News Briefs | FYI
August 4, 2025
Withheld federal grants to be released to states
Following pressure from education advocates and state officials from both parties, the Trump administration said it would release nearly $7 billion in federal education funding that was withheld from states for weeks.
The funds — which support migrant education, English language acquisition, the use of technology in the classroom, academic enrichment, professional development, adult education and more — were appropriated by Congress and scheduled to be released on July 1, as is done annually. However this year, state agencies across the country received a notification on June 30 announcing that the Department of Education would not be obligating funds for six formula funding programs on July 1.
In California, an estimated $939 million in federal education funding was frozen. California Attorney General Rob Bonta joined several states in filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration to release the funding.
On July 3, the ACSA-CSBA Federal Partnership sent a letter to Sen. Alex Padilla detailing the impact the withheld funds were having on California. Examples included a county office of education that faced losing 20 positions in its Migrant Education Department and a school with 40 percent English learners students that would have to eliminate bilingual aides that provide direct daily support to students.
On July 25, the U.S. Department of Education said it would release the funds. The department has also released funding for before- and after-school programs, with a caveat that states must certify compliance with federal civil rights laws.
FYI
ACSA co-hosts webinar on declining enrollment
Join the Learning Policy Institute and Bellwether for a webinar featuring policy experts and practitioners who will discuss system-level strategies for districts facing declining enrollment in California. “Redesigning Schools in an Era of Declining Enrollment: District Strategies” will be from 12-1 p.m. Aug. 13. Co-sponsored by ACSA and the California School Boards Association, the webinar will draw from resources developed by LPI and Bellwether and share research-based approaches that can transform educational opportunities. Register at learningpolicyinstitute.org/event/webinar-declining-enrollment-district-strategies.
ACSA announces keynote speakers for Summit
The Leadership Summit Planning Committee has announced three dynamic and inspirational speakers for the 2025 ACSA Leadership Summit, which will be held Nov. 6-8 in San Francisco. An award-winning mentor, inventor, author and former engineering professor, Dr. Calvin Mackie is a lifelong resident of New Orleans who founded STEM NOLA to expose, inspire and engage communities in learning STEM. Dr. Gholdy Muhammad is a professor of Literacy, Language, and Culture at the University of Illinois at Chicago and the author of “Cultivating Genius” and its sequel, “Unearthing Joy,” which present an equity framework for culturally and historically responsive learning. Dr. Victor Rios is a former gang member turned college professor who now partners with school districts to address the school-to-prison pipeline and promote prosperity, well-being and achievement for at-promise students. Register at bit.ly/LeadershipSummit_2025. Early bird pricing ends Aug. 30.