Education department Faces Shutdown Impacts, But Core funding Protected
WASHINGTON (AP) – A potential government shutdown would trigger disruptions at teh Department of Education, halting civil rights investigations and delaying aid to school districts reliant on federal land revenue, though core funding streams for schools with high poverty rates and students with disabilities would continue.
The shutdown’s impact will be uneven. Title I funding, which supports schools with large numbers of students from low-income families, and funding under the individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) are expected to remain uninterrupted. However,other programs face delays. Impact Aid, which provides financial assistance to school districts impacted by federal activities like military bases and federal land management, will likely see payment disruptions. Over 1,200 districts across all 50 states receive Impact Aid.
the Department has indicated it will revise its contingency plan if the shutdown extends beyond one week to mitigate further disruptions to school districts.
A notable consequence of the shutdown will be the suspension of the Department’s civil rights investigations into allegations of discrimination at schools and universities. The office responsible for these investigations has already been operating with a reduced staff as layoffs in March, having lost roughly half its personnel. This staffing reduction previously raised concerns about the office’s ability to address a growing backlog of complaints alleging discrimination based on race, sex, or disability.
Department data already shows a decline in the resolution of civil rights cases alongside an increase in new complaints from families. work on all pending cases will cease during the shutdown.
AP Education Writer collin Binkley contributed to this report.
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