The Trump administration’s recent move to withhold a projected $6.9 billion nationwide in education funds, including at least $811 million from California, puts at risk essential programs for vulnerable students, a Los Angeles County schools official said Tuesday.
“This abrupt action, without prior warning or consultation, puts at risk essential programs that support our most vulnerable students: English learners, migrant families, adult learners and after-school programs that keep kids safe and engaged,” Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Debra Duardo said in a statement.
“These are not optional supports; they are the very backbone of equitable education in our communities,” she said. “These funds were enacted by Congress and signed into law by the President earlier this year. Districts and county offices across California, including here in Los Angeles County, built their budgets with the reasonable expectation that these dollars would be delivered, as they have been every year.”
The Trump administration said Tuesday that no final decision had been made on the release of the funds, and pointed to instances where some of the money had been used in ways contrary to its policies. All of the withheld funds are from programs President Donald Trump has indicated his administration wants to slash or eliminate.
“At this time, we are still working to calculate the full impact of this decision on Los Angeles County’s schools and programs,” Duardo said. “Cuts to these programs will impact our ability to provide the specialized support these students need and deserve, potentially widening existing achievement gaps and hindering their educational progress.
“I want to assure our school leaders, families, and partners that we are exploring every possible step to mitigate the immediate impacts.”