Macon schools avoid nearly $7M loss, frozen federal money restored by Trump admin
After weeks of uncertainty, Georgia school districts are breathing a sigh of relief as millions of dollars in federal K-12 education funds — previously frozen by President Donald Trump’s administration — are now being released, just days before some schools are set to begin instruction.
When the freeze was announced on June 30, the Bibb County School District stood to lose nearly $7 million in federal assistance, jeopardizing after-school and summer programs, services for English learners and migrant students, professional development for teachers and more.
With the funds now incoming, Superintendent Dan Sims said the district is back at square one and is ready to move forward.
“I’m just relieved, and we’re back to what I feel should have not ever been an issue, mainly for the sake of our children,” Sims said. “I’m glad to know that we don’t have to worry about that.”
“We were prepared, if we needed to, to look at prioritizing our needs (and the) reallocation of funds,” Sims said. “But now that those must be released, we can take that off the table and now move forward and get ready for school.”
During its July board meeting, some Bibb County Board of Education members discussed cautiously moving forward with purchases and approvals amid the financial uncertainty.
Bibb County Schools leadership said it would prepare contingency plans for potential program adjustments if federal money remained frozen.
The U.S. Office of Management and Budget said Friday it had completed its review of several education grants, including Title I-C, Title II-A, Title III-A, Title IV-A ESEA funds and Title II WIOA funds. The budget office directed the U.S. Department of Education to release all formula funds, with disbursements beginning this week, the office added.
The Trump administration also released $1.3 billion for after-school and summer programming, also known as 21st Century Community Learning Centers, ahead of the more recent announcement regarding the remaining K-12 federal funds. The program provides academic enrichment and support, tutoring, field learning experiences and more.
The bulk of the Bibb County School District’s frozen money was for the CCLC 21st program.
“The loss of these (CCLC 21st) funds would disproportionately affect students in high-poverty schools who benefit most from extended learning opportunities,” Bibb County Schools said previously in an internal memo The Telegraph obtained through an open records request.
During the 2024–25 school year, Bibb County Schools registered 2,894 students across 29 different 21st CCLC sites during the regular school year and summer camp, where 86% of students attended regularly, according to district spokesperson Stephanie Hartley.
The Georgia Department of Education confirmed Friday it received official notices from the Council of Chief State School Officers and the U.S. Department of Education that the remaining withheld K-12 funds would be released soon.
State Superintendent Richard Woods called the decision “welcome news” for Georgia’s students, families and educators as the new school year approaches.
“I’m grateful to the U.S. Department of Education for making the decision to release remaining federal education funds,” Woods said Friday in a statement.
“These funds will support critical needs in our schools and help ensure a strong start for students across the state,” he said. “I appreciate USED’s recognition of the importance of getting these resources into the hands of states and districts.”
The U.S. Office of Management and Budget said Friday the programmatic review of the funds is complete.
“Guardrails are in place to ensure these funds will not be used in violation of Executive Orders or administration policy,” the office said in an email to The Telegraph.
The funds were initially frozen so the department could ensure “taxpayer resources are spent in accordance with the President’s priorities and the Department’s statutory responsibilities,” a budget office spokesperson previously said.
Classes resume on Aug. 4 for the Bibb County School District.
What was at stake for Bibb County Schools?
- Title II-A (Improving Teacher Quality): $1.7 million
- Title I-C (Migrant Education): $33,717
- Title III-A (English Learners): $102,616
- Title IV-A (Student Support and Academic Enrichment): $1.26 million
- Title IV-B (21st Century Community Learning Centers): $3.8 million