Latest news with #21stCenturyCommunityLearningCenter
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Some Maryland after-school programs got restored federal funding. Adult education is still waiting.
The Trump administration's decision Friday to release some of the $110 million earmarked for Maryland's educational system will likely help a single after-school grant program but still leaves other programming in doubt. The Department of Education announced that it will release $1.3 billion in nationwide educational funding out of the $6.8 billion it was scheduled to be disbursed on or about July 1. Multiple states, including Maryland, are now involved in litigation to recover the rest of the money. The Maryland State Department of Education expects to get $22.6 million of the $110 million back, spokesperson Cherie Duvall-Jones said. But, as of Monday, the state had not received any of that promised grant money. All of that will fund the 21st Century Community Learning Centers, a grant program that supports students and families, particularly those from low-income schools. The 21st Century Community Learning Center program 'provides comprehensive after-school and summer programs that have academic components, enrichment components, that are really sort of the creme de la creme … of out-of-school time because they are so robust,' said Ellie Mitchell, director of the Maryland Out of School Time Network, a state professional association for after-school and summer programs. Organizations relying on its grants were at risk of closure when Mitchell spoke with The Baltimore Sun before the Trump administration said it would restore some of the withheld funding Friday afternoon. 'We're really changing the trajectory of young people's lives with after-school [programs]. And if you take that away, we're not going to be able to reach Maryland's ambitious goals around improving literacy, improving math, improving school-day attendance,' she said. Students at Village Learning Place, a grant recipient in north Baltimore's Charles Village neighborhood, typically improve in those areas throughout the school year, according to Deputy Director Annie Malone. The center serves about 200 children from preschool through 12th grade each year. It holds a three-year grant under the initiative, which must be renewed annually. The grant provides them with over $350,000 each year, which Hayes described as a 'stable base' for the organization to build upon, along with other funding sources. 'It would be devastating for us to not have that funding,' said Siobhán Hayes, Village Learning Place's executive director. Meanwhile, a Baltimore adult education program didn't receive any reassurances Monday about federal funding it receives through the federal Department of Labor. 'This time of year, we depend on a really huge payment that gets dropped,' said Melissa Smith, executive director of the South Baltimore Learning Center in Federal Hill. Nearly a third of the almost $670,000 in grant money was supposed to arrive weeks ago. Without that money, notices signed by Smith are posted on the center's doors announcing a temporary closure. 'This summer semester, we enrolled over 180 learners, which is a record number. … And I had to turn them away.' The center employs 21 full- and part-time staff members and typically serves over 800 adult learners a year, according to Smith. 'We have to not ignore adult literacy and adult education because there are so many lives on the line,' Smith said. 'This place could be the reason why someone chooses not to commit a crime or not get incarcerated … because they have an option to get education versus making a poor choice.' The state Department of Labor declined to comment Monday on the partial restoration of funds. South Baltimore Learning Center is holding a rally Wednesday to advocate for its funding. It invited Mayor Brandon Scott and Gov. Wes Moore. Neither had accepted the invitation as of Monday afternoon. Baltimore County Public Schools does not expect any delay in services due to the cuts, spokesperson Gboyinde Onijala said in an email Monday. 'USDOE has only agreed to restore limited funding for afterschool programming, which was not one of the programs that directly affects our budget,' Andre Riley, spokesperson for Baltimore City Public Schools, said Monday. Regarding the remaining funds frozen by the Department of Education, 'we will face challenges in ensuring that staffing, materials, and other resources will be fully in place for the start of the 2025-2026 school year,' Riley wrote in an email. The withheld funds have the power to affect after-school programs statewide. The Howard County Public School System said in a statement Monday that while federal funding isn't its primary source of revenue, it was concerned about the impacts withheld funds could have on multilingual learners, professional development and grants. 'HCPSS is awaiting additional details and guidance from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget/U.S. Department of Education and MSDE on if/when these allocations will be disbursed. In the meantime, HCPSS remains committed to providing students and families in Howard County with the top education they are accustomed to,' the district said. 'It's hard to imagine how we're going to improve education by decreasing the resources available to public schools. It just doesn't compute,' Mitchell said. Baltimore Sun reporter Kiersten Hacker contributed to this article. Have a news tip? Contact Racquel Bazos at rbazos@ 443-813-0770 or on X as @rzbworks. Solve the daily Crossword
Axios
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Trump administration is withholding $35M from Utah schools
The Trump administration is withholding more than $35 million in education funding from Utah as it reviews the programs that were due to receive the money. Why it matters: The missing money has left after-school and summer programs in limbo nationwide. Driving the news: The Education Department said in a last-minute notice that the funds would not be released as planned on July 1 while the programs were under review, according to the School Superintendents Association. By the numbers: An estimated $6.2 billion in K-12 funds across five programs remains unavailable, according to the Learning Policy Institute, which conducts research to improve education policies. That includes funding for after-school and summer learning through the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, money to support migratory children, educator development funds and more. Zoom in: The Department of Education referred Axios' questions to the Office of Management and Budget. An OMB spokesperson said no decisions have been made amid "an ongoing programmatic review of education funding." The spokesperson pointed to initial findings they said "show that many of these grant programs have been grossly misused to subsidize a radical leftwing agenda." Threat level: If unreleased 21st Century Community Learning Center funds — the chief stream for academic enrichment outside of school hours — remains blocked, "the fallout will be swift and devastating," Boys and Girls Clubs of America President and CEO Jim Clark said in a statement. Up to 926 Boys and Girls Clubs could be forced to shut their doors, he said, and club sites and camps "could shutter mid-season — upending care for working parents and leaving kids without critical safety nets." What they're saying: Jodi Grant, the executive director of the Afterschool Alliance, described the withholding of funds as "a stunning betrayal," as states and territories had already committed money to after-school and summer learning programs.
Axios
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Trump admin. withholds $94 million for Mass. K-12 schools
Massachusetts has a $94 million hole for K-12 schools as the Trump administration holds off on releasing federal education funding. Why it matters: The Department of Education's funding delay deals a major blow to Massachusetts summer school and after-school programs, as well as English-language instruction and other resources that aim to level the playing field among schoolchildren. Catch up quick: The Education Department said in a last-minute notice that the funds would not be released while the programs were under review, according to the School Superintendents Association. By the numbers: The funding in limbo includes $20.6 million in after-school and summer instruction in Massachusetts, per the Learning Policy Institute, which conducts research to improve education policies. The funding particularly goes toward programming in underserved and low-performing schools. The pause also affects $30 million in educator development funds, $20.5 million in English language programming and $1.3 million for migrant education in Massachusetts. Zoom out: Some $6.2 billion in K-12 funds across five programs remains unavailable to schools across the country, per the LPI estimates. Threat level: If unreleased 21st Century Community Learning Center funds — the chief stream for academic enrichment outside of school hours — remain blocked, the "fallout will be swift and devastating," Boys and Girls Clubs of America President and CEO Jim Clark said in a statement. Up to 926 Boys and Girls Clubs could be forced to shut their doors, he said, and club sites and camps "could shutter mid-season — upending care for working parents and leaving kids without critical safety nets." Jodi Grant, the executive director of the Afterschool Alliance, described the withholding of funds as "a stunning betrayal," as states and territories had already committed money to after-school and summer learning programs.
Axios
03-07-2025
- Business
- Axios
Washington state schools left waiting for $137M in federal funds
States are missing billions in federal education funding that was expected to be accessible on July 1 but has yet to be released by the Trump administration. Why it matters: In Washington state, an estimated $137 million is being withheld, which amounts to 15.6% of the state's federal K–12 education funding, according to the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. The big picture: The Department of Education's funding delay has exacerbated the uncertainty for after-school, summer and other programs, leaving schools in limbo, advocates and policy experts say. The Education Department said in a last-minute notice that the funds would not be released while the programs were under review, according to the School Superintendents Association. What they're saying: U.S. Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, said in a prepared statement that education funding uncertainty has prompted districts to delay hiring and other initiatives. "Every day that this funding is held up is a day that school districts are forced to worry about whether they'll have to cut back on after-school programs or lay off teachers instead of worrying about how to make sure our kids can succeed," Murray said. Districts have "made programming and employment commitments with the assumption that they'd be receiving this funding," Washington state superintendent Chris Reykdal said in a written statement. Zoom out: Nationwide, an estimated $6.2 billion in K–12 funds across five programs remains unavailable, according to the Learning Policy Institute, which conducts research to improve education policies. That includes funding for after-school and summer learning through the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, money to support migratory children, educator development funds and more. The other side: The Department of Education referred Axios' questions for this story to the Office of Management and Budget. An OMB spokesperson said no decisions have been made amid "an ongoing programmatic review of education funding." What we're watching: If unreleased 21st Century Community Learning Center funds — the chief stream for academic enrichment outside school hours — remain blocked, up to 926 Boys and Girls Clubs could be forced to shut their doors, the organization's president and CEO, Jim Clark, said in a statement.
Axios
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Summer and after-school programs at risk under Trump's K-12 funding hold
States across the U.S. are missing billions in federal education funding that was expected to be accessible on July 1 but has yet to be released by the Trump administration. The big picture: The Department of Education's funding delay has exacerbated the uncertainty for after-school, summer and other programs, leaving schools in limbo, advocates and policy experts say. The Education Department said in a last-minute notice that the funds would not be released while the programs were under review, according to the School Superintendents Association. By the numbers: An estimated $6.2 billion in K-12 funds across five programs remains unavailable, according to the Learning Policy Institute, which conducts research to improve education policies. That includes funding for after-school and summer learning through the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, money to support migratory children, educator development funds and more. Zoom in: The Department of Education referred Axios' questions for this story to the Office of Management and Budget. An OMB spokesperson said no decisions have been made amid "an ongoing programmatic review of education funding." The spokesperson pointed to initial findings that they said "show that many of these grant programs have been grossly misused to subsidize a radical leftwing agenda." Threat level: If unreleased 21st Century Community Learning Center funds — the chief stream for academic enrichment outside of school hours — remains blocked, the "the fallout will be swift and devastating," Boys and Girls Clubs of America President and CEO Jim Clark said in a statement. Up to 926 Boys and Girls Clubs could be forced to shut their doors, he said, and club sites and camps "could shutter mid-season — upending care for working parents and leaving kids without critical safety nets." Zoom out: Jodi Grant, the executive director of the Afterschool Alliance, described the withholding of funds as "a stunning betrayal," as states and territories had already committed money to after-school and summer learning programs. "Short term, [there are] a lot of very anxious programs and very anxious parents, because they don't know if their kids are going to be able to have after-school, but that will very quickly turn into programs reducing how many kids they can serve and or closing their doors," she told Axios. But she said "it's a long-term impact, no matter how you cut it," noting that Trump's 2026 budget proposed no funds for 21st CCLC, instead opting for a K-12 Simplified Funding Plan. Even if the funds do come back, she said, it will be much harder to recover, with ripple effects echoing throughout communities where such programs are necessary for children and working families. She emphasized that after-school programs have broad bipartisan support, and a majority of voters say they're a necessity for their communities. 21st CCLC serves nearly 1.4 million youth and their families through grants awarded by state education agencies, according to the Afterschool Alliance. What they're saying: Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, said in a statement that education funding uncertainty has prompted districts to delay hiring and other initiatives. "Every day that this funding is held up is a day that school districts are forced to worry about whether they'll have to cut back on after-school programs or lay off teachers instead of worrying about how to make sure our kids can succeed," Murray said. Catch up quick: Advocates and educators were already concerned about summer and after-school programs being disrupted by cuts at the Department of Education and AmeriCorps.
