Pennsylvania Department of Education cancels five federal grants impacting local school funding

The Finance Committee meeting held on July 10, 2025, focused on a significant update regarding federal funding for education in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) announced that five Title program grants, expected to be awarded on July 1, 2025, will not be granted due to a review process by the U.S. Department of Education.

During the meeting, it was highlighted that the removal of these grants from the PDE system caused confusion among staff members who were actively working on the applications. Nicole Crawford and Cheryl Romanich from the business office experienced this firsthand when they found that their efforts to finalize the budget for the grants were in vain, as the programs had been unexpectedly removed.

The committee discussed the implications of this funding loss, particularly for three Title programs that had been anticipated and budgeted for. Title II-A, which supports effective instruction, was expected to provide $154,459 to fund 70% of one teacher's salary and benefits. This funding was crucial for hiring additional teachers to enhance instructional effectiveness.

Additionally, Title III-A, aimed at English language acquisition for students learning English as a second language, was projected to receive $63,499 to support a part-time instructional aide. Title IV-A, which focuses on student support and academic enrichment, was also anticipated to provide $25,495 for another part-time instructional aide.

The committee noted that other programs, such as Title I-C for migrant education and Title IV-B for 21st Century Learning Centers, were not awarded funding, although the district has not previously received support from these programs. However, the Title I-A program, which improves basic educational programs, remains unaffected and will continue to fund 15 part-time instructional aides in Title I schools for the upcoming school year.

The meeting underscored the challenges faced by educational institutions in securing federal funding and the potential impact on staffing and program availability. The committee expressed appreciation for the updates and the efforts made by staff in navigating these funding changes.