Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Building in the photo on November 25, 2024 (photo Shaneen Miranda/States newsroom)
Washington- Administration of President Donald Trump confirmed on Friday that they are spending funds that support programs before and after school, as well as summer programs, some $ 6.8 billion in deducted funds In the case of K-12 schools, which were to be sent two weeks ago.
The administration stood in the face of bilateral objection to the decision to freeze billions of dollars It is also intended for migration education, learning in English, adult education and reading and writing programs. These other funds apparently remained in a deadline on Friday, and the Democrats, the key Republican equivalent and school leaders, also called them to be released.
According to Democrats, a total of $ 1.3 billion will be exempt in the Senate Senate Committee in the Senate and are allocated to the initiative Learning Centers Community 21st Century.
. Education Department The program says “supports the creation of community learning centers that ensure the possibilities of enriching academic enrichment at non -school hours for children, especially students attending schools with high poverty and low levels.”
A senior administrative official said that the program for the Community Learning Center of the 21st century stated that the funds “would be released to the States”.
“Handrails were introduced to ensure that the funds are not used in violation of executive orders,” added the official.
Pressure from the Senators of GOP
Announcement He came later 10 Republican Senators sent a letter to the Management Director and Budget Director Russ Vightion on July 16, calling him to release funds $ 6.8 billion per state.
Western Virginia Gop Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, who hosted the letter, said in statement Friday, that “the centers of learning the 21st century community offer important services, which included many Western Virginians.”
“This program supports you in providing students with high -quality learning and summer learning programs, while enabling parents to work and contribute to local economies,” said Capito, who is chaired by the Senate Senate under the subcommittee for work, health and social care, education and related agencies.
Dream. Susan Collins from Maine, which runs a wider panel of Senate funds, also signed a letter from July 16 with: Sens. Katie Britt from Alabama, Lisa Murkowski from Alaska, John Boozman from Arkansas, Mitch McConnell from Kentucky, Deb Fischer from Nebrask, John Hoeven from North Dakota, Mike from the southern guard and Jim from West Virginia.
While Collins said in a Friday statement that she was elated that she and her colleagues could cooperate to “effectively call for the administration to release these funds”, she noticed that “there are more funds that should still be paid.”
“I will continue to work to ensure quick delivery so that teachers can prepare for the upcoming academic year, and Maine students and families have resources they need to succeed,” she said.
Notification on July 1
The Education Department informed the United States of freezing only a day before July 1, when these funds are usually sent as educators for the school year, saying that the funds were viewed.
Lots of Congress Democrats and one independent have spoiled the freezing of financing.
Thirty -two senators AND 150 home democrats It was called that educational secretary Linda McMahon in two letters of July 10, to immediately release funds that they think are “illegally”.
The coalition of 24 states and the Colombia district also sued the administration for suspended funds.
The rest of the school money
Senator Patty Murray from the state of Washington, the highest democrat in the Senate’s expenditure panel, called on Trump’s administration to dismiss the rest of the frozen funds.
“After the conversation – and after weeks of unnecessary chaos – Trump’s administration is now spending funds on programs after school, while blocking billions more financing for our students, teachers and schools,” Murray said on Friday.
“Every penny of this fund must flow immediately,” she said. “Regardless of whether parents know the program after the school they depend, it should not depend on whether the Republicans pushes away on Trump’s lawlessness – he should simply bring out funds, just as the law requires him. I will continue to push until every dollar leaves.”
David Schuler, executive director of Aasa, School Superintendents Association, expressed similar fears in a statement on Friday.
“Although we are glad that key dollars go to school programs that are necessary for students throughout the country, the most important thing is that districts should not be in this impossible position in which the administration refuses funds that have already been allocated to our public schools by Congress,” said Schuler, whose organization helps to have access to high quality public education.
“Other funds must be released immediately – America’s children are counting on it.”
