District says Adult Learning Center payments withheld pending federal review; district seeks resolution

Chickasha district officials told the board they received a notice in late June that federal funding for the Adult Learning Center would be withheld pending further federal review. The district was told to halt expenditures dated July 1 onward until the hold is lifted, staff said. The district said carryover funds from the prior year had been reported to CareerTech, and the district had already received FY26 allocation notices. Staff said CareerTech and the state office have been working with the district to identify ways to continue services; the district will operate the center through the remainder of the month while staff assess how many learners still need services in August. District staff told the board the federal hold can legally last 45 days, and staff gave an illustrative calendar date in mid-August. CareerTech staff told the district the hold related to potential services offered to migrants or immigrants; district staff said they do not have full national counts but were told other states were affected. The board was urged that, if the hold remains, the district would have limited options because the federal program is the primary funding source for those services. Staff said they are following state guidance and continuing to work with the CareerTech state office and other partners; board members asked staff to keep them informed and suggested involving elected officials if the hold is not resolved quickly.