California Schools Receive Nearly $1 Billion Federal Education Funds After Freeze

California will receive nearly $1 billion in federal education funds that were previously withheld by the Trump administration, which had frozen payments to 24 states including California over concerns that some programs promoted a "left wing" agenda. State Superintendent Tony Thurmond condemned the withholding of funds as illegal and harmful to vulnerable students, emphasizing that the delay created unacceptable uncertainty for schools. The funds will support critical programs for English learners, migrant students, adult education, and community learning centers, and the California Department of Education is moving quickly to distribute the money to local districts. The release of funds follows growing outrage and bipartisan pressure, including from some Republican senators, urging the administration to restore the funding. Local districts such as Pasadena Unified and San Diego Unified had been anticipating millions in lost funding for programs supporting immigrant students, professional development, and after-school initiatives. California officials vow to continue working with Congress to secure future federal education funding and prevent similar disruptions.