WRAL - Emily Walkenhorst | July 18, 2025: The Trump administration is restoring some of the federal funding it withheld earlier this month, a spokesperson told WRAL News on Friday. Federal officials will release money for before- and after-school and summer programs -- one of several funding streams that was paused July 1, pending a federal review of alignment with Trump administration priorities and executive orders since the funds were last distributed. Funding for North Carolina's programs totals $35.7 million this year. Another about $130 millionremains paused, for teacher training and mentorship ($67.9 million), school improvement and academic enrichment services ($37.2 million), English-language education for non-native speakers ($19.3 million) and various services for children of migrants ($5.4 million). The programs restored Friday -- provided under the 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant program -- provide academic opportunities outside of normal school hours for students who attend low-performing schools.
DPI Press Release | July 14, 2025: Attorney General Jeff Jackson and 24 other states sued to prevent the federal government from cutting funds for North Carolina’s schools and educators. Without the $6.8 billion in nationwide federal funds – which Congress has already approved – North Carolina’s schools will lose more than $165 million in public education funding and nearly 1,000 educators across the state will lose their jobs. Attorney General Jeff Jackson is joined in filing this lawsuit by the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin, and the governors of Pennsylvania and Kentucky.
EdNC - Mebane Rash | July 14, 2025: There are three key documents in the lawsuit filed Monday, July 14, by N.C. Attorney General Jeff Jackson. Here is the complaint filed by 24 states and the District of Columbia. Here is the 18-page statement, called a declaration, by Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green, explaining the impact on North Carolina. Here is a report by the N.C. Department of Public Instruction (DPI), including the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) positions impacted, and the amount of federal funding being withheld from districts, charter schools, and 21st Century Community Learning Center grant recipients.
In total, approximately $165.6 million is at stake, across these federal funding streams:
Title I-C – Education of Migratory Children ($5,356,426)
Title II-A – Supporting Effective Instruction ($67,906,396)
Title III-A – English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement, and Academic Achievement ($19,338,744)
Title IV-A – Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants ($37,245,499)
Title IV-B – 21st Century Community Learning Centers ($35,719,614)
Statewide, 922 FTE in districts and 59 FTE at DPI are impacted. Here is the press release. Here is the press conference. Jackson released this video. Read the entire article here.
Statements on the Federal Lawsuit against the United States Department of Education
July 14, 2025
Superintendent Mo Green Statement
"On June 30, 2025, one day before the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction was scheduled to receive federal education funding for the new school year, we were notified that $165 million in federal funds authorized by the United States Congress would be placed under review and withheld. This impacts essential services for hundreds of thousands of students across our state, including some of our most vulnerable, as well as hundreds of teachers and other educators, many of whom have already been hired for this school year, and summer programs currently underway.
While the NC Department of Public Instruction respects the federal administration's right to review programs, I must emphasize that our legal obligations to serve these students remain unchanged, and the timing creates significant and unnecessary challenges for schools, community organizations, and most importantly, the children who depend on these services. I support efforts, including this nationwide lawsuit, to resolve this situation quickly and ensure that North Carolina students receive the support they need and deserve and that our federal government agreed to provide them.”
State Board of Education Chair Eric Davis' Statement
“The decision to freeze $165 million in federal funding is an unnecessary and irresponsible act against our children. Every student in North Carolina — in every classroom, in every community — benefits from these critical resources. Educating our children should rise above politics. We call on the Executive Branch to act now in the best interest of every student. Their futures cannot wait.”
Chalkbeat - Erica Meltzer | July 14, 2025: The decision is a major blow to education leaders and advocates fighting to preserve a fully functioning federal department. In addition to allowing layoffs to proceed, the decision means the Education Department can resume efforts to move certain functions to different departments. Education Secretary Linda McMahon previously described the layoffs as a first step toward President Donald Trump’s goal of eliminating the Department of Education, although only Congress can officially shut down the department.
EdNC - Mebane Rash | July 10, 2025: “The Tar Heel State is on a roll,” finds CNBC in its newly announced and highly coveted rankings on America’s top states for business. The rankings include 10 categories. Here is how North Carolina ranked and the grade assigned in 2025 by CNBC. North Carolina receives an A- on education.
K-12 Dive - Roger Riddell | July 15, 2025: Career and technical education is among workforce development programs to be jointly administered by DOL and the Education Department.
DPI Press Release | July 2, 2025: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the 2025-26 federal income eligibility guidelines for free and reduced-price meals for children enrolled in North Carolina’s schools. The Federally-assisted School Nutrition Programs help ensure all students have access to wholesome, nutritious, appealing meals at school. The federal income eligibility guidelines for July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 are available atfns.usda.gov
EdNC - Cheyenne McNeill | July 15, 2025: The State Board of Education’s virtual meeting on Thursday, July 10, covered multiple topics, including policy amendments, a review of the Charter Schools Annual Report, and an update on cut scores for the edTPA exams. To start, the Board welcomed three new advisors: Freddie Williamson, Superintendent of the Year from the Public Schools of Robeson County; Jason Johnson, Principal of the Year from Orange County Schools; and Rachel Candaso, Teacher of the Year from Pitt County Schools.
District Highlight: Edenton-Chowan Schools - Students Place Nationally at FCCLA Leadership Conference
Earlier this month, a group of nineteen Edenton-Chowan Schools students attended the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) 2025 National Leadership Conference, with four students receiving national recognition:
Elizabeth Ayers (John A. Holmes High School)
Denisse Preciado (Chowan Middle School)
Mackenzie White (Chowan Middle School)
Walter Norman (Chowan Middle School)
The conference welcomed thousands of students from across the nation for a week of competition, leadership development and career exploration. Learn more about the conference here.
NCGA went on temporary break on Thursday, June 26, with state budget negotiations between the House and Senate still on hold (but could resume later in the summer/early fall).
Without a new state budget law, state will operate under a continuation budget — recurring funding generally continues at same levels as the previous fiscal year unless adjusted in separate legislation.
Both House and Senate introduced “mini-budget” bills before going on break, with none of those bills passing both chambers.
EdNC - Ben Humphries | June 30, 2025: Since no budget was passed before the end of the fiscal year, state funding will continue at the current level laid out in the most recent certified budget. That means educator pay will go unchanged until a budget or spending bill is passed later in the summer or fall. Bill substitutes were discussed that would provide some temporary funding for educators, but ultimately none passed both chambers. An analysis by The 74 released in May compared teacher salary growth to revenue growth in school districts across the country. On the report’s interactive web page, you can select North Carolina and then any district to view the difference in the district’s revenue growth from 2002-2022 and salary growth over the same period. (All data is adjusted for inflation; salary data doesn’t include bonuses or other benefits.)
