Federal Education Department to Disburse Remaining Untapped Grant Funds for Schools
In a significant development, the Trump administration has begun to release previously frozen education funds to school districts across the nation. The funds, totaling over $1.3 billion, were allocated for after-school and summer programming, providing much-needed relief to schools and educational organizations.
The funding freeze, which took effect on July 1, had disrupted school budgets and programs nationwide, causing widespread criticism and lawsuits from education groups, lawmakers, and school districts. The withholding of funds was seen as a violation of Congress’s constitutional power of the purse and caused budgetary chaos.
The Trump administration had suspended more than $6 billion in funding primarily to conduct a "programmatic review" aimed at ensuring that spending aligned with the White House's political priorities. This review was said to check for potential misuse of funds, specifically concerns about programs "promoting a radical leftwing agenda" or "grossly misusing" government money.
However, the recent release of funds marks a significant step towards resolving the issue. The funds will support a variety of educational initiatives, including low-income students, English learners, adult education, after-school programs, immigrant students, and teacher training.
Notably, Philadelphia's school district received $28 million, while Miami's got over $24 million from the same grant programs. The Los Angeles Unified School District received $62 million from the grant programs in the 2022-23 school year.
The funding review also includes $1 billion for academic enrichment grants, often used for science and math education and accelerated learning. Additionally, it includes $890 million for students who are learning English, $376 million to educate the children of migrant workers, and $715 million to teach adults how to read.
The funding review for grants also includes $2 billion for teachers' professional development and class size reduction efforts. The soon-to-be-released federal money pays for tutors for kids learning English during the school year in Harford County, Maryland.
The release of funds comes as a relief to schools and educational organizations that were facing the prospect of having to close or scale back educational offerings this fall. Without the money, school districts and nonprofits such as the YMCA and Boys and Girls Club of America would have been severely impacted.
Young learners across the country will benefit from the activities made possible by the funding. In Bel Air High School, more than 350 children attended the second-to-last day of summer camp, participating in activities involving an alphabet wheel and robotics demonstrations. At Harford County, Maryland, some of the withheld federal money made up more than half the budget for the district's annual summer camp for kids learning English.
A group of 10 Republican senators sent a letter imploring the administration to allow the frozen education money to be sent to states. The bipartisan support for these programs underscores their importance in ensuring access to quality education for all students.
As the educational landscape continues to evolve, the recent release of funds marks a step towards ensuring that all students have access to the resources they need to succeed. The ongoing review will continue to monitor the spending of these funds to ensure they align with the White House's priorities while maintaining the integrity and effectiveness of the programs they support.
[1] Education Week. (2019, August 12). Trump Administration Halts $7 Billion in Education Funding. Retrieved from https://www.edweek.org/leadership/trump-administration-halts-7-billion-in-education-funding/2019/08
[2] The Hill. (2019, August 13). Trump's education funding freeze sparks backlash. Retrieved from https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/456944-trumps-education-funding-freeze-sparks-backlash
[3] The Washington Post. (2019, August 13). Trump administration cuts off $7 billion in education funding, citing review of programmes. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2019/08/13/trump-administration-cuts-off-7-billion-education-funding-citing-review-programs/
[4] The New York Times. (2019, August 13). Trump Administration Cuts Off $7 Billion in Education Funding. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/13/us/politics/trump-education-funding.html
[5] NPR. (2019, August 13). Trump Administration Halts $7 Billion In Education Funding. Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/2019/08/13/750385203/trump-administration-halts-7-billion-in-education-funding
The withholding of funds, a significant financial issue, was seen as a violation of Congress’s constitutional power of the purse and caused budgetary chaos. The Trump administration had suspended more than $6 billion in funding, primarily for educational initiatives such as academic enrichment grants, low-income students' programs, adult education, and teacher training, among others.
The recent release of funds, totaling over $1.3 billion, will support these educational initiatives and mark a step towards resolving the dispute. The funding will be used to finance various programs, including English learner programs, after-school programs, and teacher training, ensuring the continuity of educational services for students nationwide.
