Today, the U.S. Department of Education and the Office of Management and Budget announced the conclusion of a review of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (Title IV‑B) program, which had been paused on July 1. Thanks in part to a remarkable lobbying campaign, $1.329 billion in federal funding has now been restored and will be distributed to states, with some important caveats…

It should be noted that this release includes new compliance “guardrails” requiring states and districts to certify adherence to specific federal laws, including civil rights protections under Title VI and Title IX, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and several other statutes. Grant recipients should anticipate federal oversight and ensure that all program activities clearly align with these legal requirements.

The freeze has caused significant operational disruptions for schools and various programs across the country. Many after-school and summer programs canceled or delayed offerings, deferred hiring, and paused contracts. Advocacy groups including the YMCA and the Afterschool Alliance described the pause as causing “massive chaos and harm.”

Meanwhile, approximately $5 billion in additional federal grants, covering adult literacy, teacher development, English-learner services, migrant education, and more, remain under review. A coalition of 24 states and the District of Columbia, led by California, has filed a lawsuit claiming this freeze violates federal appropriations law.

We hope for an immediate disbursement of 21st CCLC funds, and anticipate the California Department of Education to confirm timing and amounts. Programs affected by the freeze should now feel more comfortable to resume hiring, finalize vendor contracts, and move forward with planning.

Unfortunately, there is no indication from the U.S. Department of Education regarding the balance of the funds being withheld, but we are hoping that the combination of political and legal strategy results in further good news in the coming days and weeks.