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Owasso officials warn federal freeze on Title II, III and IV funds could cut about $500,000 from programs
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Margaret Coates told the board an unexplained federal funding freeze affecting Title II-A, Title III and Title IV-A could reduce the district's budget by roughly $500,000 and would curtail professional development, EL supports and counseling/STEM resources if it is not resolved.
Superintendent Dr. Margaret Coates told the Owasso board that a federal freeze affecting several federal education allocations — specifically Title II-A, Title III and Title IV-A — could cost the district about $500,000 if the funds are not released.
Why it matters: The district uses those federal funds for salary and benefits for subject-area coordinators and instructional staff, substitutes to allow teacher collaboration, on-site coaching and professional development (Title II-A); English learner paraprofessional salaries, EL materials and EL professional development (Title III); and counseling curriculum, STEM and coding curriculum, trauma training, student safety training and educational technology (Title IV-A). Coates said the district was allocated approximately $332,000 for Title II-A, about $63,000 for Title III and roughly $113,000 for Title IV-A in the last year.
Coates said the freeze is administrative and the district has not received a timeline for when funds will be released. "If they do not come forward and provide this funding that's already been allocated ... then it could mean a $500,000 reduction for the district," she said. The superintendent said she plans to notify the district's U.S. congressional delegation and both U.S. senators about the local impact.
Discussion only: Board members asked questions; staff provided charts placed at members' seats to show allocations and program uses. No formal board directive or vote regarding the freeze was recorded at the meeting.
What the district uses the funds for: Coates described Title II-A spending as supporting professional development and stipends that reduce instructional disruption; Title III funds for EL paraprofessionals and curriculum; and Title IV-A funds for counseling and STEM curriculum, trauma training and other student supports. The district will continue to monitor the situation and update the board if the funding status changes.
