Schools in NC scramble amid federal funding freeze; 24 states, including NC, file lawsuit
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson and his counterparts in 24 other states sued on Monday to prevent the federal government from cutting funds for education.
"This is a lot of money," Jackson said.
North Carolina's schools stand to lose more than $165 million in public education funding that has already been approved by Congress, and nearly 1,000 educators across the state could lose their jobs. The cuts make up nearly 10% of all of the state's federal educational funding.
READ MORE: Full lawsuit here (.pdf)
"Public schools across North Carolina, especially in rural areas, need this money to keep teachers in the classroom and keep kids safe while they learn," Jackson said. "It's unlawful and unconstitutional for the Department of Education to withhold money that Congress has appropriated. I'm going to court to get this money for our students, our schools, and North Carolina families."
School districts across the country and here in North Carolina are scrambling to figure out how to replace those federal dollars.
"If these cuts go through, we estimate roughly 1,000 educators in North Carolina will be laid off. Roughly 100 of them would be here in Wake County," Jackson said. "We can't allow that to happen. We already have a teacher shortage. We can't let it be worse."
Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Education withheld more than $6 billion intended for after-school and summer programs, English language instruction, adult literacy and more, saying it will review grants to ensure they align with President Donald Trump's priorities. The money was supposed to go out July 1.
The Office of Management and Budget said an initial review showed some schools used some of the money to support immigrants who are in the country illegally or promote LGBTQ+ inclusion. The administration said it hadn't made any final decisions about whether to withhold or release individual grants.
"Many of these grant programs have been grossly misused to subsidize a radical leftwing agenda," the agency said in a statement.
In Wake County, the school district is out $8.1 million - money budgeted for staffing programs such as English as a second language and after-school programs.
"While the NC Department of Public Instruction respects the federal administration's right to review programs, I must emphasize that our legal obligations to serve these students remain unchanged, and the timing creates significant and unnecessary challenges for schools, community organizations, and most importantly, the children who depend on these services," said North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Mo Green. "I support efforts, including this nationwide lawsuit, to resolve this situation quickly and ensure that North Carolina students receive the support they need and deserve, and that our federal government agreed to provide them."
Here in the Triangle, ABC11 learned more Monday about how the recent funding freeze - as well as the Supreme Court ruling Monday authorizing further cuts at the Department of Education - may affect students, educators and school districts. Local school board chairs said at this point, its not entirely clear which programs could be affected, but that they're closely monitoring the situation.
"So we hope the money is released, but it could mean changes for the school year," said Bettina Umstead, DPS Board Chair.
Umstead said the potential loss of millions in federal funding for before- and after-school programs, professional development training for educators, and non-native English speaking students may mean some difficult decisions need to be made.
"I think as a district, our job is to figure out how we find those resources in other places. But I am concerned about what it means for students and their success moving forward," Umstead told ABC11.
According to the Department of Public Instruction, the $165 million earmarked for North Carolina schools that was frozen includes the roughly $8.1 million for the Wake County Public School System and roughly $3 million for Durham Public Schools.
It also presents acute challenges for rural school districts.
"The impact will be bigger in Wake County because we have 160,000 students. But at the same time, a large organization can absorb a little bit more than a small county with, you know, a dozen schools and a much smaller employee base. Losing a few teaching positions could be crippling," said Keith Poston, President of the nonprofit WakeEd Partnership.
Poston said the funding cuts, as well as the Supreme Court decision Monday, could disproportionately impact Wake County's most at-need students.
"There's only a certain amount of the budget, and the cracks are going to start showing and ultimately, the students are going to suffer," Poston said.
The funding freeze could also impact North Carolina educators, who could lose federal support for professional development training, including training that they need to maintain their certification.
"Educators are required to get additional professional development to keep this ratification. If that goes away, then they may not have the training, the professional development that they need," said Nicole Price, Associate Executive Director of the NCAE
Price called the uncertainty that school districts and their employees are facing a frustrating situation.
"I know school districts are now trying to grapple with these decisions and make real-time decisions under a lot of pressure without any sense of whether or not the funds will come when the decisions will be made, and without a state budget," Price said.
Green offered a message to parents.
"What I would tell parents is hang in there with us as we make those adjustments... but recognize that this is too significant for us to suggest that there won't be any impact at all at the local if we don't get the funds," Green said.
Advocates warned that even if the funding eventually comes through, it may be too late to hire staff before all classes resume next month.
"It becomes a ripple effect, we deal with things like reading programs and career programs, school supplies," Poston said. "All those things get stretched and pressured when there's other cuts across the way."
SEE ALSO: School officials voice concerns as US Department of Education remains in limbo
Jackson also criticized state lawmakers' attempts to block his efforts to sue the federal government over mandates.
"I think this is going to be hugely bipartisan. I don't think statewide just leaders are, especially when they're wrestling over, trying to do more for teachers, are going to appreciate the prospect of having to lay off 1,000 educators across the state," Jackson said. "This would be a shock to the system. And the system is already very fragile. That's why we can't let it happen."
The Associated Press contributed.
