Longview ISD faces funding cuts as federal grants are withheld

LONGVIEW – Several school districts are being negatively impacted by the recent funding freeze, including Longview ISD, which is being forced to withhold funds from several academic programs just before the start of the new school year.

The Trump administration withheld more than $6 billion in federal grants on July 1 for after-school and summer programs, adult literacy and English language instruction, as a part of a review to ensure spending aligned with White House priorities. Due to this withholding of federal grants, funding for multiple programs initiated to benefit Longview students and teachers will be significantly reduced.

“Nearly $1 million in federal funds are earmarked for real student needs,” Longview ISD said. “Needs like academic supports for struggling students, or resources for hard-working teachers, or countless other crucial provisions for our most vulnerable young people.”

The following Longview ISD programs will lose funds as part of the federal funding freeze:

$482,593 will be withheld from Title II, which focuses on professional development and teacher retention.
$194,653 will be withheld from Title III, which focuses on English language acquisition and immigrant support.
$236,219 will be withheld from Title IV, which focuses on student support and academic help.

In total, the freeze has caused the district to lose $923,465 in funding, putting the district in a challenging position just weeks before it is set to begin the new school year.

Additionally, the funding freeze nearly impacted Lufkin ISD as they were almost forced to cancel their after-school program just weeks before the new school year begins. However, the Education Department announced on Friday that they will release $1.3 billion in previously withheld grant money for after-school programs.

The money being released Friday pays for free programming before and after school and during the summer. These programs provide child care so low-income parents can work, and they give options to families who live in rural areas with few other child care providers. Beyond just child care, kids receive reading and math help at the programs, along with enrichment in science and the arts.

“While we are thrilled the funds will be made available, the administration’s inexplicable delay in disbursing them caused massive chaos and harm,” executive director of the Afterschool Alliance Jodi Grant said. Many after-school programs had canceled plans to open in the fall, according to Grant.