Yesterday afternoon (June 30), the US Department of Education notified state education agencies that the congressionally appropriated and mandated funds that were set to be released on July 1st (today!) are being withheld to review that they are in accordance with the President’s priorities. This is illegal, unprecedented, and wrong.

Congress appropriated these funds, the President signed them, and the allocations are set by a statutory formula – there should be no need to review or delay. The $6.2 billion that are being withheld across the country will affect programs including 21st Century Community Learning Centers, Supporting Effective Instruction and Academic Enrichment, Migrant Education, and English Language Acquisition. 

In California, over $800 million in federal funding is being withheld, which represents about 17% of California’s federal education budget. $146 million in 21st Century Community Learning Center funding will be held, which provides the funding for summer programs that started today and is the only dedicated funding stream for high school students in afterschool and summer learning programs.  

California Impacts

• This funding supports summer programs that are already underway and there could be immediate cancellations of summer programs.
• Potential layoffs of program staff and/or delays in hiring. 
• No dedicated funding for afterschool and summer programs for high school students. 
• A significant cut to California’s essential afterschool infrastructure via cuts to the California Department of Education and the system of support.
• Unprecedented havoc for schools and community-based organizations trying to operate summer programs now and plan for fall afterschool programs.

Take Action!

Now is the time to contact all Members of Congress where you have programs in operation and to sign on to the Afterschool Alliance’s petition demanding a release of these funds.​

• Sign on to the Afterschool Alliance Petition
• Call your Congress Members
• Email your Congress Members
• Notify your community and policymakers on social media.

‘Big Ugly Bill’

Additionally, it was reported this morning that the ‘Big Ugly Bill’ has moved out of the Senate with a tie-breaking vote by Vice President JD Vance and will start being reviewed in the House. There are many aspects to this bill that we won’t attempt to cover at this point, but here’s a report examining how the major components will affect each congressional district in California.  

Let Congress know this ‘Big Ugly Bill’ as dubbed by the NAACP is cruel, misinformed, and in opposition to so much that CA3 stands for. 

• ACLU Petition – Save Medicaid Now

We stand in solidarity with school leaders, families, and community providers who are directly impacted by these harmful and unjust actions. 

We are grateful that California leaders are standing unified and taking immediate legal action to protect California students.

Next Steps & California’s Signed Budget

In the midst of the horrific federal updates, there is good news for expanded learning programs in California’s signed state budget with an additional $525.5 million in ongoing funding for the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELO-P). Stay tuned for more federal updates and California signed budget and trailer bill updates.