FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, July 2, 2025
Contact: Matt Roman, [email protected], 617-835-3167
California Students Harmed as Trump Administration Withholds Over $810 Million in Education Funds
Children Now and partner organizations call on Congress to demand the immediate release of the funds
OAKLAND, CA – The U.S. Department of Education’s decision to impound over $6 billion in federal education funding nationwide will threaten California’s ability to support millions of students, particularly English learners, students of color, students from low-income families, and children in migrant and newcomer communities. More than $810 million in critical education dollars for California is currently being withheld, halting essential services, destabilizing programs for both kids and families, and undermining educational equity across the state.
“This is not just a budget issue. It’s a moral one,” said Vince Stewart, Vice President of Policy and Programs at Children Now, a nonpartisan policy and advocacy organization committed to improving the lives of all children. “Withholding nearly a billion dollars from California schools is a direct attack on the supports our kids rely on to thrive, particularly those who have been historically underserved by our education system.”
The federal education dollars being withheld from California, which were approved by Congress, include $146 million for afterschool programs, $152 million for Student Support and Academic Enrichment (including STEM, mental health, and technology), and $157 million for English Learner services, as well as many other essential programs. These programs effectively keep kids safe and engaged, expand opportunities, provide high-quality professional development for educators, and improve student well-being. As a result of these funds being withheld, California school districts and community organizations are now left in limbo just weeks before the new school year begins.
“At a time when California’s students need more support, not less, the federal government is playing politics with their futures,” said Stewart. “This funding freeze is a betrayal of our most vulnerable kids and families.”
###
By employing a game-changing, whole-child (pre-natal to age 26), antiracist, connector model, Children Now harnesses collective power to achieve transformational and systemic results for California’s kids, so that all children have the services and supports they need to reach their full potential. Children Now also coordinates The Children’s Movement of California, the most powerful and diverse advocacy network in the country, with over 5,700 organizations across the state that care about kids and help drive policy changes through collective action campaigns.
###