Students can ‘take a deep breath’ after Trump administration releases $5.5B to schools

The Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction said students can finally take a “deep breath” now that the Trump administration is set to release $5.5 billion in public school funding for before- and after-school care, migrant education, English language learning and other programs.

The release of money comes after a total of $6.8 billion in federal education funding was placed under review by the Trump administration in late June.

While states expected education funding to land on July 1, the Trump administration withheld the money for over two weeks before releasing $1.3 billion for before- and after-school programs on July 18. That decision followed bi-partisan calls from congress members, demanding the funds be released.

OSPI warned earlier this month that a permanent freeze on that funding would have yielded an immediate decrease of $137 million in federal K-12 funding for education in Washington state.

Washington joined over 20 Democratic states and the District of Columbia in suing the Trump administration for unlawful conditions and discrimination after the freeze was announced.

In a June 25 statement, the state Attorney General’s office wrote, “Federal funding supports programs that ensure students from low-income families have the same access to education as their peers, help schools support migrant students and English learners, and provide special education and related services to students with disabilities.

“To receive these funds, state and local education agencies provide written assurances they will comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination in education.”

U.S. Rep. Marilyn Strickland, who represents parts of Thurston and Pierce counties, also led six statewide congress members in writing a letter to request the release of funds before Aug. 1.

On Friday, OSPI issued a statement from State Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal saying the release of billions of dollars in federal funding means vital services will not be eliminated in the upcoming school year. “Students can take a deep breath knowing vital services won’t be abruptly ended or reduced in the upcoming school year,” his statement says.

The OSPI statement said a loss of funding could have jeopardized school districts, school staff and access to student services.

“This had the potential to put several school districts in financial distress, cause educators and school staff to lose jobs that are essential to student learning, and limit the core services that students typically receive and rely on to help them be successful in school.”

In reaction to the Trump administration’s decision to release funding, Rep. Marilyn Strickland said in an X post, “Our students and schools now have the resources they need to start the school year.”

However, the release of funds is not a cause for celebration in Sen. Patty Murray’s office. Murray said the administration deserves no credit for its decision to release billions in federal education funding that it withheld in the first place.

“This administration deserves no credit for just barely averting a crisis they themselves set in motion. You don’t thank a burglar for returning your cash after you’ve spent a month figuring out if you’d have to sell your house to make up the difference,” she said.

“It’s time for President Trump, Secretary McMahon, and Russ Vought to stop playing games with students’ futures and families’ livelihoods — and end their illegal assault on our students and their schools.”

While the promise of federal funding presents hope for many of Washington’s education programs and staff, the future of this money remains uncertain until award documents arrive, according to Attorney General Nick Brown.

He said that he intends to hold the Trump administration accountable in any case after these documents are set to be revealed next week.

“We’re glad the Trump administration has decided to reverse its position and release the education money they had frozen for the upcoming school year. We won’t know all the details of what the administration will actually do until we see the awards documents next week, but we’ll hold them accountable in any case. This is why we file lawsuits — to protect the rule of law, support Washington communities, and right wrongs,” Brown said.

This story was originally published July 25, 2025 at 6:02 PM.