ED Announces that Nearly 7 Billion in Funds are Being Withheld
On Monday, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) sent an email to states alerting them that key funds typically distributed by July 1 will not be distributed as expected. “Decisions have not been made concerning submissions and awards for this upcoming academic year,” explained the letter.
The Department of Education is legally required to release state grants by July 1. Although an administration can request Congress to "rescind" the funding, no such request has been made. States have already been informed of the expected allocations for two of the programs. Without these funds, states, schools, and students will lack the support they were counting on for this summer and the upcoming school year.
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) funds currently being withheld include:
Title I-C for migrant education ($375 million)
Title II-A for professional development ($2.2 billion)
Title III-A for English-learner services ($890 million)
Title IV-A for academic enrichment ($1.3 billion)
Title IV-B for before- and after-school programs ($1.4 billion)
An additional $729 million for adult literacy and basic education is also being withheld.
Although the freeze on ESEA funds does not directly affect the availability of funding for special education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), it does impact children and youth with disabilities. It hinders districts' capacity to hire qualified staff, offer professional development for educators and support personnel, and deliver services to eligible students with disabilities, particularly those who are also English Learners or migrant students. The Learning Policy Institute has published a state-by-state analysis of how the U.S. Department of Education's decision to withhold ESEA funds is impacting schools.