Students in every Kansas school district rely on federal funding to support essential educational services. Recently, school districts across the country — including here in Kansas — were notified of an unprecedented federal funding freeze that will directly impact nearly every school district.

On June 30, the U.S. Department of Education announced it will withhold nearly $7 billion in congressionally approved education funding for the current fiscal year while it reviews whether the funding aligns with the administration’s current priorities.

This freeze primarily affects programs that support some of our most vulnerable students — including those from low-income families and English language learners.

In many Kansas districts, these federal dollars are already budgeted — or even obligated — for staffing, instruction and student support. Without access to these funds, districts may be forced to shift resources from other critical areas.

Kansas schools are facing the potential loss of $42.9 million in federal funding, including:

• $6.2 million – Title I, Part C: Migrant Education
• $15.8 million – Title II, Part A: Teacher and School Leader Support
• $4.8 million – Title III, Part A: ELL Funding
• $8.3 million – Title IV, Part A: Student Support and Academic Enrichment
• $7.8 million – Title IV, Part B: 21st Century Schools

Title Services support student learning by helping districts access and implement federal and state education programs while ensuring compliance with regulations. Read KSDE’s release for details on how specific programs are affected.

KASB's 2025 Legislative Platform, adopted by our members at Delegate Assembly in November 2024, calls for full funding of these critical Title programs. Our federal advocacy opposes any reductions that compromise the resources schools need to serve all students effectively.

A disruption of this magnitude could delay programs, impact staffing and force difficult budget decisions — all while schools continue to manage growing student needs with limited resources. Federal funding remains essential to ensuring every Kansas student has access to the support and opportunities they deserve.

KASB remains committed to supporting our member districts as this situation evolves. We will continue to advocate for timely, reliable funding that reflects the needs of Kansas public schools. In the meantime, we encourage school boards and administrators to stay informed and begin preparing for potential adjustments.

For more insight, listen to the latest episode of KASB’s podcast, The Advocate, where our Advocacy Team discusses the federal funding freeze and what it means for Kansas schools.