Federal Cuts Affect School Grants in Multiple States

The U.S. Department of Education has abruptly terminated the extension of federal COVID-19 relief funds, affecting school districts across the country, including Illinois and Massachusetts. This decision, announced last Friday at 5:03 p.m., cuts $106 million from Massachusetts' K-12 education grants, impacting projects addressing pandemic-related learning loss, mental health services, and school infrastructure improvements. In Illinois, 27 districts face similar funding setbacks, with programs for homeless students, English learners, and after-school tutoring at risk. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey and other state officials have condemned the move as illegal, emphasizing that previous assurances allowed spending until March 2026, now reduced to March 2025. The funds, part of the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act, were intended to aid pandemic recovery but are now causing financial strains and potential cessation of ongoing projects. State leaders are exploring options to mitigate the impacts of this federal decision.