Latest news with #TitleIII
Miami Herald
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Miami-Dade schools superintendent presses lawmakers for $35M in frozen funds
The superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools has four weeks to figure out what to do about a $35 million shortfall in the district's budget due to federal grants that are frozen by the Trump administration. Superintendent Jose Dotres told board members at a school board committee meeting Wednesday that he plans to increase his visibility and advocacy — both in Tallahassee and Washington, D.C. — to ensure Miami-Dade gets what it's due. He also noted that he has cut some expenses going into the school year in response to the funding freeze. 'We are headed into a different footprint of advocacy,' Dotres told board members during the meeting. 'I see myself now more involved as it relates to federal funding, being able to educate, articulate and inform senators at the federal level in terms of how these funds are used and what the implications are if they were to be reduced,' said Dotres. Dotres just returned from a trip to D.C., where he met with Sen. Ashley Moody (R-FL) to discuss funding for his district. He told the Miami Herald in an interview that he tried to convey to the senator how the funds are used to create innovative magnet programs and other specialized programs in the district, which make public schools 'competitive' in a landscape of 'school choice.' Wednesday's school board committee meeting was an urgent conversation about how the district will prepare for the possibility the federal government may not release the frozen funds which include grants for migrant education, teacher training, help for English language learners, and academic supports for science, technology and more. 'Those dollars, we use them to innovate, provide robotics programs, advanced career technical education courses, and cybersecurity,' said Dotres in an interview with the Miami Herald. Specific programs funded by the grants currently frozen include after-school tutoring by certified teachers, bilingual instruction, technology access, swim safety lessons, and training for new teachers. More than 70 percent of new teachers require additional education, according to the superintendent. Pray for the best, but be ready for the worst School board member Luisa Santos said that the federal funding cuts will reverberate throughout the district. 'Just between Title III and Title IV, a large portion would feel the effect of these dollars not being there,' she said. There are over 83,000 students learning English in the district. Read more: Miami-Dade schools to lose millions after federal grant cancellations During Wednesday's committee meeting, board members pressed Dotres for details on planning for the worst-case scenario. 'We pray for the best, but we have to be mindful of what potential Armageddon could come,' said board member Steve Gallon. The state of Florida has advised the school district to proceed as normal, and the chief financial officer said he is operating under the assumption that the funds will be released. Santos asked how the district is preparing if the money remains frozen or is redirected to states as block grants, which would give Florida discretion over how (or whether) to target the same areas the grants were meant to fund. Ahead of the start of school on August 14, the superintendent said he has already gone through the budget line by line to find expenditures he can reduce, such as holding off on purchasing textbooks and other school supplies, pausing travel funds for teachers to attend conferences and pausing spending on anything not related to a 'direct service,' like teacher salaries. 'We have been doing a reduction,' said Dotres, noting that open positions are currently not being filled. Teacher training programs will also be delayed until the funding is sorted. 'We are holding some professional development at the earliest stages and holding it for later on in the school year,' said Dotres. Dotres said he would find alternative sources to fund salaries of the migrant education program, but that other spending like supplies for the program are paused for the time being. Santos asked if the district has looked at how other large school systems are preparing and whether additional legal or policy steps could help Miami-Dade. Walter Harvey, the general counsel for the district, noted that 24 states and Washington, D.C., have filed a federal lawsuit demanding the release of these funds. Florida is not a party to the suit, and thus may not receive payouts if the lawsuit is settled. School board member Roberto Alonso and Dotres said that instead of legal battles, it is a better strategy to continue advocating for the district with lawmakers. 'I advocate for our school district at the source,' Dotres told the Herald when asked about the lawsuit. Gallon noted that many of the federal grants that are currently frozen were established on the heels of important lawsuits. The Title III program, for example, which allows students learning English to get extra help, was built upon a 1974 civil rights case that declared that schools have a legal duty to provide instruction and help to non-English learners. But Florida has chosen not to be a part of that legal precedent when it comes to the release of federal funds to the states. Instead, the district is talking to elected officials, trimming the budget where they can and hoping for the best. 'We are awaiting the review, and we are hopeful that the funds will be there,' said Dotres. Federal grants to Miami-Dade currently on hold Title I, Part C – Migrant Education: $1,376,878 Title II, Part A –Teacher training: $14,141,336 Title III, Part A – Help for English language learners: $10,622,058 Title IV, Part A – Academic supports (Robotics, STEAM, Technology): $9,820,392 Total: $35,960,664 Funding for 21st Century Community Learning Centers, programs for at-risk students and their families, has now been released.
Time of India
07-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
What led to the $25 million freeze in Maine student grants during the Trump administration's funding review?
What led to the $25 million freeze in Maine student grants? Maine schools are facing delays in accessing nearly $25 million in federal education grants, following a nationwide review launched by the Trump administration. The funding pause is part of a broader reassessment of how billions in federal education dollars are distributed across states, with the administration signaling a closer alignment with its policy agenda. The affected grants support a range of student-centered initiatives, including after-school programs, language instruction for English learners, professional development for teachers, and adult education services. While technically available for obligation starting July 1, the beginning of the fiscal year, these funds remain on hold as the US Department of Education reevaluates multiple programs. Wider review halts education funding nationwide The pause in Maine is part of a broader review involving more than $6 billion in education funding nationwide. The administration has indicated that the purpose of the review is to ensure all spending is consistent with federal law and current presidential priorities. In practice, however, the freeze has interrupted normal budget cycles for schools that rely on annual allocations to plan staffing, curriculum, and enrichment activities. For Maine, the $25 million in limbo reflects the state's projected allocation for fiscal year 2025. Districts had begun budgeting for the year assuming the grants would be available on time, but the hold now forces them to either delay key programs or shift resources from other areas. Student learning and teacher support programs affected Among the specific programs impacted are Title I, Part C, which funds education for migratory children, and Title III, which supports English learners and immigrant students. Title II funding—used for recruiting and training high-quality teachers—and Title IV programs that enable academic enrichment and summer learning are also part of the freeze. Additionally, adult education grants to states are included in the review. This funding supports both core instruction and supplemental services in many Maine communities. The freeze raises immediate concerns about the continuity of services for vulnerable student populations, particularly in districts with high numbers of multilingual learners or students needing academic support outside regular school hours. Uncertainty ahead as schools wait for clarity While the Department of Education has not provided a specific timeline for completing the review, districts have been advised to proceed cautiously with their planning. The Maine Department of Education has already notified school systems of the pause and flagged the potential impact to the state's congressional delegation. For now, the funding remains in administrative limbo. Without additional clarity, schools may face difficult decisions about which programs to delay or scale back in the coming months. The broader review reflects a shift in how the federal government is approaching education funding under the Trump administration. But for school officials in Maine, the more urgent question remains: when will the funds that support their students actually arrive? Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
Business Wire
03-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
SOSi Wins $260 Million DEA Contract for Foreign Language Support
RESTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- SOSi announced today that the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) awarded the company a contract valued at approximately $260 million to provide foreign language support for its Title III electronic surveillance program. SOSi will support 241 offices across the United States, delivering the monitoring, transcription, translation, interpretation, validation, and analysis of lawfully intercepted communications. 'This contract expands SOSi's partnership with DEA, allowing us to further support the agency's critical mission of enforcing controlled substance laws and regulations,' said Steve Iwicki, SOSi Senior Vice President for Intelligence Solutions. 'SOSi's expertise bolsters DEA's efforts to reduce the devastating impact illicit substances have on our nation.' SOSi has been supporting the federal law enforcement agencies' Title III programs since the company's inception in 1989. Its first federal contract was with the DEA's New York Field Office in 1989. In 2021, SOSi was awarded a similar contract to provide the same services to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). In 2023, the DEA awarded SOSi a contract to provide language analytic support to its Special Operations Division. 'We're excited to continue our 35-year legacy of supporting the DEA's mission through this nationwide Title III language services contract,' said Julian Setian, CEO of SOSi. 'This award reflects not only our deep-rooted partnership with the DEA, but also our unmatched expertise in managing highly sensitive lawful intercept programs for the U.S. law enforcement community. Over the next year, we plan to introduce our proprietary Pandion system to the federal law enforcement agencies, which leverages AI to process and analyze intercepted communications and exemplifies our commitment to innovation in support of national security and law enforcement operations.' ABOUT SOSi Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Reston, Virginia, SOSi is a private defense and government services firm that is principally engaged in the research, design, development, integration, sustainment, and delivery of advanced technology systems, products, and services. Its capabilities include data science, software development, network engineering, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), and logistics.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump administration freezes $6.8 billion in federal education funds; California hit hard
The Trump administration on Monday moved to withhold a projected $6.8 billion nationwide in education funds — including at least $811 million from California — money appropriated by Congress to boost teacher training, after-school programs and classroom technology and to help students who are learning English and those who are from migrant families. Although the frozen funds make up less than 1% of California's total education budget, they have an outsize cumulative effect. And they involve dollars that already are accounted for in terms of staff hired and programs planned. The disruption would be substantial — and state education leaders, including Supt. of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, said Monday evening that the problems are unfolding immediately. 'There have been many rumors about the Trump Administration cutting education funding, and now that rumors have become reality, it is worse than we imagined," Thurmond said in a statement to The Times. "Trump is illegally impounding billions of dollars appropriated by Congress to serve students this fiscal year." "This illegal action will harm students starting now," Thurmond added. "It cannot stand!' The administration listed the frozen programs by their federal designation: Title III-A, for example, supports students who are learning English. Title I-C helps overcome the learning challenges of the children of migrant workers. Both programs had all their funds withheld. Read more: California law faces revise as high court allows parents to 'opt out' of LGBTQ+ school stories Word of the federal action began to trickle out to worried school systems Monday afternoon. The notification, in an email from the federal Department of Education, was 84 words in length — and, according to education officials and advocates, included no amplification: "Given the change in Administrations, the Department is reviewing the FY 2025 funding for the [Title I-C, II-A, III-A, IV-A, IV-B] grant program(s), and decisions have not yet been made concerning submissions and awards for this upcoming academic year," the email began. "Accordingly, the Department will not be issuing Grant Award Notifications obligating funds for these programs on July 1 prior to completing that review." The notification concluded: "The Department remains committed to ensuring taxpayer resources are spent in accordance with the President's priorities and the Department's statutory responsibilities.' The programs noted in the email make up more than 10% of federal spending on K-12 schools in 33 states, according to the Learning Policy Institute. The targets of the freeze are not especially surprising — all of the withheld funds are from programs the administration wants to slash or eliminate. And those details — and the justification for them — are clearly spelled out in President Trump's budget proposal for the next federal fiscal year, which begins in October. Read more: California violated civil rights of female students by allowing trans athletes to compete, feds say But the Trump administration is freezing funds that Congress approved for the fiscal year already in progress, which began in October 2024. Because of the way federal, state and local budgets line up, this money was due to reach states Tuesday and to be spent as part of the budget for the school district fiscal year, which begins Tuesday. School districts — on the expectation they would receive these funds appropriated by Congress — have generally already hired those expected to carry out these programs; many are long-standing efforts. The Education Department declined to comment late Monday — referring inquiries to the Office of Management and Budget. That office too had no immediate comment. But the administration already has made clear its rationale for ending these efforts in its budget proposal, which on Monday was inching closer to congressional approval. "To end overreach from Washington and restore the rightful role of State oversight in education, the Budget proposes to eliminate the misnamed English Language Acquisition program which actually de-emphasizes English primacy by funding [nongovernmental organizations] and States to encourage bilingualism," the administration stated. "The historically low reading scores for all students mean States and communities need to unite — not divide — classrooms using evidence-based literacy instruction materials to improve outcomes for all students." Read more: Revised LAUSD budget saves jobs today, trims future retiree health benefit contributions Advocates for English learners support "evidence-based literacy instruction," but take issue with much of the rest of the administration's assertions, including the claim that programs to help students learning English are divisive. "We want our students to gain proficiency in English so that they can access their education in English," said Martha Hernandez, executive director of Californians Together, a coalition of groups that advocates for English learners. "And the majority of English learners are in English-only settings. These funds help students learn English." Hernandez said there are about 5 million English learners speaking 100 different languages nationwide — about 1.1 million in California. The cut to migrant education is justified in budget documents as eliminating "programs that work to the detriment of children's academic success by encouraging movement from, rather than stability and consistency in, a single location. These programs have not been proven effective, are extremely costly, and encourage ineligible non-citizens to access [services] , stripping resources from American students." The migrant program's effectiveness is open to reasonable debate, but the assertion that it encourages lack of stability is difficult to square with the reality on the ground. Los Angeles Unified School District uses this funding for academic support to provide stability and academic continuity for these students and their families. The program in Nebraska describes itself as providing "educational services for migrant children to help reduce obstacles that result from repeated moves across school district boundaries." For students ages 3 to 5, the effort includes "promoting interest in learning and filling educational gaps at home to prepare students for Kindergarten" and also "helping families find affordable preschool options." The funding freeze has become yet another area of conflict between the Trump administration and local educators, especially in blue states and urban areas. However, this funding pullback, if it stands, also will fall heavily on rural areas and red states. Trump's authority to withhold these funds will almost certainly be challenged in court. It is unclear whether it will survive scrutiny within Congress. Federal law prohibits the executive branch from refusing to distribute congressionally appropriated dollars, although the president can ask Congress for permission to hold back funds. Congress has 45 days after such a request is made to approve the president's action. Otherwise, the money must be spent as originally intended. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Technical.ly
18-06-2025
- Business
- Technical.ly
The ABC's of equity crowdfunding: What founders should know
When an individual or entity invests in a startup, they typically do so in return for an ownership stake, otherwise known as equity. In 2012, President Obama signed the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (JOBS Act). Title III — Regulation Crowdfunding (or Reg CF) — allowed smaller companies to crowdfund investments online from many smaller investors. Reg CF allowed everyone into the world of private-company investment, including companies not registered or trading shares on national exchanges. Previously, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) allowed only 'accredited investors,' aka people who meet certain wealth or income thresholds, to invest in private companies. The SEC finalized the Reg CF rules in May 2016, and in less than a decade, equity crowdfunding grew from curiosity to a major force in equalizing access to startup capital. Now early or mid-stage companies seeking investment can use the power of the internet and their existing networks to raise capital and, just as importantly, awareness. Other benefits unique to this model include the ability to: Broaden your investor base Turn your customers into marketers Incentivize your investors Prove value to institutional investors View the full Fundraising Guide Equity crowdfunding equalizes access to startup capital So how does it work? Companies (issuers) can raise up to $1.07M over a 12-month period by selling different types of securities that represent ownership, future ownership or debt obligations. Issuers set minimum and maximum ranges for the overall raise and individual investment minimums (SEC regulations limit maximum individual investment through an income/net-worth formula). Issuers must file CPA-reviewed financial statements and a legal document (Form C) with the SEC, which contains certain disclosures about the company. They also must file at least one year-end report. Issuers sell their securities over a portal approved by FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority). There are currently around 55 portals. The biggest ones have lists that contain hundreds of thousands of potential investors, along with media and industry insiders. Securities sold pursuant to Reg CF are restricted, meaning investors must generally hold them for one year before selling them, though there are exceptions. Regulatory compliance Whenever you raise a round of financing, whether a SAFE, Convertible Note or Priced Preferred (or Common) Stock round of financing, one of two things must happen from a regulatory perspective: You file a full 'Registration Statement' with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Similar to an IPO filing, it's very expensive and time consuming. You qualify for an exemption to avoid filing a Registration Statement. For example, you are exempt and file under 506(b) or 506(c) of Regulation D ('Reg D') of the Securities Act. If you do not file a Registration Statement or qualify for an exemption such as 506(b) or (c) under Reg D, and are not otherwise exempt under Section 4(a)(2), YOU HAVE VIOLATED THE SECURITIES LAWS. Federal securities regulations (dealing with the SEC) The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is a federal agency tasked with administering the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, along with others. The Securities Act of 1933, as amended, is also known as the Securities Act or '33 Act. Even when your offering of securities is exempt, you often will need to file a form of some kind with the SEC to perfect the exemption. Careful attention must be given to selecting the correct form and properly completing it. All forms are filed with 'EDGAR', the SEC's Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval System. Blue Sky laws (dealing with states) State-level securities statutes and regulations are commonly referred to as 'Blue Sky laws.' The Blue Sky laws of each state are different, and generally require some action be taken at the state level to perfect your exemption. Blue Sky issues relating to securities offerings arise primarily in three areas: 1. Securities exemptions and filing requirements. 2. Antifraud liability that may arise from a securities offering. 3. Licensing and registration requirements for securities industry personnel participating in a securities offering. It is recommended to seek legal counsel on regulatory compliance whenever you raise funding.
