Access Natural Disaster Assistance Program

About this Service

The Natural Disaster Assistance Program (Program) was established by the Kindergarten through Grade 12 Schools and Local Community College Public Education Facilities Modernization, Repair, and Safety Bond Act of 2024 (Proposition 2). This Program provides Interim Housing and Other Assistance funding for school districts and county offices of education impacted by a natural disaster for which the Governor has declared a state of emergency. The declared state of emergency must be “open” on the date OPSC receives a completed, valid Application for Natural Disaster Assistance (Form SAB 195). Natural disasters may include, but are not limited to, events such as:

• Earthquakes
• Wildfires
• Floods
• Landslides
• Storms
• Hurricanes
• Tsunamis
• Other natural catastrophes

Impacted school districts and county offices of education may submit two types of applications for funding:

• Interim Housing Assistance, and/or
• Other Assistance. Applicants submitting an Other Assistance application may also be eligible to apply for a separate apportionment for design costs if the District qualifies for Financial Hardship Assistance.

To prepare a complete application for Natural Disaster Assistance, applicants are encouraged to use the Natural Disaster Assistance Checklist as a guide. Natural Disaster Assistance applications are subject to the Proposition 2 requirement to submit a five-year school facilities Master Plan. Applicants must submit a complete Master Plan by the time of submittal of the 100 percent complete Expenditure Report (Form SAB 50-06).  At the time of initial application submittal, applicants must submit a local governing board resolution acknowledging the requirement to submit the Master Plan by the aforementioned deadline. Please see the Master Plan webpage for more information regarding this requirement, including sample school board resolutions: School Facility Master Plans.

Prior to submitting an application, school districts and county offices of education impacted by an open state of emergency are also encouraged to contact the Office of Public School Construction’s (OPSC) Facility Hardship Program and Seismic Mitigation Program Team to discuss opportunities for additional funding. More information about the Facility Hardship Program and Seismic Mitigation Program can be found on each program’s website: Access Facility Hardship Funding for School Construction and Access Seismic Mitigation Funding.

Natural Disaster Assistance Program Background

Proposition 2 added Education Code Section 17075.20 to establish the Program to provide funding assistance to school districts impacted by a natural disaster for which the Governor has declared a state of emergency. OPSC conducted stakeholder meetings in 2025 to implement the Program and discuss the development of formal School Facility Program regulations for the Program. At the August 19, 2025 and December 3, 2025 Board meetings, the Board approved regulations for implementation of the Natural Disaster Assistance Program. The regulations were approved by the Office of Administrative Law and became effective on June 2, 2026. Please refer to the links to approved SFP Regulations and Forms below for the full text.

Please see the Proposition 2 – Assembly Bill 247 webpage for additional background information, such as previous stakeholder meeting items and Board agendas here: Proposition 2 - Assembly Bill 247.