The Trump administration is releasing billions of dollars in withheld grants for schools, the Education Department said Friday, ending weeks of uncertainty for educators who rely on the money for English language instruction, adult literacy and other programs, according to the Associated Press.
The U.S. Department of Education had suspended more than $6 billion in funding on July 1, as part of a review to ensure spending aligned with White House priorities.
New York lawmakers sent a letter to the Trump administration on July 10, calling for the immediate release of over $400 million in education funding for New York public schools. Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, among others, raised legal concerns that the continued withholding of funds could violate the Impoundment Control Act. The lawmakers had questioned what legal justification the Department of Education and Office of Management and Budget are relying on to delay the disbursement of these formula grant funds, despite clear direction from Congress.
“This reckless delay of over $400 million dollars, which accounts for 10% of federal K-12 funding in New York is alarming local educators and program directors throughout the state,” wrote the lawmakers. “It is also disrupting school and district planning, jeopardizing programming for millions of students, and could result in layoffs and program cancellations.”
The grants that were under review included $2 billion 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, the AP reported.
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