies with schools closed for 30 or more days and considering enrollment in affected schools during the prior school year. State educational agencies must allocate assistance based on prior-year enrollment of school-aged children and impact severity, ensure equitable and timely services for non-public school students, and reserve funds for non-public schools proportional to their enrollment relative to public school enrollment (per National Center for Education Statistics data). Funds support specified uses—including recovery of data and systems, transportation, leasing facilities, replacing materials, instructional planning, support services, and minor repairs—but prohibit construction or major renovations and require secular, neutral, nonideological services that supplement (not supplant) other federal, state, or local aid, with repayment for any duplicative benefits.