Nearly half the states in the nation sued the Trump administration over the president’s summertime freeze on nearly $7 billion in K12 funding. Districts, meanwhile, have been forced to adjust to a sudden loss of critical resources.
The lawsuit calls the move unconstitutional, arguing that only Congress has the authority to withhold funds. Colorado officials said district leaders could be forced to cut initiatives aimed at closing achievement gaps, as well as professional development and other services, as they prepare for the new school year.
“I have heard directly from Colorado school superintendents how disruptive and reckless this arbitrary freeze of federal funding is to them,” Colorado Attorney General Philip Weiser said in a statement. “Schools deserve to be treated fairly and this administration’s lack of regard for the impact of this lawless decision is appalling.”
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On July 1, the Trump administration halted distribution just as districts were expecting to receive the funding. Money for migrant education, afterschool programs, professional development supporting underserved students, instruction for English language learners, academic enrichment and 21st century learning centers is being withheld.
“With no rhyme or reason, the Trump Administration abruptly froze billions of dollars in education funding just weeks before the start of the school year,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta said. “In doing so, it has threatened the existence of programs that provide critical afterschool and summer learning opportunities, that teach English to students, and that provide educational technology to our classrooms.”
Boise Public Schools Superintendent Lisa Roberts said in a message to the community that about $1.5 million in funding is being withheld from the Idaho district.
“These federal programs are essential to providing professional learning for our staff, supporting multilingual learners, and offering safe and enriching learning opportunities for students,” Roberts’ message read. “Without this funding, we would face difficult decisions that could affect student supports and services.”
California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Washington, D.C., and the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania, are participating in the lawsuit.
An analysis by New America broke down the funding freeze district-by-district, noting that school systems “represented by Republicans in Congress will lose more per-pupil dollars.”
