The Trump administration is releasing millions of dollars in withheld funding for K-12 schools and summer programs days after a coalition of 24 states and the District of Columbia sued the administration.
The funding, which goes towards a wide range of programs for schools, including migrant education, before- and after-school programs and services for English language learners, was supposed to go out before July 1st. However, the administration withheld the more than $6.8 billion, resulting in school districts and critical education programs bracing for a devastating financial situation.
U.S. Rep. Alma Adams (D-N.C. 12) and 92 other House Democrats called on Republican leaders of the House Appropriations Committee to release federal education funding withheld by the Trump administration, including more than $100 million owed to North Carolina schools.
“These funds, once redirected, cannot be recovered for student use,” Democratic lawmakers wrote in a letter. “Even if funds are released immediately, damage has already been done.”
Some Republican lawmakers joined Democrats in pushing back on the freeze, adding pressure to the administration to reverse its extreme decision.
North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson and 24 other state attorneys general filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, accusing it of unlawfully withholding education funds.
Without the $6.8 billion in nationwide federal funds, North Carolina’s schools would have lost over $165 million in public education funding, and more than 1,000 educators across the state would lose their jobs, according to Attorney General Jackson’s office.
With the administration now releasing the funds days later, school districts can expect to see the money in the coming weeks.
“National reports indicate that the U.S. Department of Education has backed down and is releasing all frozen funds — $6.8 billion nationwide, including $165 million for North Carolina — after we filed suit last week. This should end weeks of uncertainty — our schools can now plan, hire, and prepare for a strong year ahead. My absolute best wishes to our state’s 1.5 million students who are ready to make this their best year yet,” said North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Mo Green, in a statement.
“It is good to see the federal government honor its commitment to our students, our educators, and our schools. I hope this resolution and the release of funds next week marks a return to the predictable, reliable federal partnership that our schools need to serve students effectively.”
According to NPR, this is not the first time the Trump administration has targeted these crucial education programs.Earlier this year, the Trump administration said it would stop federal funding for school mental health programs and training. Sixteen states have sued the Education Department over the harmful funding cuts, NPR reports.
