WA school officials exhale as Trump un-freezes billions in education funding

The Trump administration announced Friday it will release billions of dollars of education funding to states it froze July 1. If the funding had been eliminated, Washington state schools stood to lose $137 million.

The grants involved are meant for teacher training and for disadvantaged students, including those from immigrant and migrant farmworker families.

In Seattle, School Board Member Liza Rankin said the funding went to 18 key staff positions, including family support workers and staff who help students at risk of dropping out.

Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal said the funding thaw is a relief.

“I've talked to a lot of my colleagues, and this particular thing wasn't partisan at all. So it's good news,” Reykdal said.

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Although districts will receive the funding this coming school year, it is threatened long-term, Reykdal said, and could be cut from the next federal budget.

The Trump administration had said it needed to review how states were spending the grants, including on students without legal immigration status.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle protested the freeze as putting a strain on schools and forcing layoffs.

In a letter to states today, the U.S. Department of Education said it had concluded its review and that the funds will be released next week.

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