California public education leaders are speaking out against the federal government’s unlawful withholding of more than $800 million in federal grant funds that support some of the most vulnerable student populations in the state.

On July 1, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond hosted a press conference where leaders shared their concern about the U.S. Department of Education’s decision to withhold the funds, which were already authorized by Congress. Representatives from the California School Boards Association, SEIU Local 99, California Federation of Teachers, California Association of School Business Officials and California County Superintendents answered questions from reporters about how schools would be affected.

Local educational agencies have already built more than $800 million in anticipated federal funding into their district and county budgets.

“The most problematic part of this is that these are decisions that have already been made. These funds are determined to go to schools,” said ACSA Executive Director Edgar Zazueta, during the press conference. “If you’re any part of the system, how are you supposed to have any certainty that you’ll have the resources you’re supposed to have for our students?”

ACSA is working closely with its partners in the governor’s office, the Attorney General’s Office, the CDE and other educational organizations as well as with legal counsel to explore and coordinate on all available options to reverse the decision.