OKEECHOBEE - The U.S. Department of Education is finally unfreezing more than $5 billion in grant funding for states.

Back on June 30, the U.S. Education Department sent a message to state education officials that it was reviewing grant funding for multiple programs and that those funds are frozen until after the review process.

In total the federal government was withholding $6.8 billion is education funding. The state of Florida’s portion of that funding was $398 million according to Education Week. Some of the programs under review included Title II-A which funds professional development for teachers, Title III-A which funds services for English learners, Title IV-A, which provides funding for academic enrichment and student support, and Title IV-B  which funds before- and after-school programs.

The freeze came at a time when most school boards were preparing their upcoming budgets. The uncertainty left many districts wondering if they would have funding for many school programs as well as the ability to pay for teachers on the payroll who relied on the grants.

In Hendry County, funds from those title grants pay for 72 employees in the school district.

“We don’t know at this point in time how long the review is going to take nor the outcome of the review,” said Hendry Superintendent Swindle during a July 15 budget workshop. “We could be very hurt by the outcome of that if we have to take 72 humans off our payroll and lose some very incredible programs.”

Republican and Democratic representatives wrote President Trump’s Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to urge her to release the funds. Twenty-four states also sued the Trump administration over their decision to freeze the funds.

"We are pleased public schools will receive the funding as appropriated by Congress for the 2025-26 school year,” said David Schuler, executive director of AASA, the School Superintendents Association. “We thank our members and allies on the Hill. We appreciate their tireless advocacy, communication and outreach to the Administration about the importance of releasing these critical funds."