Impact aid program, title VII, section 7003

The Department of Education Office of Elementary and Secondary Education awarded $557,806 to Widefield School District 3 on October 1, 2025, under the Impact Aid Program (CFDA 84.041, Section 7003).

The award funds financial assistance to the school district to offset the loss of local property tax revenue resulting from federal activities and the presence of federally connected children in the district. Under Section 7003 of the Impact Aid statute, districts qualify when at least three percent or 400 of the total number of eligible federally connected children in average daily attendance live on federal property, have a parent who works on federal property, or have a parent on active duty in the uniformed services.

Widefield School District 3, operating as El Paso County School District 3, serves a significant military-connected student population in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The award period runs from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2031. The district is registered with SAM.gov as a prime federal grant recipient and has received substantial federal funding from both the Department of Education and the Department of Defense Education Activity, with prior awards supporting military-connected student programs, STEM initiatives, and comprehensive K-12 educational services.