KS and MO schools shorted $129M as federal funds stall
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Kansas and Missouri are missing out on more than $129 million in federal K-12 funding that was expected to arrive July 1.
Why it matters: A national funding freeze under the Trump administration has left school districts in limbo just weeks before the new school year.
By the numbers: According to the Learning Policy Institute, Missouri is out nearly $84 million in federal K-12 funding, including about $38 million for teacher training and support, and nearly $20 million for programs that expand tech access and student safety.
- Kansas is down about $45 million, with almost $17 million meant to improve teacher quality and reduce class sizes, and nearly $9 million aimed at boosting student learning through tech and mental health resources.
Zoom in: Kansas education officials confirmed to KSHB that nearly $50 million in federal Title I–IV funding expected by the national July 1 deadline has been delayed.
- These grants help cover core programs like support for low-income students (Title I), teacher training (Title II), English learner instruction (Title III), and after-school, mental health and STEM education efforts (Title IV).
- Kansas Commissioner of Education Randy Watson said districts were told the funding is under review and urged school leaders, especially in rural areas, to "plan accordingly."
State of play: The funding freeze stems from a federal review of key education programs, per the School Superintendents Association.
- The Department of Education has declined to release the money and referred questions to the Office of Management and Budget.
- An OMB spokesperson told Axios that "no decisions have been made" and cited "an ongoing programmatic review of education funding."
Zoom out: Nationally, about $6 billion in K–12 funding is being withheld across five major grant programs, including migrant education and after-school and summer learning.