The Trump administration took away unspent relief funds from Mass. districts. Here's how much each lost.
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Similar projects could be in jeopardy around the state, particularly in districts like Springfield, Fitchburg, and Everett, which are losing around 20 percent of their total relief fund allocations. Here's what to know.
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Which districts were affected?
Including New Bedford, a total of 20 school districts will lose their remaining federal funds unless, as district leaders hope, the cuts are reversed.
In Springfield, the biggest loser — with nearly $50 million on the line — money was going to HVAC installations and outdoor classrooms. It's unclear how much of that work was completed.
Fitchburg, with one-quarter of its $26 million in federal funds on the line, was planning to spend its money on HVAC and air quality improvements,
The primary deadline to use the funds was Sept. 30, and the vast majority have been spent. But districts were
'By failing to meet the clear deadline in the regulation, you ran the risk that the Department would deny your extension request,' McMahon wrote. 'Extending deadlines for COVID-related grants, which are in fact taxpayer funds, years after the COVID pandemic ended is not consistent with the Department's priorities and thus not a worthwhile exercise of its discretion.'
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How much did each affected district have left?
Springfield: Lost $47 million, or 19% of their $244 million total allocation of ESSER funds.
New Bedford: Lost $16 million, or 21% of their $74 million total
Fitchburg: Lost $6.6 million, or 25% of their $26 million
Everett: Lost $4.9 million, or 23% of their $21 million
Revere: Lost $4.6 million, or 15% of their $30 million
Boston: Lost $3.5 million, or 0.8% of their $432 million
Leominster: Lost $1.9 million, or 10.7% of their $17 million
Stoughton: Lost $1.5 million, or 25% of their $5.9 million
Worcester: Lost $1.5 million, or 1.2% of their $123 million
Chelsea: Lost $1.4 million, or 4.5% of their $33 million
Lawrence: Lost $1.3 million, or 1.6% of their $85 million
Holyoke: Lost $400,000, or 0.7% of their $58 million.
Dracut: Lost $650,000, or 12.1% of their $5.4 million
West Springfield: Lost $350,000, or 2.3% of their $15 million
Lynn: Lost $340,000, or 0.52% of their $66 million
Fairhaven: Lost $250,000, or 6.1% of their $4.1 million
Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical: Lost $120,000, or 2.5% of their $4.6 million
Ludlow: Lost $83,000, or 1.7% of their $4.9 million
Blue Hills: Lost $21,000, or 1.6% of their $1.3 million
Mashpee: Lost $2,500, or 0.11% of their $2.3 million
Other impacted school funding
Two private religious schools also lost funds due to similar cuts to the separate 'Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools' program in the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act.
Mater Dolorosa Catholic School, Holyoke: Lost $120,000, or 15% of their $780,000 American Rescue Plan Act allocation.
Saint Stanislaus School, Chicopee: Lost $173,000, or 13% of their $1.3 million allocation.
According to the state, a total of $106 million in relief funds were terminated. The above schools and districts combine for about $93 million in lost funds, meaning about $13 million in unspent funds were due to other agencies, such as the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
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Federal money was supporting teacher training and regional centers that help teachers with emergency licenses get needed certification to continue working in Massachusetts public schools, the state said.
Christopher Huffaker can be reached at
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