"On June 30, the Trump administration announced it would withhold over $6 billion in K-12 education grants-just one day before states were expecting to receive the funds-to ensure that the grants aligned with the White House's priorities. The previously approved grants supported English language learners, after-school programs, migrant worker families, teachers' professional development, and more. However, all of the funding was gradually released by late July following mass bipartisan outcry, including public condemnation from 10 Republican senators and lawsuits from 24 Democratic-led states."
"But substantial damage had already been done during the weeks-long funding freeze. Public school districts were forced to hurriedly revise their budget plans for the 2025-26 school year, shut down after-school and summer programs, and cut jobs. The summer is a critical time for educators to prepare for the upcoming academic year, as they revise curriculums and engage in professional development. This year, teachers had to put many of these efforts on the back burner to immediately address the catastrophic budget cuts."
Schools across the United States entered the academic year depleted and disconcerted after a chaotic summer marked by financial uncertainty. On June 30, the federal government withheld over $6 billion in K-12 grants one day before expected disbursement, affecting support for English language learners, after-school and summer programs, migrant families, and teacher professional development. Funding was gradually released by late July after bipartisan pushback and lawsuits, but weeks-long freezes forced districts to revise 2025–26 budgets, close programs, cut jobs, and delay teacher curriculum planning and professional development. Student reading and math scores are declining, and disruptions risk weakening efforts to reverse those trends.
Read at Non Profit News | Nonprofit Quarterly
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]