Federal funding for schools is no longer a sure thing
In a development that has raised concerns among educators and legislators, the Trump administration froze nearly $7 billion in federal funding for thousands of school districts, including the Ashe County school district in North Carolina, on July 1. The funding, intended to support various educational programs, was scheduled to be received by the districts.
The funding freeze comes at a critical time for the Ashe County school district, which is still recovering from the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. The district, which relies on federal funding for about 17% of its public school funding, stands to lose a significant portion of its $15 million in Medicaid funding next school year, according to projections by Harrison School District 2.
The Ashe County school district received an email on June 30 stating that $1.1 million in federal funding for the district was frozen. This includes funding for the district's after-school program, teacher training, and salaries for some jobs. The salary for Michelle Pelayo, the district's migrant education program coordinator for nearly two decades, is also tied up in the frozen funding.
Pelayo's work in Ashe County extends far beyond the students at the school. She helps the families of migrant students who move to the area for seasonal work on farms. The Ashe County agriculture industry relies heavily on these migrant students, making the potential loss of Pelayo's position a significant concern.
The district is calculating the costs to charge families for the after-school program, if federal funding is not restored. The program currently provides free after-school care for about 250 children throughout the school year.
The current budget proposal from the U.S. House of Representatives would cut funding for services for students with disabilities and schools with large numbers of low-income students. However, the responsible person for this budget proposal is not clearly identified in the available search results.
School leaders in conservative counties, like Ashe, are considering how to object to cuts without angering voters who supported President Donald Trump. The Trump administration has plans to give more authority over education to states by shuttering the Education Department. If the Education Department is shuttered, Ashe County school district wants to be included in state-level discussions for how federal money flows to schools through North Carolina.
Despite the looming funding crisis, the anxiety about this school year has not reached the students, who are excited to be back. The Ashe County school district has a retention rate of 92% for early career teachers, in part due to a program that connects teachers with a mentor.
Our organization focuses on inequality and innovation in education, providing in-depth, fact-based, unbiased reporting on education issues. We will continue to monitor the situation and report on any developments regarding the potential funding cuts and their impact on school districts across the country.
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