On July 1, the US Department of Education announced that funding for five federal programs, normally distributed to states for the upcoming school year on this date is instead being immediately withheld.
Those programs include:
- Title I, Part C – Migrant education
- Title II, Part A – Professional learning for educators
- Title III, Part A – English Language Learners
- Title IV, Parts A and B – Before and After school programs; and
- Programs that promote supplemental learning
If states lose access to these essential federal funds, Washington’s school districts will see an immediate reduction of approximately $137 million, amounting to 15.6% of our state’s federal K–12 funding for the 2025-26 school year.
Now, this funding was originally passed by the Congress and signed into law by the President on March 17 of this year. Now, four months later, the Feds are reversing course and impounding funds that were previously approved.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t about “wasteful spending.” This is about shifting money away from public education and toward private interests — whether that’s private schools, charter schools, or tax breaks for the wealthy. Further, losses of this amount, with such short notice and after local budgets have already been drafted and approved by local school boards, have the potential to put several more school districts in extreme financial distress and also result in the loss of additional classified support positions.
Let me give you a few examples of how this withholding action will affect school districts:
La Conner School District could lose $653,000. This amount is equal to $1,400 per student. La Conner was released from state financial oversight just last November. It’s unclear whether the loss of these federal funds will cause the La Conner’s budget to become unbalanced and require state oversight again.
Wahluke School District could lose $2.2 million. Wahluke serves about 2,200 students and would experience a cut of almost $1,000 per student.
Kennewick School District could lose $3.6 million. This cut is almost the same as the cut for the Seattle School District, even though Seattle has 30,000 more students.
If these rescissions go through, the impact on our school districts — especially rural and high-poverty ones – could be devastating. Fewer work hours. Job losses. Less support for students with disabilities. Perhaps cuts to school meal programs.
And let’s be sure to tell this story: the burden will likely fall hardest on the workers who already earn the least and do the most — hourly ESPs, many of whom are parents and grandparents themselves, already struggling with rising rent, food prices, and healthcare costs.
But here's the thing. They can propose cuts in D.C. – but it’s up to us, here in Washington, to stand up and stop them.
On Monday, Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown joined a multistate lawsuit challenging the Administration’s attempt to withhold billions of dollars in education grants for after-school programs, including child care, adult literacy programs, English language learner education, staff training and migrant education.
We also need to do OUR part:
- Reach out to your federal representative in Washington, D.C. Look for an email from PSE to help you reach out to your member of Congress on this issue or click here to send an email now!
- Show up at school board meetings and make sure school directors know who makes our schools work – and what happens when we’re not there.
- Finally, let’s stick together as a union, stronger than ever. We’ve seen what happens when we organize. When we fight, we WIN! We’re working hard to secure better pay, better working conditions, and more respect for the work we do. And we’re not about to let anyone take anything away — not from us, and not from the students we serve.
Check back in this space for updates on the multi-state lawsuit and for any change in position by the federal government.
Helpful Links:
States sue to release $7 Billion in federal education funding illegally withheld
OSPI school district map showing potential loss of federal funds