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Axios
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Trump's K-12 funding hold leaves $71M in limbo for Colorado
Colorado is missing out on about $71 million in federal education funding that was expected on July 1 but has yet to be released by the Trump administration. Why it matters: The Department of Education's funding delay deals a major blow to local summer school and after-school programs, as well as English-language instruction and other resources that aim to level the playing field for schoolchildren. Catch up quick: The Education Department said in a last-minute notice that the funds would not be released while the programs were under review, according to the School Superintendents Association. By the numbers: The funding at risk includes nearly $13 million in after-school and summer instruction in Colorado, per the Learning Policy Institute, which conducts research to improve education policies. The funding pays for programming in underserved and low-performing schools. The pause also affects about $26 million in educator development funds, $11 million in English language programming and $7 million for migrant education in Colorado. Zoom out: Some $6.2 billion in K-12 funds across five programs remains unavailable to schools across the country, per the LPI estimates. Threat level: If 21st Century Community Learning Center funds — the chief stream for academic enrichment outside of school hours — remain blocked, the "fallout will be swift and devastating," Boys and Girls Clubs of America President and CEO Jim Clark said in a statement. Up to 926 Boys and Girls Clubs could be forced to shut their doors, he said, and club sites and camps "could shutter mid-season — upending care for working parents and leaving kids without critical safety nets."
Axios
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Trump administration is withholding $35M from Utah schools
The Trump administration is withholding more than $35 million in education funding from Utah as it reviews the programs that were due to receive the money. Why it matters: The missing money has left after-school and summer programs in limbo nationwide. Driving the news: The Education Department said in a last-minute notice that the funds would not be released as planned on July 1 while the programs were under review, according to the School Superintendents Association. By the numbers: An estimated $6.2 billion in K-12 funds across five programs remains unavailable, according to the Learning Policy Institute, which conducts research to improve education policies. That includes funding for after-school and summer learning through the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, money to support migratory children, educator development funds and more. Zoom in: The Department of Education referred Axios' questions to the Office of Management and Budget. An OMB spokesperson said no decisions have been made amid "an ongoing programmatic review of education funding." The spokesperson pointed to initial findings they said "show that many of these grant programs have been grossly misused to subsidize a radical leftwing agenda." Threat level: If unreleased 21st Century Community Learning Center funds — the chief stream for academic enrichment outside of school hours — remains blocked, "the fallout will be swift and devastating," Boys and Girls Clubs of America President and CEO Jim Clark said in a statement. Up to 926 Boys and Girls Clubs could be forced to shut their doors, he said, and club sites and camps "could shutter mid-season — upending care for working parents and leaving kids without critical safety nets." What they're saying: Jodi Grant, the executive director of the Afterschool Alliance, described the withholding of funds as "a stunning betrayal," as states and territories had already committed money to after-school and summer learning programs.
Axios
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Trump admin. withholds $94 million for Mass. K-12 schools
Massachusetts has a $94 million hole for K-12 schools as the Trump administration holds off on releasing federal education funding. Why it matters: The Department of Education's funding delay deals a major blow to Massachusetts summer school and after-school programs, as well as English-language instruction and other resources that aim to level the playing field among schoolchildren. Catch up quick: The Education Department said in a last-minute notice that the funds would not be released while the programs were under review, according to the School Superintendents Association. By the numbers: The funding in limbo includes $20.6 million in after-school and summer instruction in Massachusetts, per the Learning Policy Institute, which conducts research to improve education policies. The funding particularly goes toward programming in underserved and low-performing schools. The pause also affects $30 million in educator development funds, $20.5 million in English language programming and $1.3 million for migrant education in Massachusetts. Zoom out: Some $6.2 billion in K-12 funds across five programs remains unavailable to schools across the country, per the LPI estimates. Threat level: If unreleased 21st Century Community Learning Center funds — the chief stream for academic enrichment outside of school hours — remain blocked, the "fallout will be swift and devastating," Boys and Girls Clubs of America President and CEO Jim Clark said in a statement. Up to 926 Boys and Girls Clubs could be forced to shut their doors, he said, and club sites and camps "could shutter mid-season — upending care for working parents and leaving kids without critical safety nets." Jodi Grant, the executive director of the Afterschool Alliance, described the withholding of funds as "a stunning betrayal," as states and territories had already committed money to after-school and summer learning programs.
Axios
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Summer and after-school programs at risk under Trump's K-12 funding hold
States across the U.S. are missing billions in federal education funding that was expected to be accessible on July 1 but has yet to be released by the Trump administration. The big picture: The Department of Education's funding delay has exacerbated the uncertainty for after-school, summer and other programs, leaving schools in limbo, advocates and policy experts say. The Education Department said in a last-minute notice that the funds would not be released while the programs were under review, according to the School Superintendents Association. By the numbers: An estimated $6.2 billion in K-12 funds across five programs remains unavailable, according to the Learning Policy Institute, which conducts research to improve education policies. That includes funding for after-school and summer learning through the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, money to support migratory children, educator development funds and more. Zoom in: The Department of Education referred Axios' questions for this story to the Office of Management and Budget. An OMB spokesperson said no decisions have been made amid "an ongoing programmatic review of education funding." The spokesperson pointed to initial findings that they said "show that many of these grant programs have been grossly misused to subsidize a radical leftwing agenda." Threat level: If unreleased 21st Century Community Learning Center funds — the chief stream for academic enrichment outside of school hours — remains blocked, the "the fallout will be swift and devastating," Boys and Girls Clubs of America President and CEO Jim Clark said in a statement. Up to 926 Boys and Girls Clubs could be forced to shut their doors, he said, and club sites and camps "could shutter mid-season — upending care for working parents and leaving kids without critical safety nets." Zoom out: Jodi Grant, the executive director of the Afterschool Alliance, described the withholding of funds as "a stunning betrayal," as states and territories had already committed money to after-school and summer learning programs. "Short term, [there are] a lot of very anxious programs and very anxious parents, because they don't know if their kids are going to be able to have after-school, but that will very quickly turn into programs reducing how many kids they can serve and or closing their doors," she told Axios. But she said "it's a long-term impact, no matter how you cut it," noting that Trump's 2026 budget proposed no funds for 21st CCLC, instead opting for a K-12 Simplified Funding Plan. Even if the funds do come back, she said, it will be much harder to recover, with ripple effects echoing throughout communities where such programs are necessary for children and working families. She emphasized that after-school programs have broad bipartisan support, and a majority of voters say they're a necessity for their communities. 21st CCLC serves nearly 1.4 million youth and their families through grants awarded by state education agencies, according to the Afterschool Alliance. What they're saying: Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, said in a statement that education funding uncertainty has prompted districts to delay hiring and other initiatives. "Every day that this funding is held up is a day that school districts are forced to worry about whether they'll have to cut back on after-school programs or lay off teachers instead of worrying about how to make sure our kids can succeed," Murray said. Catch up quick: Advocates and educators were already concerned about summer and after-school programs being disrupted by cuts at the Department of Education and AmeriCorps.
CBS News
02-07-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Trump administration freezes billions in funding for after-school and summer programs
Day camp providers and schools say the Trump administration's funding freeze could ruin summer for low-income American families and jeopardize some after-school programs next year. The administration is holding back over $6 billion in federal grants for after-school and summer programs, English language instruction, adult literacy and more as it conducts a review to ensure grants are aligned with President Trump's priorities. The move creates uncertainty for states and schools as they budget for programs this summer and in the upcoming school year because they don't know if or when they'll receive the funding. Democrats say the administration is flouting the law by holding back congressionally appropriated money. Without the funds, schools say they won't be able to provide free or affordable after-school care for low-income kids while their parents work and may not be able to hire staff to teach children who are learning English. Classes or camps underway this summer could be in jeopardy, too. The Boys and Girls Clubs of America depend on some of this funding to run their camps and other summer programming for low-income students. If it's not restored soon, the programming could end mid-season, said Boys and Girls Club President Jim Clark. After-school programming in the fall could also take a hit. "If these funds are blocked, the fallout will be swift and devastating," Clark said. As many as 926 Boys and Girls Clubs could close, affecting more than 220,000 kids, the group said. Programs relying on the money were expecting it to be distributed July 1, but an Education Department notice issued Monday announced the money would not be released while the programs are under review. The department didn't provide a timeline and warned that "decisions have not yet been made" on grants for the upcoming school year. "The Department remains committed to ensuring taxpayer resources are spent in accordance with the President's priorities and the Department's statutory responsibilities," Education Department officials wrote in the notice, which was obtained by The Associated Press. The department referred questions to the Office of Management and Budget, which did not respond to a request for comment. GADSDEN, Ala. Cassiyah Hayes takes a moment to read a book in the media center of George W. Floyd Elementary School in Gadsden, Ala., on June 25, 2025. Andi Rice for The Washington Post via Getty Images In Gadsden City Schools in Alabama, officials say they'll have no choice but to shutter their after-school program, which serves more than 1,200 low-income students, if federal funds aren't released. There's no other way to make up for the frozen federal money, said Janie Browning, who directs the program. Families who rely on after-school programs would lose an important source of child care that keeps children safe and engaged while their parents work. The roughly 75 employees of the district's after-school programs may lose their jobs. "Those hours between after school and 6 o'clock really are the hours in the day when students are at the most risk for things that may not produce great outcomes," Browning said. "It would be devastating if we lost the lifeline of afterschool for our students and our families." Jodi Grant, executive director of the Afterschool Alliance, said withholding the money could cause lasting damage to the economy. Some advocates fear the grants are being targeted for elimination, which could force schools to cut programs and teachers. Mr. Trump's 2026 budget proposal called on Congress to zero out all of the programs under review, signaling the administration sees them as unnecessary. Democratic Sen. Patty Murray of Washington pressed the Trump administration to spend the money as Congress intended. "Every day that this funding is held up is a day that school districts are forced to worry about whether they'll have to cut back on afterschool programs or lay off teachers instead of worrying about how to make sure our kids can succeed," Murray said in a statement. The six grant programs under review include one known as 21st Century Community Learning Centers. It's the primary federal funding source for after-school and summer learning programs and supports more than 10,000 local programs nationwide, according to the Afterschool Alliance. Every state runs its own competition to distribute the grants, which totaled $1.3 billion this fiscal year. Also under review are $2 billion in grants for teachers' professional development and efforts to reduce class size; $1 billion for academic enrichment grants, often used for science and math education and accelerated learning; $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. These programs account for over 20% of the federal money the District of Columbia receives for K-12 education, according to an analysis by the Learning Policy Institute, a think tank. California alone has over $800,000 in limbo, while Texas has over $660,000. "Trump is illegally impounding billions of dollars appropriated by Congress to serve students this fiscal year," said Tony Thurmond, California's state superintendent, in a statement. "The Administration is punishing children when states refuse to cater to Trump's political ideology. The loss of funds could "put several more school districts in extreme financial distress," said Chris Reykdal, superintendent of public instruction in Washington state. Districts have already adopted budgets, planned programming and hired staff, assuming they'd receive the money, Reykdal said. If the funding freeze remains, children learning English and their parents would be especially affected. Some districts use the money to pay for summer programming designed for English learners, family engagement specialists who can communicate with parents and professional development training for staff. Rural districts would be hit the hardest. "They're trying to send a message," said Amaya Garcia, who oversees education research at New America, a left-leaning think tank. "They don't believe that taxpayer funding should be used for these children." Umatilla School District in rural eastern Oregon — with a sizable population of migrant families and students learning English — relies heavily on federal funding for its after-school and summer school programs. Superintendent Heidi Sipe says she is meeting with state officials soon to find out if the district will have to plan an early end to summer school, an option 20% of students are using. Come this fall, if federal money stays frozen, she'll have to lay off staff and eliminate after-school programs attended by around half the district's students. "It's an essential service in our community because we don't have any licensed child care centers for school-age children," she said. Sipe said it's particularly frustrating to deal with these funds being put into limbo because the school district was in the middle of a five-year grant period. "It feels preventable," she said, "and it feels as though we could have done a better job planning for America's children."
