Federal Education Funds Released After Month-Long Freeze

The U.S. Department of Education has announced the release of more than $6 billion in federal education funds that had been frozen by the Trump administration pending a review. The freeze affected multiple states, including Alabama, Arizona, New York, and North Carolina, and the funds are critical for programs supporting English language learners, teacher professional development, and afterschool and summer initiatives. While some funding for after-school and summer programming began to be released last week, full disbursement is expected in the coming days, with some districts still waiting for the money. Local officials and educators expressed relief, noting the withheld funds comprised a significant portion of their budgets and warning that prolonged delays could have led to program cuts. The freeze and subsequent release drew both praise and criticism from lawmakers, while advocates called for consistency and transparency in federal education funding. Despite the announcement, uncertainty remains for some districts as they await the arrival of funds.