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New York state’s Schooling Division is having bother getting reimbursed for $363 million from the federal authorities, based on state officers who blamed the issue on mass layoffs and different modifications on the U.S. Division of Schooling.
“Simply days after the announcement of the [reduction in force], we now have already had challenges drawing down funds owed to New York by the Division,” Daniel Morton-Bentley, the deputy commissioner of authorized affairs on the state’s Schooling Division, wrote in a Monday court docket submitting.
Morton-Bentley’s allegation is a part of a broader lawsuit filed this month by 21 state attorneys basic, together with New York Lawyer Normal Letitia James, that seeks to problem President Donald Trump’s efforts to eliminate half the division’s workers.
Within the wake of a March 20 government order designed to start the method of closing the federal Schooling Division, the attorneys basic requested a Massachusetts federal choose on Monday for a preliminary injunction to dam layoffs and cease efforts to switch a few of its key features to different businesses, citing the delayed reimbursements to New York, amongst different points.
“We sued to cease Trump from dismantling the Division of Schooling, and right now we’re searching for a court docket order to guard college students and their households,” James stated in a Monday assertion.
The declare of cost delays is notable as a result of it is among the first concrete harms state training officers have linked to Trump’s effort to eradicate the federal Schooling Division. Different states, together with Illinois and New Jersey, have additionally struggled to entry funding or obtain steering from federal staffers, the submitting alleges.
The cash in query is tied to the Schooling Stabilization Fund, a tranche of federal aid {dollars} meant to assist colleges get well from the pandemic. New York state has acquired $9.3 billion from this system and was granted further time to liquidate one other $363 million, based on Morton-Bentley. The Schooling Stabilization Fund contains COVID aid {dollars} for Okay-12 colleges by means of a program known as ESSER.
Underneath the Trump administration, the U.S. Schooling Division started requiring further log off from federal staffers to maintain the cash flowing “to make sure taxpayer funds are expended responsibly,” based on a Feb. 19 press launch.
New York state officers contend that efforts to slash the Schooling Division’s workers has immediately affected the staff who’re presupposed to log off on the reimbursement requests.
“We’ve got been instructed to ship our requests to a brand new electronic mail handle however are ready on further steering and directions for the approval of drawdown requests,” Morton-Bentley wrote.
A consultant for the New York State Schooling Division didn’t instantly reply to questions on what packages or college districts acquired the $363 million — and what influence the delayed reimbursement might need. Additionally they didn’t make clear whether or not the state has formally submitted a reimbursement request or is ready for extra steering earlier than doing so.
New York Metropolis Schooling Division officers stated earlier this month they haven’t but skilled cuts tied to upheaval within the U.S. Schooling Division.
A spokesperson for the federal Schooling Division didn’t reply to a request for remark. However federal officers wrote to state policymakers earlier this month claiming that sharply decreasing the Schooling Division’s headcount wouldn’t adversely have an effect on them.
“These reductions are strategic cuts to places of work and packages,” wrote Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Haley Sanon. The modifications “won’t immediately influence college students and households however quite empower states and localities.”
Alex Zimmerman is a reporter for Chalkbeat New York, protecting NYC public colleges. Contact Alex at azimmerman@chalkbeat.org.