The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) created the Refugee School Impact Grant (RSIG) in 1998. The purpose of the grant is to provide support to local school systems that are affected by significant numbers of refugee children.  For an overview of this program, see the following:

For Federal Fiscal Years 2016-2017, there were 38 states that were awarded Refugee School Impact Grants. For more information on each state’s RSIG program, check out the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement’s State Programs Annual Overview, which provides detailed information on RSIG (and other programs) by state.

Each of the awarded states subgrants with local school districts, refugee resettlement agencies, and community based organizations. For more information on what these local programs are doing, check out BRYCS’ Promising Practices map.  This map has descriptions of over 100 programs serving refugee children throughout the U.S., many of which are funded by Refugee School Impact Grants.  If you would like to specifically read about RSIG funded programs, choose “Refugee School Impact Grant” under “Search by topic.”

If you are currently an RSIG coordinator and have questions or concerns regarding the program or funding, please contact the Office of Refugee Resettlement.


How to Use a Chrome Book

Created by USCCB, in collaboration with Catholic Charities Fort Worth, is a basic, pictorial guide to use a Google Chromebook. The intended audience is refugee students, parents, and/or guardians who have very limited experience with technology. With the support of CCFW, this document has been translated into 11 languages.

American Public Schools Videos

Our Refugee School Impact (RSI) sub-grantees in Texas worked together to record and translate videos designed to inform refugee parents about the American public school system. Given COVID-19, RSI sites will use these videos in lieu of in-person RSI parent orientations whenever necessary.

These videos cover 6 topics:

  • Intro to American Public Schools (created by Dallas ISD)
  • Tips to Support Learning at Home (created by Austin ISD)
  • Student Progress & Behavior (created by Catholic Charities TX Panhandle)
  • COVID-19 Hygiene (created by Catholic Charities Fort Worth)
  • Bullying (created by Catholic Charities San Antonio)
  • Community Involvement (created by Catholic Charities Galveston Houston)

Check out these additional resources created by RSIG grantees.


From 2009-2012, BRYCS served as the national technical assistance provider for Refugee School Impact Grantees, facilitating communication and collaboration among members of the RSIG network. Archived Recordings of Quarterly Teleconferences: