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Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Judge blocks Trump effort to take back pandemic-era relief funds for schools
Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown (D) in 2023. (File photo by Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters) A U.S. District Court judge in New York on Tuesday temporarily blocked the Trump administration's plan to cancel more than $1 billion of previously approved pandemic-era relief funding to schools across the country. The preliminary injunction issued by District Judge Edgardo Ramos prevents the U.S. Department of Education and its secretary, Linda McMahon, from recovering money 'during the pendency of this litigation or until further order of the Court.' Maryland had joined 15 states and the District of Columbia in the suit against the department and McMahon last month. The suit, filed April 10, followed a letter from McMahon that arrived in email inboxes at 5 p.m. on Friday, March 28, advising state sch0ol officials that any unspent COVID-19 federal recovery funds were being reclaimed immediately. Most of the money in Maryland comes from the American Rescue Plan's Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief, or ARP ESSER, program. McMahon wrote that it didn't make sense for the federal goverment to be awarding COVID-19 grants 'years after the COVID pandemic ended.' Maryland officials initially estimated that as much as $418 million could be at stake, the most of any state in the lawsuit. School officials announced last week, before the state Board of Education meeting, that the number is actuallly closer to $232.1 million, but the injunction was still welcome. 'COVID-19 may be over, but its impact is still being felt in schools across our State and nation, as reading and math scores remain lower than pre-pandemic levels and students continue to struggle with behavioral health issues since schools reopened,' Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown (D) said in a statement Tuesday. 'This ruling preserves hundreds of millions of dollars for Maryland schools, allowing our educational leaders to continue giving their students the support they need and deserve,' Brown said. A U.S. Department of Education spokesperson did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment Tuesday night. The money is being used for various educational programs and school construction projects, ranging from tutoring and reading materials to the installation of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. The lawsuit highlighted several affected projects, such as Baltimore City Public Schools' cancellation of tutoring and after-school programs. The school system hasn't been reimbursed $48 million. Besides D.C. and Maryland, others in the suit were Arizona, California, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, Oregon and Pennsylvania.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
State faces potential loss of $232.1 million in federal funds, less than feared but still worrisome
Krishna Tullar, deputy state superintendent for the Office of Finance and Operations, gives update on state funding to the Maryland State Board of Education on April 29. (Photo by William J. Ford/Maryland Matters) The good news is that the state's schools are not going to lose $418 million in federal funding they feared was lost last month when federal officials abruptly announced they were clawing back unspent pandemic recovery funds. The bad news is that the state could still be out $232.1 million, the Maryland Board of Education was told Tuesday. The confusion came after school officials received a letter last month from the U.S. Department of Education, informing states that the Trump administration would cancel Biden administration extensions that would have given schools until next year to spend down any remaining COVID-19 recovery funds. That letter, from U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon, came in an email on Friday, March 28, at 5 p.m., which said the cancellation would take effect immediately. It said the federal department would consider reimbursing states, but only under narrow provisions. 'This took us off guard, needless to say at five o'clock on a Friday,' said Maryland State Superintendent Carey Wright. In the confusion, state officials estimated that as much as $418 million could be at stake for state schools. Now, they say, the number is closer to $232.1 million. Krishna Tullar, deputy state superintendent for the department's Office of Finance and Operations, summarized from a chart that more than half of that amount, $144.9 million, comes from the third, and final, iteration of the American Rescue Plan's Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief, or ARP ESSER, program. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The remaining $87.2 million came from earlier versions of ESSER and from other pandemic-response funds. It was slated for uses such as mental health services, professional development for teachers and for students experiencing homelessness, like residing in transitional housing. Donna Gunning, assistant superintendent in the department's division of financial planning, operations and strategy, said the federal government has not reimbursed the state for at least $127.5 million that has already been allocated. Another $104.6 million is money not reimbursed to the state's local school systems. Gunning said about $56.7 million of the school system money has been designated as 'encumbered' and not spent by the school systems also called local education agencies, also known as LEAs. Board President Joshua Michael summarized how local school districts will be affected if they are not reimbursed by the federal government for the millions they have spent. 'That could mean salaries for 2,000 teachers next year. It could mean 12,000 students in our pre-K program. We will have to come up with this money,' he said. 'These are real dollars.' Without schools being reimbursed, certain projects or educational programs must immediately stop. Board Vice President Monica Goldson said many local school systems 'were counting on receiving that reimbursement in their FY '26 budget.' 'And now they've been informed that they're not. Then those cuts at the local level could be even more extreme than they are right now,' said Goldson, former CEO of Prince George's County public schools. 'I just want everybody to understand that we are falling off of the cliff quickly.' Gunning said the state asked the federal department to reconsider its funding, but the only response received so far is that the reimbursement request for ESSER funding had to be resubmitted in another format. Board member Rachel McCusker asked if there's any indication when federal officials will inform the state of a decision. 'We are not aware of any state having received an approval since this decision,' Tullar said. Because of the federal government's decision, Attorney General Anthony Brown (D) joined other attorneys general in a lawsuit earlier this month against the federal agency to prevent it from arbitrarily changing its position so the states can continue to access the money that 'provides essential support' for students.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mississippi schools risk losing $137 million in federal funds
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Officials with the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) said the agency and school districts in the state collectively face a potential loss of $137,221,346 in federal funds. They said this is a result of the U.S. Department of Education's (ED) recent decision to rescind its previously approved liquidation deadline of March 31, 2026, for COVID relief funds. In Mississippi, MDE said those funds include American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) funds, ARP Homeless funds, and ARP Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools (EANS) funds. U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon sent a letter to state education agencies on Friday, March 28 to inform them of ED's decision to end the liquidation of funds. The letter said ED would consider an extension to the liquidation period on an individual, project-specific basis and invited states to explain how a project is necessary. Mississippi budget not passed, special session expected On April 2, 2025, MDE sent a letter to McMahon, as well as to Mississippi's congressional and state elected officials, explaining the detrimental impact this decision will have on Mississippi's students, educators and school communities. MDE and 66 school districts were previously approved by the ED for late liquidation of funds and have incurred millions in dollars of expenses that will not be reimbursed based on ED's recent actions. Officials said districts have contractual obligations that cannot simply be terminated without significant financial, educational, and legal consequences. Many of these projects are partially completed, with work occurring based on the timeline ED previously approved. MDE officials said they're working to recover the federal money and is offering guidance to districts directly impacted. That guidance includes pausing services and local construction projects underway. 'The MDE shares the same level of anxiety that districts are experiencing as a result of the ED's decision. We have requested the ED reinstate the March 31, 2026, liquidation deadline, and we believe it has a legal obligation to fulfill our request,' said Dr. Lance Evans, state superintendent of education. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Maryland faces $418M ‘catastrophic' loss in pandemic-era relief funds
State Superintendent Carey Wright, second from left, at a September news conference at the Maryland State Department of Education building. Board of Education President Joshua Michale, left, listens. (File photo by William J. Ford/Maryland Matters) The U.S. Department of Education told states Friday that it was canceling previous approvals to spend down remaining COVID-19 recovery funds, a change that could mean $418 million to the Maryland Department of Education. The change was announced in a letter from U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon that was dated Friday at 5 p.m., and said the decision to cancel the pandemic funding was effective — Friday at 5 p.m. 'Shock does not begin to describe our reaction when we received the notification late Friday evening,' Maryland State Superintendent Carey Wright said Monday. 'This jeopardizes over $400 million in funding.' Wright called the federal agency's decision 'catastrophic,' nothing that the money has already been spent or at least committed to the state's 24 school systems. She said the money is being used for tutoring, reading materials, after-school programming, even some construction projects such as repairs for heating and air conditioning units, among others. State officials said about $305.2 million has already been spent but not reimbursed by the federal department. Another $112.8 million is in 'encumbered' funds not paid out by the state, which means school systems must immediately stop any ongoing work on capital projects, or educational programs. 'It may be a tutoring program that's going on right now in schools that was intended to go through this school year, or it might be an improvement to a health room in a school,' said state Board of Education President Joshua Michael. 'There's going to be significant disruption.' $7 million payment to substitute among issues in Prince George's schools audit Officials said it remains unclear if the state would need to cover costs for ongoing programs, or if the local school systems may have to return any money already spent. 'The federal government is breaking the trust that it has once held strong with states across America,' Michael said. School officials said they are consulting with the Office of the Attorney General on the possibility of filing suit against the federal department. 'I think it's fair to say that we are exploring all legal options at this time given the severity of this action,' Michael said. He said the majority of the money comes from the American Rescue Plan's Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief, or ARP ESSER, program. The state last year requested and received approval for an extension on how it would draw down the ESSER funds it had left over. Wright said the state sought extensions because of supply chain issues and construction delays. The approval was given before a Jan. 28 deadline set by former President Joe Biden (D) before he left office that month. But in her letter Friday, McMahon dismissed the approvals by the previous administration. 'The extension approval was issued recently, so any reliance interests developed are minimal,' McMahon wrote. 'Moreover, an agency may reconsider its prior decision. So you could not rely on the Department adhering to its original decision. That is especially true because the extension was a matter of administrative grace.' She said that extending deadlines to allocate 'COVID-related grants … years after the COVID pandemic ended is not consistent with the Department's priorities and thus not a worthwhile exercise of its discretion.' But McMahon also wrote the department would reconsider funding for states if the could explain 'how a particular project's extension is necessary to mitigate the effects of COVID on American students' education, and why the Department should exercise its discretion to grant your request.' Wright said ending the program at 5 p.m. Friday and offering to consider appeals from states 'seemed to be contradictory,' but she said her department plans to send a letter to justify why money for Maryland is necessary. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE A U.S. department spokesperson said that specific projects would be assessed if funds are used directly to mitigate the effects of COVID-19. 'COVID is over. States and school districts can no longer claim they are spending their emergency pandemic funds on 'COVID relief' when there are numerous documented examples of misuse,' said Madi Biedermann in a statement Monday afternoon. 'The Biden Administration established an irresponsible precedent by extending the deadline for spending the COVID money far beyond the intended purpose of the funds, and it is past time for the money to be returned to the people's bank account,' Biedermann's statement said. In part because of the Education Department's decision, the Maryland Senate approved an amendment to a budget bill Monday that would require the governor's budget team to track federal cuts and, if they hit $1 billion, recommend state spending cuts to the General Assembly's Legislative Policy Committee. 'If we have a $1 billion problem from combined actions by the federal government, we would begin a process of review through our policy committee, and work with the governor to come up with solutions,' said Sen. Guy Guzzone (D-Howard), chair of the Budget and Taxation Committee. 'We have to be wide-eyed open about what could be happening because it is happening.' Sen. Chris West (R-Baltimore and Carroll) asked if any recommendations that may come from the policy committee would be for the legislature next year. 'Could very well be,' Guzzone said.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Buffalo Public Schools announces $73.5M deficit, plans for coverage
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Buffalo Public Schools (BPS) announced at a board meeting Wednesday night that it's in a $73.5 million deficit, but the school's chief financial officer said the approved budget called for a deficit and discussed plans to cover it. BPS' Chief Financial Officer Jim Barnes said the school originally planned for an $83 million deficit and cited a lack of concern since the school has over $400 million in reserves to use for coverage. Barnes also said BPS has had large surpluses for the past six years. 'We projected a deficit this year because of the board of the superintendents' decision not to lay off all the people that were funded through ARP ESSER [American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund] when that funding ended,' he said. 'We shifted those people to the general fund, that caused the deficit.' Layoffs are currently not expected, but Barnes said as a part of BPS' four-year plan, school closings for the 2026-27 school year are 'actions' that need to be taken. Aside from the deficit and plans for coverage, Barnes spoke about the school's capital plan, which involves infrastructure updates for lighting and lead abatement. Residents also gathered at the board meeting to express their concerns with BPS' decision to switch the bilingual center's response to intervention (RTI) period from Spanish to English. Response to intervention (RTI) is described as a multi-tiered system used to support students who are struggling academically or behaviorally. Some parents WIVB News 4 spoke to said the switch doesn't provide enough support to students who speak Spanish at home. Buffalo Public Schools said in a statement Wednesday that its Bilingual Center PS 33 will continue to use a 50/50 language allocation dual language model for 'core subject areas.' 'To assist them with becoming proficient English and Spanish readers, students receive Response to Intervention (RTI) for one period every day outside of their main studies,' BPS said. 'In accordance with the 50/50 language allocation, PS 33 students will receive RTI in English this semester after receiving RTI in Spanish last semester. In order to ensure that they have the resources necessary to assist all students and to support the 50/50 dual language model moving forward, the district is collaborating with school leadership.' The deficit and residents' concerns come as BPS Superintendent Dr. Tonja Williams-Knight is set to retire in June. The school board is hoping to name a new superintendent this month and will look both internally and externally to find Williams-Knight's replacement. Katie Skoog joined the News 4 team in April 2024. She is a graduate from the University at Buffalo. You can view more of her work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
