Withheld federal Title funds threaten district's before- and after-school programs and professional learning

Central School District 13J officials told the board they learned on June 30 that the U.S. Department of Education is withholding current allocations of Title II, Title III and Title IV funds from states while the department reviews the programs. The district said it may have until Sept. 30, 2025, to receive final allocations but that no Title II/III/IV dollars are available now for the 2025-26 school year.

District staff explained how those funds are used locally and the potential impacts if the funding does not arrive: Title II-A supports professional learning and time for staff collaboration; Title III-A funds services for multilingual learners; Title IV-A has supported middle- and high-school clubs, tutoring and expanded learning; and Title IV-B funds before- and after-school programs and family engagement. The district said the combined impact of the withheld funds totals "a little under $1 million," with before- and after-school programming alone representing roughly $450,000 of that amount.

As a consequence, staff said the district will not offer before- and after-school programming for 2025-26 unless allocations are restored; some tutoring and expanded-learning activities are at risk. District leaders reported they had budgeted conservatively and used carryover where possible, but they warned that gaps remain and that district leaders and board members are engaging federal representatives and preparing advocacy letters.

Board members discussed the programmatic risks and asked for more precise dollar figures when they are available. Staff said they will continue advocacy with federal offices and keep the board and public updated if allocations change before the school year begins. The district emphasized the hardship this causes for families in a community with limited childcare options and a high share of working parents.