$118 million withheld from Arizona’s schools by U.S. Department of Education

PHOENIX — The U.S. Department of Education has withheld an estimated $118 million in funding that was supposed to go to Arizona schools on July 1.

According to the Learning Policy Institute, the withheld money makes up 11.9% of Arizona’s educational federal funding.

The funding would have supported student success programs, migrant education, English language grants and other services.

U.S. Democratic Rep. Greg Stanton of Arizona condemned the Trump administration for freezing the funding.

“On the same day Republicans passed a bill to cut food assistance for needy kids, Trump’s department of education is defunding Arizona’s public schools and the students they serve,” Stanton said in a Tuesday announcement. “That should tell you all you need to know about this administration’s priorities.”

He urged the administration to reverse course.

“Trump needs to listen to parents and educators and restore this funding immediately,” Stanton said.

What’s the reason for the pause in educational federal funding?

The Arizona Department of Education said the funds are being “paused” to give the U.S. Department of Education more time to review federal awards.

As a result, Arizona can’t access the money until both the U.S. Department of Education and the federal Office of Management and Budget finalize the funding amounts for each state.

Beth Lewis with Save Our Schools Arizona says this seems political.

“It says that the department is committed to ensuring taxpayer resources are spent in accordance with the president’s priorities, so that certainly indicates that funding for migrant education, English learners services and before and after school programs might not be in accordance with the president’s priorities,” Lewis told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Tuesday.

While the overall $6.2 billion withheld will have severe impacts nationwide, the need is especially urgent in Arizona, she added.

“The biggest issue for Arizona, especially where I am in the East Valley, we’re starting school in two weeks,” Lewis said. “That funding is needed now.”

Funding for this journalism is made possible by the Arizona Local News Foundation.

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