Dear Families and Staff:
You may have read news coverage about federal education funding that the president’s administration is withholding from school districts across the country. I am writing to update the community on the potential impact of that decision on our school district.
As you may know, Congress appropriates funds that the U.S. Department of Education is supposed to allocate to states for purposes of supporting specific educational programs or goals. The states, in turn, distribute those funds to local school districts based largely on the populations of students served, as directed by Congress.
Those grant awards are typically allocated by July 1, which is the start of the fiscal year, so that school districts can use the funds to pay staff and cover other expenses. On June 30, 2025, however, officials from the federal administration announced a freeze on several major federal grant programs, representing $6.8 billion in federal funds nationally and $107 million here in Massachusetts alone, noting that those grant programs are under review.
Nearly one month later, most of those funds remain frozen. Massachusetts is one of 24 states and the District of Columbia that have filed a lawsuit against the federal administration to reinstate all previously approved funds. It is unclear if or when Massachusetts school districts will receive the $107 million in federal grants. Nonetheless, Massachusetts has pledged to guarantee that all students within the Commonwealth receive complimentary breakfast and lunch, irrespective of federal reimbursement.
The federal grants that were frozen on June 30 include:
- Title I-C, which provides educational support for children of migratory agricultural workers
and fishers;
- Title II-A, which supports systems of support for excellent teaching and leading;
- Title III-A, which supports English learners; and
- Title IV-A, which supports high-quality educational experiences for students.
On June 30, the federal administration also froze Title IV-B grants, which support out-of-school 21st Century Community Learning Centers. Officials then announced on July 18 that the funds for that particular grant program would be released.
In our district, the budget for the 2025-2026 school year was approved by the School Committee and residents at the Montague and Gill annual town meetings and was based in part on assurances about federal funding, in addition to state and local revenue.
The withholding of those federal funds presents significant challenges, particularly with respect to teaching positions, support positions, student enrichment programs, and other services that are supported by federal grants.
Specifically, our district is awaiting the release of:
- Title II-A: approximately $40,000 to provide professional development for our educators;
- Title III-A: approximately $9,000 to educate students who are English learners; and
- Title IV-A: approximately $25,000, which we have budgeted to support for professional development, AP and PSAT fees and various supplies and materials.
While that funding remains in limbo, we have had to take difficult steps to maintain the fiscal stability of the district. These include:
- In anticipation of this withholding of funds the district issued with each contract letter for federally funded positions in 2025-2026 the following notice:
Please note that this position is funded in whole or in part through federal sources, including but not limited to Title I, the Special Education 240 Entitlement Grand, and/or the School Lunch Program. Accordingly, continuation of the position is contingent upon the availability of such funding. In the event that federal funding is reduced or eliminated, this position may be modified or discontinued at the sole discretion of the District.
We are awaiting updates from state and/or federal officials about the future of these grants. In the short term, we are moving forward with the programs and services included in the budget with the hopes that these federal funds will be restored. However, there is no guarantee that the funds will be released. Therefore, the School Committee and I, in consultation with legal counsel, are developing contingency plans to account for the potential loss of these resources.
I will continue to keep you updated on this matter as we get more information. Thank you for your
patience and understanding while we continue to navigate these challenging circumstances.
Sincerely,
Tari N. Thomas
Interim Superintendent for the Gill-Montague Regional School District