What's at stake?
The funding freeze was the largest seen by Fresno County and caused uncertainty for school districts, which were prepared to make difficult decisions to offset the loss of funding.
Fresno County schools expect about $48 million now that the Trump Administration abruptly unfroze nearly $5.5 billion in federal funding earmarked for campuses across the nation.
The funding withheld from schools, which were approved by Congress and total to around 14% of federal funding for K-12 education, were frozen by the administration due to what the White House alleged were “grossly misused to subsidize a radical left-wing agenda,” and caused disarray for school districts nationwide.
On July 18, the Trump administration announced it would release some of the funds, or around $1.3 billion of the total withheld, leaving $5.5 billion in limbo. Now, all of the funds are being released, with California receiving $939 million for the 2025-2026 school year.
For Fresno County, the release means receiving $48 million in federal funds to support various programs across the county.
“The full release of these federal education funds is a relief for Fresno County’s schools, students, and families. These dollars make an enormous difference for programs that provide after-school opportunities, migrant education services, and critical support for our most vulnerable students,” said Fresno County Superintendent of Schools Michele Cantwell-Copher in a statement.
The initial partial release on July 18 would’ve only given Fresno County $12 million in funds as part of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers initiative, funding afterschool and summer school programs. Before Friday’s announcement, Fresno County still had around $36 million on hold.
At the district level, Fresno Unified saw $7.1 million in frozen funding and Clovis Unified had $2.2 million in frozen funds. Fresno Unified did not immediately comment on the renewed funding.
“Clovis Unified is grateful for the release of approximately $2.2 million in federal funds that the district had originally anticipated to receive. These resources will support our continued commitment to student success as we look forward to having a great school year,” said Patti Lippert, a communications coordinator for Clovis Unified.
According to Cantwell-Copher, Fresno County has never seen a funding freeze of this magnitude before and it created significant uncertainty for schools and student programs that may have landed on the chopping block without the federal money.
“If the reversal hadn’t happened, the impact would have been felt by thousands of students and families; these programs don’t just provide academics, they offer safe spaces for kids when school isn’t in session, help prevent summer learning loss and connect students to essential services,” Cantwell-Copher said.
Along with the released funds, the Office of Management and Budget said that “guardrails” will be set in place to “ensure these funds will not be used in violation of executive orders or administration policy.”
It remains unclear what the guardrails are or how they will impact the manner in which school districts allocate the funds. According to Cantwell-Copher the county has yet to receive details on what standards the guardrails will outline.
“Typically, the U.S. Department of Education issues formal guidance and technical assistance for states and local agencies when policy shifts occur, and we anticipate additional information in the coming weeks,” Cantwell-Copher said.
