The U.S. Department of Education is reviewing multiple federal grants that would have been released on Tuesday, delaying the release of funds until the review can be completed and halting grants intended for programs such as “migrant education.”
The Maine DOE (MDOE) issued a priority notice for schools across the state on Saturday, warning that some funding that was expected to be released at the start of this month will remain on hold as it is reviewed by the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
According to the MDOE, the review will impact grants allocated under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Specifically, the OMB is reviewing grants related to “migrant education,” professional development for teachers, English for non-native speakers, and “21st Century Community Learning Centers.”
The community learning centers host a variety of after-school activities.
The MDOE warned that the grants could be under review until late September, and no funds will be released under those grants until the conclusion of the review.
According to NPR, the nationwide review effectively freezes over $6 billion in education funding. The largest portion of that funding, approximately $2.2 billion, was earmarked for professional development.
The funding freeze came just one day after Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey signed onto a lawsuit against the Trump Administration for cutting DOE mental health funding, because that grant included a provision for hiring based on “diversity” rather than merit.
