School districts scrambling as Trump administration withholds billions in grant money

Education officials across the county expected the U.S. Department of Education to make available more than $6 billion in federal grant money Tuesday. Instead, the department sent a letter saying those funds are withheld pending further review — threatening the existence of after-school programs in the upcoming school year. 

Roxann Sebest, vice president of the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley, said her organization is “concerned” but “not panicking yet.”

“It's been a continuing conversation here, ‘What if the grants ever go away?’” Sebest said. “I don't think we were ready for it to just disappear overnight.”

“The school year, if the funding is not there, that is really when we're going to see a shift in our services that we're providing,” she added. “We won't be able to provide after-school programming to the level we were doing it with those 21st Century grants.”

The congressionally appropriated funds are supposed to go towards programs including summer and after-school programs, professional development for teachers, teaching children of migrants and helping students learn English. According to the Learning Policy Institute, Ohio will lose out on more than $184 million if the funds are not unfrozen — the eighth-most of any state. 

The education department did not indicate how long its review would take, but said funds will not be made available before it is finished, leaving school districts and other educational groups scrambling to adjust their plans. 

“The Department remains committed to ensuring taxpayer resources are spent in accordance with the President’s priorities and the Department’s statutory responsibilities,” the letter read, according to the Associated Press. 

The after-school and summer program grants withheld by President Donald Trump’s administration are known as 21st Century Community Learning Center (or 21CCLC) grants. They support services in many Mahoning Valley public school districts, including in Youngstown, Warren, Campbell, Austintown, Boardman, Sebring and Struthers. 

The 21CCLC programs at Campbell City Schools offer a range of not only academic, but also social and emotional support, according to program director and assistant principal David Beans. Beans described programs that allow children to fly drones, make T-shirts, create gardens and learn yoga. 

“The students are provided a safe place to continue to grow,” Beans said. “Academics comes natural with us. We're going to always support those kids with literacy and math. But again, we're giving these kids opportunities to connect with each other, connect with our staff, and develop a family.”

Campbell City Schools’ superintendent, Matthew Bowen, sounded a similar alarm. Bowen said 20% of students in CCS participate in after-school programs — but without funding, he couldn’t guarantee they will continue to be available this fall. 

“This is going to really be detrimental to our students,” Bowen said. “We have a little bit of time, and we're going to remain very optimistic that we're going to find a solution for our students, we're going to find a solution for our families, and we're going to work really hard, like we always do, to meet their needs.”