When school resumes Tuesday, students in Hawai'i's public schools will bring home a federal census survey card for parents to complete and promptly return to their schools.

The returned cards qualify the public schools for more than $40 million in federal funds.

The annual survey determined the number of military and non-military federally-connected students in the public school system for whom the state receives impact aid funds under Public Law 103-382. These funds provide partial reimbursement to the state for local tax loss resulting from tax-free federal installations or property.

"By filling out and returning the survey cards, parents help our schools claim and benefit from Hawai'i's authorized share of federal support," said Superintendent Patricia Hamamoto. "Parents are encouraged to complete and return the cards."

Each survey card is important because federal impact aid is determined from the survey card responses. Hawai'i's public schools receive funding for military and non-military connected students.

During the 2006-07 schools year, the state counted more than 29,000 federally connected students and received nearly $47 million in federal impact aid, or an average of $1,587 per student. This represents about 13.6 percent of the state's average per pupil expenditure of $11,659 (2006-07).