Jackson, along with attorneys general and governors from 24 other states nationwide, sued in federal court to challenge a move by the executive branch to withhold $6.8 billion in congressionally approved federal funding for K-12 schools.
The suit, which was filed in the U.S. District Court of Rhode Island, argued that the decision to freeze these funds resulted in “chaos” for schools across the country.
Some of the withheld money funds after-school and summer programming at Boys & Girls Clubs, the YMCA or public schools, attended by 1.4 million children and teenagers nationwide. Congress set aside money for the programs to provide academic support, enrichment and child care to mostly low-income families. But Trump’s administration recently froze the funding, saying it wants to ensure programs align with the Republican president’s priorities.
Jackson said almost 1,000 educators in North Carolina would lose their jobs, with the cuts making up nearly 10% of federal educational funding intended for the state.
“Public schools across North Carolina, especially in rural areas, need this money to keep teachers in the classroom and keep kids safe while they learn,” Jackson said in a released statement. “It’s unlawful and unconstitutional for the Department of Education to withhold money that Congress has appropriated. I’m going to court to get this money for our students, our schools, and North Carolina families.”
“Today, North Carolina is taking action to unfreeze funding for North Carolina public schools that was appropriated by Congress,” North Carolina Governor Josh Stein said. “Without these funds, nearly 1,000 teachers will have their jobs taken from them. The money also provides after-school programs, supports children learning English, and helps adults learn how to read.
“Schools are counting on these funds; without them, they will be left scrambling as kids return to classrooms,” Stein added. “I thank Attorney General Jackson for bringing his action and call on the U.S. Department of Education to release the funds that North Carolina is owed.”
North Carolina leaders said the federal grant funding at stake in this lawsuit supports state school budgets, teacher salaries, before and after-school programs for students, community learning centers and teacher development programs, among others.
The lawsuit alleges withholding the money violates the Constitution and several federal laws. Many low-income families will lose access to after-school programs if the money isn’t released soon, according to the suit.
“While the N.C. Department of Public Instruction respects the federal administration’s right to review programs, I must emphasize that our legal obligations to serve these students remain unchanged, and the timing creates significant and unnecessary challenges for schools, community organizations, and most importantly, the children who depend on these services,” North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Maurice (Mo) Green said in a statement. “I support efforts, including this nationwide lawsuit, to resolve this situation quickly and ensure that North Carolina students receive the support they need and deserve and that our federal government agreed to provide them.”
In North Carolina, about 40 schools are already in session, so the state is already trying to figure out ways to keep programs going, using state and local money, along with some federal money that has not expired.
The freeze affects programs including mental health services, science and math education, and support for students learning English, Jackson said, with the most severe effects in smaller, rural school districts.
The states that united in Monday’s legal action included the following: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin.
You can read the filed complaint below:
— The Associated Press contributed to this report
A newly uncovered phishing campaign is delivering Agent Tesla, one of the most widely used…
The Trump Administration’s purchase of two vacant warehouses in two rural Pennsylvania townships illustrates where…
Netflix has announced that it has declined to raise its offer for Warner Bros. Discovery,…
The Federal Emergency Management Agency building in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 25, 2024. (Photo by…
Less than 24 hours before the deadline in an ultimatum issued by the Pentagon, Anthropic…
Netflix has dropped its $83 billion deal to acquire the Warner Bros. studio, HBO, and…
This website uses cookies.