Colorado has joined 24 other states in a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education for withholding billions in grant money intended for K-12 schools. The move follows a July 9 roundtable where Gov. Jared Polis warned the state was exploring legal action in response to the Trump administration’s funding freeze.
The lawsuit, filed July 14 in the U.S. District Court of Rhode Island, demands the release of $6.8 billion in federal funds, which were due to all 50 states on July 1. For Colorado, the freeze could result in the loss of nearly $80 million, according to the Colorado Department of Education.
The funds were originally allocated by Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump. But school districts only learned on June 30—just hours before the money was supposed to be disbursed—that it had been frozen. By that time, many districts had already finalized their budgets.
According to education leaders, the withheld funds would have supported before- and after-school programs, English language learning, and efforts to raise graduation rates among immigrant students. Without this money, schools may be forced to cut services or even lay off educators.
“It is absolutely absurd that the United States Department of Education is attempting to freeze education funding, obligated by Congress, to our state,” said Gov. Polis in a statement. “This is devastating for educators, students, and families across Colorado who rely on these critical services.”
The lawsuit argues the Department of Education’s decision to halt the funding is illegal and politically motivated. The frozen funds represent roughly 13% of Colorado’s federal K-12 education funding, according to the Learning Policy Institute.
The impact is expected to hit especially hard in rural districts already struggling with underfunding and teacher shortages. Colorado currently ranks 49th in the nation for educator salaries, according to the Colorado Education Association.
Here’s what some Western Slope school districts stand to lose if the freeze becomes permanent:
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Mesa County Valley: $2,079,645
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Lake County: $474,900
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East Grand: $337,901
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Eagle County: $336,044
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Roaring Fork: $320,444
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Garfield: $296,280
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Moffat County: $114,741
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Summit: $163,891
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Steamboat Springs: $73,819
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Aspen: $35,132
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South Routt: $19,433
With the school year approaching, districts may soon need to notify parents that programs they’ve relied on for years could be eliminated.
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Katie is a senior who has been on staff for three years. Her favorite type of stories to write is reviews and features. Katie’s favorite ice cream flavor is strawberry.
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