Polk County Public Schools announced that federal education-related funds that had been withheld are being released.
The school district received word July 25 that the Trump Administration is releasing the funds, it said in a news release. The federal funds support Title I, II, III and IV programs that directly fund staff positions and services, the release said.
Those programs support migrant students, English language learners, teacher recruitment and professional development, academic enrichment programs and adult education, the district said.
“We are very pleased to hear that this federal funding is being released,” PCPS Superintendent Fred Heid said in the release. “This funding provides necessary support for students throughout our district. We greatly appreciate the opportunity to continue our life-changing work made possible by this federal funding.”
The U.S. Department of Education said it would begin dispersing the money the week of July 28.
The school district issued a statement July 18 raising concerns about a shortfall in funding resulting from both the federal freeze and state allocations. The U.S. Department of Education had paused the dispersal of nearly $7 billion in previously approved grants.
The freeze placed $20 million of Polk’s federal funding at risk, the release said.
“In total, over 125 full-time positions in PCPS rely on these grant programs,” Heid said in the previous news release. “A prolonged freeze could force the district to absorb costs using general funds, reducing its emergency reserves and jeopardizing services to students who rely most on additional support.”
Gary White can be reached at gary.white@theledger.com or 863-802-7518. Follow on X @garywhite13.