RALEIGH — The U.S. Department of Education has released the remainder of the funds that had been withheld for review to the states.
On July 14, N.C. Attorney General Jeff Jackson joined a 25-state coalition lawsuit over the U.S. Department of Education’s freezing of $6.8 billion pending a review of five specific grant programs in the Every Student Succeeds Act. Of that total, $168.7 million was due to North Carolina schools.
A week later, on July 21, a block of $1.3 billion in funding was unfrozen, of which $35.7 million went to North Carolina for 21st Century Community Learning Centers funding. That left a balance due to the state of around $130 million.
On July 25, the Department of Education unfroze the remaining $5.5 billion.
“This ends weeks of uncertainty. Our schools can now plan and hire for a strong year ahead,” said Jackson in a post on X. “My absolute best wishes to NC’s 1.5m students who are ready to make this their best year yet.”
“It is good to see that the federal government is honoring its commitment to release $130 million in approved federal funds to North Carolina students, educators and schools next week,” North Carolina Superintendent Mo Green said in a separate statement, which thanked Jackson for his efforts.
“I hope this resolution marks a return to the predictable, reliable federal partnership that our schools need to serve students effectively,” Green said.
