Information Form

Refugee School Impact

The Missouri Office of Refugee Administration (MO-ORA) is gathering information to determine allocations for the 2025-2026 Refugee School Impact (RSI) programs.

For a district to receive funding through these Office of Refugee Resettlement programs, it must provide to MO-ORA the number of school-age students that qualify as Refugee by March 21, 2025.

Eligible Populations
States may provide RSI program services to all ORR-eligible individuals, from birth until the individual has either graduated from high school or completed GED requirements. School districts may provide RSI services to ORR-eligible populations within the first 5 years of their arrival or date of eligibility, but should prioritize services to children, youth, and their parents (if applicable) who have been in the United States for one year or less. Only individuals who are listed as refugees or asylees are eligible for services under these grants. However, if the individual is a national of Cuba or Haiti, he or she may be eligible under the provisions concerning Cuban and Haitian entrants. 

RSI Program Goals and Services
The RSI’s program goals are to promote academic performance and successful integration of ORR eligible children and youth ages 5 (or the age at which they enter school) until the age of 18 through facilitating education access, and increasing school districts’ capacity to support children, youth, and families.

Districts may use the funding to:

  • Provide specialized services and support for eligible children and youth, such as English as a Second Language classes, tutoring, newcomer or transitional programs, after school and summer programs, mentoring, behavioral health supports, and programming that supports
    integration.

  • Support families learning to navigate the U.S. education system, such as school-specific orientation for both families and students, navigators or cultural brokers, and language access.

  • Develop capacity for school staff and systems, through activities and resource such as specialized trainings for school staff around the unique and varied needs of ORR-eligible populations, ensuring language access by translating critical documents, interpretation, and specialized staff dedicated to working with ORR-eligible children, youth, and families.

For questions, contact MO-ORA School Programs Manager, at cockrums@iistl.org or (314) 657-4477.