LANCASTER — Thousands of Antelope Valley students and millions more across the state and nation could be severely impacted after the Trump administration froze nearly $7 billion in education funds nationwide set to be delivered Tuesday, including at least $811 million from California for at-risk essential programs that support the most vulnerable students.
Lancaster School District Superintendent Paul Marietti said the district stands to lose about $11.5 million in Title money if the administration cuts federal funding to the state.
“That is not a number you can just adjust for,” Marietti wrote in an email. “It would have an immediate and severe impact on the programs we provide our students.”
He added, “Our priorities would be to continue providing high level teaching and learning in our classrooms, and making sure our employees’ jobs are safe.”
The administration said Tuesday that no final decision had been made on the release of the funds, and pointed to instances where some of the money had allegedly been used in ways contrary to its policies. All of the withheld funds are from programs President Donald Trump has indicated his administration wants to slash or eliminate.
Antelope Valley Union High School District has nearly $3 million being withheld by the US Department of Education, according to the district.
That includes about $1.09 million for Title II-A, also known as Supporting Effective Instruction, which is used to provide supplemental activities to strengthen the quality and effectiveness of teachers, principals and other school leaders, ultimately aiming to increase student achievement, according to the state Department of Education.
Also frozen was $914,172 in Title II-A funding, which is used to provide supplementary academic support and educational services to English learner students.
The $303,045 in frozen Title IV-A funds are to be used to improve conditions for student learning, and improve use of technology to improve the academic achievement and digital literacy of all students, according to the state Department of Education.
The district also has $634,643 in adult education funding frozen.
Eastside Union School District officials said they are in the process of realigning funding to cover potential cuts.
“Although we do not know the full impact as of yet, we are preparing so that we can be ready to support our students,” Superintendent Jezelle Fullwood said in a statement.
Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools Debra Duardo on Tuesday called the funding freeze “sudden and unprecedented.”
“This abrupt action, without prior warning or consultation, puts at risk essential programs that support our most vulnerable students: English learners, migrant families, adult learners and after-school programs that keep kids safe and engaged,” Duardo said in a statement. “These are not optional supports; they are the very backbone of equitable education in our communities. These funds were enacted by Congress and signed into law by the President earlier this year. Districts and county offices across California, including here in Los Angeles County, built their budgets with the reasonable expectation that these dollars would be delivered, as they have been every year.”
County education officials are still working to calculate the full impact of this decision on Los Angeles County’s schools and programs, Duardo’s statement continued.
“Cuts to these programs will impact our ability to provide the specialized support these students need and deserve, potentially widening existing achievement gaps and hindering their educational progress,” she said.
The California Department of Education estimated the loss to the state as closer to $1 billion.
“The President is completely disregarding the democratic process by impounding dollars already budgeted, rather than trying to make his case for cuts to elected representatives sent to Congress by the American people to make these decisions,” state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond said in a statement.
“In the notification we received, the Trump Administration provides no legal justification for withholding these dollars from our students. The Administration is punishing children for the sole reason that states refuse to cater to Trump’s political ideology,” said Superintendent Thurmond. “The Administration is withholding funds that employ vital school staff who provide critical resources and supports for learning for all students. Every child will feel the impact of this disruption delivered shortly before the start of the school year, when our students, educators, and families should be anticipating the year ahead and making plans to support our children’s learning and growth.”
City News Service contributed to this report.