The U.S. Department of Education in early January of 2006 sent out the first installment--more than $250 million--in education aid to states affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, just days after President Bush signed the measure into law. The $1.6 billion relief package has drawn fire from some education groups because it provides aid not just for public schools, but also for private schools, both to help get damaged schools up and running and to pay tuition costs of displaced students. But at least some public school officials said they were not troubled about the inclusion of private schools, and they expressed relief that the federal government was finally delivering on the long-debated aid package.