ED Releases Education Funds Previously Withheld
The U.S. Department of Education (ED) has released education funds originally expected to be distributed on July 1, which were withheld unexpectedly on June 30. The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) funds that had been delayed include:
Title I-C for migrant education ($375 million)
Title II-A for professional development ($2.2 billion)
Title III-A for English-learner services ($890 million)
Title IV-A for academic enrichment ($1.3 billion)
Title IV-B for before- and after-school programs ($1.4 billion)
An additional $729 million for adult literacy and basic education has also been released. The decision to allow the federal dollars to flow to states came amid pressure from stakeholders across the country, including parents, educators, school and district officials, states, and Members of Congress. A letter submitted by ten Republican Senators who represent large swaths of rural America noted, “Withholding this funding denies states and communities the opportunity to pursue localized initiatives to support students and their families.”