Alabama U.S. Sen. Katie Britt is among 10 Senate Republicans urging the Office of Management and Budget to release $6.9 billion in federal education funding currently under review, saying not doing so will “harm students, families and local economies.”
In a letter addressed to OMB Director Russell Vought, the senators asked the agency to “faithfully implement” the continuing resolution Congress passed in March and unfreeze the funds.
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In Alabama, at least $68 million in federal education funding has been withheld from K-12 schools, Alabama Daily News previously reported.
“The decision to withhold this funding is contrary to President Trump’s goal of returning K-12 education to the states,” the letter stated. “This funding goes directly to states and local school districts, where local leaders decide how this funding is spent, because as we know, local communities know how to best serve students and families. Withholding this funding denies states and communities the opportunity to pursue localized initiatives to support students and their families.”
State Superintendent Eric Mackey told Alabama Daily News that he supports the senators’ position.
“I am in complete agreement with this letter and the signers,” he told Alabama Daily News. “As I have said before, a discussion about future funding is a matter for Congress to weigh. But funding that Congress has already approved should flow as authorized and intended.”
A letter demanding OMB release the frozen funds was signed by 150 House Democrats last Thursday. U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell was the only member of Alabama’s House delegation to sign it.
K-12 school district officials expected the funding to be available July 1. But an email on June 30 from the U.S. Office of Elementary and Secondary Education told Alabama officials the funds would remain unavailable pending a review. The message, which was not signed and did not provide a detailed explanation, was reviewed by Alabama Daily News.
Funding freeze impact
The funding freeze affects multiple K-12 federal education programs — primarily those supporting teacher salaries, English language learners, professional development and afterschool and summer learning.
Alabama’s funding is for multiple efforts:
- $2.9 million in Title I-C funds for support services for migrant students,
- $5.7 million in Title III-A funds for support services for English learners,
- $16.3 million in Title IV-B funds for summer and afterschool programs,
- $48 million in Title II-A for teacher salaries and training, including efforts to reduce class sizes
According to news reports, Mackey said the Title II-A funds support more than 200 teaching positions statewide. While no immediate layoffs are expected, he said school officials may have to consider staffing changes if the funds remain unavailable.
The funding freeze also affects higher education, with $10.1 million in adult education funding withheld from Alabama’s community colleges.
The senators’ letter acknowledged Vought’s concerns about funding supporting “radical left-wing programs,” but argued the frozen funds do not support those initiatives.
“These funds go to support programs that enjoy longstanding, bipartisan support like after-school and summer programs that provide learning and enrichment opportunities for school aged children which also enables their parents to work and contribute to local economies.”
The full letter can be seen here.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Trisha Powell Crain and originally published by Alabama Daily News.
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