Just one day before states were scheduled to receive critical federal K–12 education funding, the U.S. Department of Education announced that key allocations would be indefinitely delayed. Despite being approved by Congress and signed into law, more than $6.2 billion in Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) education funding—including nearly $1.4 billion for 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC)—is being withheld from disbursement.

This action, widely referred to as an “impoundment,” has already disrupted summer programming and planning for the upcoming school year, particularly in communities that rely on these funds to support historically underserved students.

What Is Being Withheld?

The impacted funding includes five core formula grant programs that support academic recovery, educator development, and out-of-school time learning:

• Migrant Education (Title I‑C): $375 million
• Supporting Effective Instruction (Title II‑A): $2.2 billion
• English Language Acquisition (Title III‑A): $890 million
• Student Support & Academic Enrichment (Title IV‑A): $1.3 billion
• 21st Century Community Learning Centers (Title IV‑B): $1.4 billion

These programs are central to supporting student learning and well-being inside and outside the classroom, particularly for young people in under-resourced communities. For many districts and community-based organizations, this funding enables staffing, partnerships, planning, and programming that begin long before the first day of school.

Understanding the Legal Context

Under the Impoundment Control Act of 1974, the executive branch may not withhold funds appropriated by Congress without submitting a formal request for rescission. To date, no such request has been submitted, and Congress has approved no rescissions. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has opened investigations into whether this freeze constitutes a violation of federal law.

Regardless of legal outcomes, the immediate impact on state and local systems is real and significant.

Impact on the Youth-Serving Ecosystem

The implications of this funding delay reach far beyond school walls. This moment presents serious challenges for youth-serving systems that rely on coordinated, cross-sector approaches to meet the needs of young people:

• Afterschool and summer learning programs face potential closures or service reductions, especially those funded by 21st CCLC grants.
• Educator professional development and training initiatives are on hold, impacting readiness and instructional quality for the 2025–2026 school year.
• Services for migrant students and English learners are disrupted, weakening essential support systems for vulnerable student populations.
• Community partnerships, staffing plans, and district budgets are in flux, raising uncertainty about program availability.

While some states may be able to use carryover funds from FY24 to temporarily sustain programming, these dollars are limited and time-bound. Without resolution, millions from FY25 may revert back to the U.S. Treasury, permanently reducing resources meant to support young people.

What You Can Do

In this moment of uncertainty, your voice and actions matter. Whether you’re a program leader, policymaker, educator, or advocate, there are concrete steps you can take to support continuity and stability for young people and the systems that serve them:

1. Raise Awareness
   Share this update with your networks, families, and community partners to help others understand the urgency of the situation.
2. Activate Advocacy
   Use this action tool from the Afterschool Alliance to contact your governor and members of Congress and urge them to release the funds.
3. Document Impact Stories
   Help elevate real-world stories from programs and communities affected by the freeze—these narratives can powerfully inform decision-makers and media.
4. Monitor Legal and Policy Developments
   Stay informed as the GAO investigates the legality of the funding freeze and follow updates from trusted education and youth policy organizations.
5. Coordinate Across Sectors
   Work with local partners, state agencies, and funders to develop contingency plans and identify shared strategies to mitigate disruptions.

Young People Deserve Better

Youth-serving systems are built on collaboration and commitment—values that transcend any single agency or funding stream. This funding delay highlights the critical importance of timely, stable federal investment in ensuring young people have access to learning environments that are safe, supportive, interactive, and engaging.

We encourage everyone across the youth-serving ecosystem to stay informed, amplify the message, and support one another during this uncertain moment. The stakes—for programs, practitioners, and most of all, young people—are too high to ignore.