U.S. Dept. of Education releases $6B in funds to states that had been frozen

Approximately $6 billion in previously paused federal K-12 education funds will now be released, the U.S. Department of Education said in a letter to states on July 25.

The funds, which were previously approved by Congress, had been held up for review to ensure alignment with President Trump’s priorities. The department issued a notice to grantees announcing the funding pause on June 30, just a day before the funds were expected to be available to states and local schools across the country.

The federal action held up $108 million destined for Massachusetts districts.

Dispersal of the funds is expected to begin in the next week and continue through the end of the calendar year, according to the Education Department.

The funds in question support summer and afterschool activities, teacher training programs, migrant student education, behavioral and mental health supports, chronic absenteeism programs, classroom supplies, and more.

The Healey-Driscoll administration had condemned the funding pause, and Massachusetts joined 23 other states and the District of Columbia to file suit against the Trump administration for the freeze, arguing that the funds in question had already received Congressional approval.