San Diego Schools Anticipate Release of $14 Million in Frozen Federal Funds
San Diego County schools are poised to receive approximately $14 million in federal funding that had been previously frozen by the Trump management. Officials have informed the California Department of Education that efforts are underway to expedite the release of these crucial funds.
This funding is designated for after-school and summer school programs, operating under the umbrella of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) grant program, also known as Title IV-B funds. The release comes as part of a larger picture where San Diego County has seen roughly $50 million in federal education funding held up as early July.
Richard Barrera, Vice President of the San Diego unified Board of Education, recently testified before a U.S. senate subcommittee on Education and the American Family. During his testimony, Barrera urged federal lawmakers to assist in the release of the remaining frozen funds nationwide, stating, “You can continue the bipartisan advocacy efforts to demand President Trump release $5.4 billion of illegally impounded funds for a budget you have already passed.”
Data from the San Diego County Office of Education indicates that over $36 million in funding for county schools remains frozen. Mike Murad, a media specialist for the San Diego Unified School District, the largest district in the county, confirmed that $3.3 million of the $12.8 million initially withheld has been unfrozen. However, he noted that $9.5 million is still being held by the federal government. Murad clarified that districts do not receive the cash upfront but are reimbursed as they spend the funds, a process contingent on receiving a Grant Award notification (GAN) from the state.
The San Diego Unified School District is awaiting confirmation on when these notifications will be issued. Simultaneously occurring, State superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced that California is pursuing legal action against Secretary McMahon and the Trump administration in federal court, seeking an injunction to compel the release of all allegedly unlawfully impounded funds.
