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Clover Park School District warns federal Title II–IV uncertainty could force staff cuts
Summary
Superintendent told the Clover Park School District board that $1,035,901 in federal Title II, III and IV funds used for programs and staffing may be at risk under the federal FY2026 budget, and the district will begin notifying potentially impacted employees immediately.
Superintendent told the Clover Park School District board of directors on Aug. 11 that uncertainty in the federal fiscal year 2026 budget could lead to cuts to positions funded by federal categorical grants.
The superintendent said the district received $1,035,901 from federal Title II, III and IV programs for the 2025 school year and that those dollars — which support teacher development, multilingual services and student enrichment — are vulnerable to changes at the national level. "We simply do not know if these categorical funds will continue at current levels, be reduced, or be eliminated altogether," the superintendent said.
The superintendent provided a line-item breakdown: Title II funding of $463,915 (reported as not used for staffing), Title III at $241,460 with $132,374 in staffing, and Title IV at $330,526 with $239,611 in staffing. The superintendent said the U.S. Department of Education briefly withheld distribution of these funds earlier this year before releasing them, an episode that underscored the volatility of the revenue stream.
Because of that volatility, the superintendent said the district will plan for worst-case scenarios and begin conversations with staff who hold positions funded by these federal dollars. "The district will immediately beginning tomorrow begin communicating with people in positions impacted for the 20 sixth, 20 seventh school year," the superintendent said, adding that district leadership will meet to forecast program and staffing changes and identify trade-offs if funding is reduced.
The superintendent also said the Puget Sound Educational Service District notified the district that it will have 41 fewer early learning slots than the previous year — a change tied to state and federal funding flows — and that the district is monitoring potential impacts to the Head Start program. "We do not know what those impacts will be at this time," the superintendent said.
Board members did not take formal action on the matter at the Aug. 11 meeting; the board recessed to an executive session later to discuss bargaining. The superintendent said the district will share updates in board briefs and with appropriate stakeholders as more information becomes available.
Details the district provided on Aug. 11 will inform budget planning for the 2026–27 school year and potential recommendations to the board if cuts become necessary.
