NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A major federal funding freeze is sending some Tennessee school districts scrambling while others pointed out it’s only temporary and are holding out hope that dollars will come through.
The freeze was announced on June 30, one day before funds were set to be released.
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“Approximately $7 billion in federal education funding that includes programs such as title one, title two, title three, title four and Adult Basic and Literacy Education have been temporarily frozen, while the US Department of Education completes a review process,” Clarksville Montgomery County School System Director Dr. Jean Luna-Vedder said before the School Board on Tuesday.
“Memphis has already reported that they're looking at about 200 positions that will have to be eliminated,” Professional Educators of Tennessee CEO JC Bowman said.
Others pointed out that the freeze is only meant to be temporary.
“While we haven't received definitive information about when or how these funds will be distributed, we are approaching this situation with both caution and optimism. I want to emphasize that CMCSS will prioritize people over programs should we need to make any cuts,” Luna-Vedder said.
However, if freezes do turn into cuts, the hit could impact a variety of areas.
“I mean, you're looking at academic enrichment, STEM initiatives, college counseling, education support, these are other areas that get involved,” Bowman said.
A Rutherford County Schools spokesman said this boils down to $2.4 million for the school district. Cuts would affect ESL teachers and the professional development for their teachers.
A spokesman for Robertson County Schools also echoed professional development concerns as well as student migrant and homelessness services.
Overall, Bowman, with the Professional Educators of Tennessee, said the state stands to lose $120 million if cuts are made.
“These dollars are going to public schools, and they've been promised them, and to pull the carpet out from under them at the last hour is (a) concern people should express,” Bowman said.
Metro Nashville Public Schools sent the following statement to News 2:
These congressionally mandated programs support essential services for our students—including those who are learning English, need additional academic support, or benefit from extended learning opportunities—and help ensure we have effective educators in every classroom. We support efforts to fully fund these programs at or above previous levels.
As of right now, the allocation amounts seen in the state's education accounting system are not based on data from US ED but rather amounts copied over from our FY25 allocations until further notice. The effect of which will delay the normal budgeting and planning process. Because our district must spend local funds upfront and is reimbursed several months later with federal dollars, and we are still a month away from the start of school, we do not anticipate any immediate impacts on programming. However, we will monitor developments closely and adjust as necessary if changes to funding or program requirements are made, while seeking to keep in place the student and educator support that these programs fund.
These programs include:
- Title I-C – Education of Migratory Children (which we do not receive)
- Title II-A – Supporting Effective Instruction (Professional Development)
- Title III-A – English Language Acquisition
- Title IV-A – Student Support and Academic Enrichment (SSAE)
- Title IV-B – 21st Century Community Learning Centers
As MNPS transfers Title IV-A funds into Title I-A and Title II-A, the most significant fiscal impacts would be on Title I, Title II and Title III allocations. Our current budget forecasts (not including carryover amounts) include the following: Title II-A ($4.2M), Title III-A ($2.5M), Title IV-A ($2.6M which is reallocated to Title I and II programs), and Title IV-B ($815K). That’s based on assumptions and not actual allocations from the USDOE.
Metro Nashville Public Schools