Jul. 3—ROCHESTER — Although The U.S. Department of Education has withheld nearly $7 billion in funding from schools across the country, it’s not yet clear what kind of impact that will have for Rochester Public Schools.
On June 30, the U.S. Department of Education sent a notification to state agencies, notifying them that the release of the funding was still under consideration. That update began sounding alarm bells for schools and education advocates alike.
“This is not just a budget cut — it’s an assault on the rule of law and our commitment to every child’s right to a quality education,” said Monica Byron, president of Education Minnesota, which is the statewide teachers union. “By withholding funding that Congress has already approved, the Trump administration is playing politics with our children’s futures.”
According to the publication EducationWeek, the federal funding that has been withheld from schools amounts to $6.8 billion.
RPS Communications Director Mamisoa Knutson said the district is monitoring the situation and “waiting to see what that means” for local programs.
Although federal funding doesn’t provide the bulk of Rochester Public Schools’ budget, it still represents millions of dollars for the district. In 2024-25, federal funding comprised 4% of the district’s budget, which amounted to $17.08 million.
The Minnesota Department of Education provided a copy of the notification it received from the federal government to the Post Bulletin.
According to MDE Communications Director Sam Snuggerud, the federal government issued an individual notice for the funding associated with each program. However, the notifications only differed in the name of the program. They read:
“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. Accordingly, the Department will not be issuing Grant Award Notifications obligating funds for these programs on July 1 prior to completing that review. The Department remains committed to ensuring taxpayer resources are spent in accordance with the President’s priorities and the Department’s statutory responsibilities.”
Even before the federal department issued the notice, state agencies were beginning to worry about the delay in the funding. On June 26, The Minnesota Department of Education sent a letter to its federal counterpart, asking when it could expect to receive information on the matter.
MDE Commissioner Willie Jett’s letter listed a number of programs that rely on the funding. They include those that aid English-language proficiency, support teacher development and retention, and provide academic enrichment opportunities “outside of school hours for students who attend low-performing schools.”
“At this writing, Minnesota has not received critical information for school districts to obligate federal funding in time for a July 1 deadline,” Jet wrote in his June 26 letter. “While the most recent state tables posted on ED’s website include updated figures, these programs are notably absent. Without this information, and with July 1 approaching, it is not possible for schools, districts, and the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) to complete the steps needed to begin obligating these funds as scheduled.”