State education officials are asking parents to be sure they fill out federal census survey cards that public school students will bring home with them on Tuesday so that Hawaii schools can qualify for more than $40 million in federal money allotted for schools here that have a high percentage of students who come from military families.

The annual survey determines 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, school officials said.

"By filling out and returning the survey cards, parents help our schools claim and benefit from Hawaii's authorized share of federal support," said Hawaii School Superintendent Patricia Hamamoto said in a news release on the survey "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. Hawaii'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.