The U.S. Department of Education will release a portion of federal education funding that was previously withheld, days after Gov. Andy Beshear joined more than 20 state officials in a lawsuit claiming the action was illegal.
The education department is slated to release more than $1 billion of paused funding for after-school and summer learning programs, USA TODAY reported. It is unclear how much of that money will be allocated to Kentucky, though Beshear previously said the funding freeze left the commonwealth shorted $96 million.
“Kentucky needs the entire $96 million in federal education funding promised to our state, not just a portion. These funds were appropriated by Congress for the education of Kentuckians, and it’s my job to fight for them on behalf of our kids, our people and our future,” Beshear said in a statement July 18.
The Kentucky Department of Education has not yet responded to a request for comment.
In late June, federal officials announced $6.8 billion supposed to be released to states July 1 was being held back so officials could ensure it aligned with the new administration’s priorities, USA TODAY reported.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear speaks during the first day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center.
Congress allocated the money to the U.S. Department of Education to be redistributed to states for several programs, including ones that support students whose parents are seasonal workers, teacher training, adult literacy and more.
In the lawsuit, Beshear and several Democratic attorneys general argued the freeze violated federal statutory and regulatory requirements. The decision left states to scrambling to adjust, as plans for spending the money were already in place and, in some cases, the money was already spent, Beshear said in a July 14 news release.
Several Republican U.S. senators joined the chorus of officials calling for the funds to be released July 16 when they sent a letter to Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought asking for the funds to be unlocked. Among the lawmakers signing onto the letter was U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.
McConnell’s office did not respond to a request for comment July 18.
This story may update.
Contact reporter Killian Baarlaer at kbaarlaer@gannett.com or @bkillian72 on X.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky Gov. Beshear calls for entirety of frozen education funding