Indianapolis, Indiana, July 3, 2025 – ICPE (Indiana Coalition for Public Education) today issued a condemnation of the US Department of Education for missing a key deadline to release approximately $6.8 billion in public education funding. Already approved by Congress, the funding was due to be released on July 1, 2025 and supports seven federal programs that include services for underserved children and adult learners. Indiana public school districts were set to receive an estimated $107,174,260 from the withheld funds.

 “Public schools in Indiana and across the nation are being thrown into disarray by an administration playing petty politics with our children’s future,” said ICPE President Cathy Fuentes-Rohwer. “Congress allocated these funds and school districts rely on them for vital programs. This action harms public education by pulling the rug out from underneath school districts within a month of many of them resuming classes.”

Members of Congress were notified on June 30 that their states would not be receiving funds according to schedule. The notice cited a change in presidential administrations and stated, “decisions have not yet been made concerning submissions and awards for this upcoming academic year… The Department remains committed to ensuring taxpayer resources are spent in accordance with the President’s priorities and the Department’s statutory responsibilities.”

Because much of the funding is for programs that assist underprivileged students, urban and rural school districts serving populations with high levels of poverty will be disproportionately affected. School districts that operate on lean budgets will also face immediate harm. 

The funding currently withheld from Indiana public schools includes: 

•     Title I-C for migrant education: $2.5 million
•     Title II-A for educator professional development: $41.2 million
•     Title III-A for English-learner services: $10.1 million
•     Title IV-A for academic enrichment: $20.7 million
•     Title IV-B for before- and after-school programs: $19.9 million
•     Adult Education basic grants for literacy & general instruction: $12.0 million
•     Adult Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education grants: $0.75 million

Nationwide, the money withheld represents more than 10% of federal education funding for all states and territories.

About Indiana Coalition for Public Education

Indiana Coalition for Public Education is a non-partisan non-profit dedicated to preserving and improving public education for Indiana students. The organization advocates for all Hoosier children having access to high quality, equitable, well-funded public schools that are subject to democratic oversight by their communities. For more information, please visit https://indianacoalitionforpubliced.org. 

Additional information and source links:

Ed Week

Learning Policy Institute

Contact: info@indianacoalitionforpubliced.org