Millions Stuck: Modesto Schools Await Relief from DOE Delay

Numerous millions allocated for English learner students, teacher training opportunities, extracurricular activities, and additional resources available at Modesto Schools are facing delays because of a funding hold imposed by the U.S. Department of Education.

In a recent message addressed to the families and employees of Modesto City Schools, Superintendent Dr. Vanessa Buitrago described the choice as one-of-a-kind, noting that it caught school districts across the nation off guard.

She mentioned that over $3 million out of the approximately $7 billion put on hold was designated for Modesto City Schools. Dr. Buitrago stated that almost 25% of their 30,000 students at MCS are considered English language learners.

"Other funding sources, such as state money, can and will be used to back these initiatives during this time of instability. Nevertheless, although these programs won’t be cut in the near future, tough choices lie ahead," Dr. Buitrago stated.

She mentioned that the district may have to reallocate funds from different areas of their budget in order to continue educating and supporting as many students as possible for an extended period. This implies that other initiatives might face consequences during this process.

"Although the state of California might take legal action regarding the ruling from Washington, D.C., the short-term effect is that the federal funding we anticipated will likely face delays," Dr. Buitrago stated.

On Thursday, California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond criticized President Donald Trump regarding the suspension of financial support.

I believe that since Congress has approved the funding, there is definitely a history and past examples showing that a president can't simply take money allocated by Congress on their own. We are looking at every possible solution," Thurmond said to ABC News, continuing, "whether that involves going to court or involving Congress directly. Congress must act and state clearly, 'Hey, you can't ignore our decisions regarding providing financial support for American students.'

Funding is typically distributed every year on July 1, but on June 3, the program funds were halted because of an unscheduled "programmatic review," as stated in a letter shared with Congress that was obtained by ABC. Educational officials in California projected the state would receive more than $900 million in financial support for specific initiatives.

It poses a significant risk to our communities, several of which lack the resources to handle this shortfall," Thurmond said to ABC News. "They structured their budgets under the assumption that federal funding would arrive, as it has over the years, leading to potential risks for school districts needing to reduce staffing. This also presents concerns for us as a state agency offering support to numerous schools—how can we maintain these roles?

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