Jul. 3—Local education officials said it is unclear how the Trump administration’s decision to hold at least $811 million in funding from California will affect their schools.
The funding, which is part of $6.8 billion nationwide, was appropriated by Congress to help students from migrant families who are learning English, and boost teacher training, after-school programs and classroom technology.
Lodi Unified School District superintendent Neil Young said he is monitoring the situation and waiting for further guidance from state and federal agencies.
“Regardless of the outcome, our commitment to supporting all students, including our migrant students and our English learners, remains unchanged,” he said. “We will continue to provide the supports to help every student succeed and become fluent in English.”
The administration said that a final decision had not been made as of Tuesday morning.
The San Joaquin County Office of Education said there about 29,000 English language learners in the county.
In addition, SJCOE’s Migrant Education department serves some 2,000 students in San Joaquin and parts of Contra Costa counties.
The department develops supplemental academic and hands-on programs including health and social services, home visitations, youth leadership activities, and educational services for students ages 18-21 who have not completed a GED, among others.
The agency said it is currently assessing the specific impacts that would occur if the funding was not released.
Based on previous years, the estimated amount of federal funding to be withheld from San Joaquin County districts and schools, including charter schools, would be about $18 million, the agency said.
“While federal funding accounts for only a relatively small portion of overall education budgets, the loss of these funds would impact programs serving students, as the impounded funding was appropriated to support migrant education programs, English language learners, after school programs, professional development, and other programs,” the agency said.
The California Department of Education received notice on Monday that the Trump Administration will not be releasing billions of dollars allocated by Congress for the upcoming school year, including but not limited to Title I-C, II-A, III-A, IV-A, and IV-B.
These funds are awarded annually on July 1, and based on prior awards, the CDE estimated that the U.S. Department of Education is keeping $1 billion from California students and billions of dollars nationwide.
State Superintendent of Schools Tony Thurmond held a press conference Tuesday stating that his office was going to push back on the federal government’s “egregious” overreaches.
He called the situation an illegal impoundment of federal education dollars, and said he would make sure those dollars would flow through California and the nation.
“The president and his administration continue to push on and bully those who are least among us — students, those who rely on health care, those who rely on the federal government for a chance to have a great education and great life,” he said. “And we will not stand for it. It will not happen on our watch.”
Thurmond said the courts have already taken action in the state’s favor in prior lawsuits against the administration, and that California will continue to pursue all available legal remedies to the “unlawful” withholding of federal funds.