Trump's K-12 federal funding hold has Miami-Dade County schools out millions
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Miami-Dade County Public Schools reportedly could be out more than $45 million in the coming school year following a last-minute halt of federal funding by the Trump administration.
Why it matters: The funds, which were expected to be accessible on July 1, were earmarked for programs that support English-language learners and instruction, migrant education, teacher development and after-school programs, among others.
- Florida school districts were already bracing for steep budget cuts for the 2025-26 school year amid declining enrollment driven by the state's growing voucher program.
Catch up quick: On June 30, the administration announced it was withholding billions in federal education funding while a handful of programs were under review.
- The funding delay has exacerbated the uncertainty for after-school, summer and other programs, leaving schools in limbo, advocates and policy experts say.
The big picture: An estimated $6.2 billion in K-12 funds across five programs remains unavailable, according to the Learning Policy Institute, which conducts research to improve education policies.
By the numbers: In Florida, the administration is withholding about 15% of the state's federal funding, totaling more than $347 million, per the institute. Plus:
- More than $17 million in funding for migrant education,
- $124.5 million for instruction support,
- $56.5 million for English language acquisition programs,
- Nearly $76 million for academic enrichment programs,
- And nearly $73 million for after-school or summer programs.
What they're saying: The possible cuts impact fragile student populations, Miami-Dade School Board member Steve Gallon told NBC6.
- "When you talk about ESOL, you're talking about 83,000 students," he said. "If [funding is] cut, they will be left behind."
The other side: A spokesperson for the Office of Management and Budget told Axios that no decisions have been made amid "an ongoing programmatic review of education funding."
- The spokesperson pointed to initial findings that they said "show that many of these grant programs have been grossly misused to subsidize a radical leftwing agenda."