Connecticut is one of 26 states suing the Trump administration over a nearly $7 billion federal education funding freeze; if nothing changes, $53.6 million would be withheld from Connecticut schools, disproportionately affecting high-needs areas.
The freeze, announced just one day before the funds would have become available for obligation, affects federal grants supporting K-12 students through before- and after-school programs and instruction improvement, and funding for adult literacy programs. Two of the affected K-12 grants support English language learners and migrant students.
Under the freeze, Hartford, New Haven and Waterbury are estimated to lose around $3 million each in federal funding, according to the School and State Finance Project. Bridgeport would lose the most funding — around $3.8 million.
Michael Morton is deputy executive director of communications at the School and State Finance Project, a nonpartisan, nonprofit policy organization working toward equitable education funding statewide. While the freeze does not target federal funding like the Title I grants for low-income students or IDEA grants for students with disabilities, Morton said high-needs students will still be hit hardest by the freeze.
“We’re talking about multilingual learners. We’re talking about students with special needs. In some instances, we’re talking about community organizations that work with underprivileged or disengaged youth,” Morton said. “It’s taking a situation that is already not good and just exacerbating it.”