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$3 billion yanked from schools to help pay for Trump's tax cuts -- Popular Information
https://popular.info/p/3-billion-yanked-from-schools-toRebecca Crosby and Noel Sims
At the end of March, Secretary of Education Linda McMahon sent a letter to state school officials across the country declaring that the federal government was abruptly ending pandemic-related relief funding a year early. Without the already-approved funding, many schools will not have the money for literacy and tutoring programs, or to update or repair school buildings.
Many states and school districts received “liquidation extensions” from the Biden administration that allowed them to continue to use the money on approved projects through next spring. But on March 28, McMahon decided that the Biden administration’s extension “was not justified.” McMahon’s letter “amend[ed] the period of liquidation to end on March 28, 2025, at 5:00pm ET,” the same day the letter was sent, giving states and school districts no time to make any adjustments.
In the letter, McMahon wrote that “[e]xtending deadlines for COVID-related grants, which are in fact taxpayer funds, years after the COVID pandemic ended is not consistent with the Department’s priorities and thus not a worthwhile exercise of its discretion.” The letter includes an option for extension “on an individual project-specific basis.” But to apply for an extension, states must prove “how a particular project’s extension is necessary to mitigate the effects of COVID on American students’ education” and explain "why the Department should exercise its discretion to grant your request."
According to The 74, McMahon’s decision puts states at risk of “losing close to $3 billion in remaining COVID relief funds.” Some states, including Texas and Pennsylvania, could lose “over $200 million in unspent funds.”
. . .
Many states and school districts received “liquidation extensions” from the Biden administration that allowed them to continue to use the money on approved projects through next spring. But on March 28, McMahon decided that the Biden administration’s extension “was not justified.” McMahon’s letter “amend[ed] the period of liquidation to end on March 28, 2025, at 5:00pm ET,” the same day the letter was sent, giving states and school districts no time to make any adjustments.
In the letter, McMahon wrote that “[e]xtending deadlines for COVID-related grants, which are in fact taxpayer funds, years after the COVID pandemic ended is not consistent with the Department’s priorities and thus not a worthwhile exercise of its discretion.” The letter includes an option for extension “on an individual project-specific basis.” But to apply for an extension, states must prove “how a particular project’s extension is necessary to mitigate the effects of COVID on American students’ education” and explain "why the Department should exercise its discretion to grant your request."
According to The 74, McMahon’s decision puts states at risk of “losing close to $3 billion in remaining COVID relief funds.” Some states, including Texas and Pennsylvania, could lose “over $200 million in unspent funds.”
. . .