Special to IFN
RALEIGH — Attorney General Jeff Jackson and attorneys general from 24 other states sued to prevent the federal government from cutting funds for public education.
North Carolina schools stand to lose more than $165 million in public education funding and nearly 1,000 educators across the state will lose their jobs as a result of the Trump administration’s decision to freeze $6.8 billion in federal funds approved for states by Congress.
The cuts make up nearly 10 percent of all of the state’s federal educational funding.
“Public schools across North Carolina, especially in rural areas, need this money to keep teachers in the classroom and keep kids safe while they learn,” said Attorney General Jackson. “It’s unlawful and unconstitutional for the Department of Education to withhold money that Congress has appropriated. I’m going to court to get this money for our students, our schools, and North Carolina families.”
Gov. Josh Stein said the federal funds that are being withheld are critical to North Carolina school districts.
“Without these funds, nearly 1,000 teachers will have their jobs taken from them. The money also provides after-school programs, supports children learning English, and helps adults learn how to read,” Stein said. “Schools are counting on these funds; without them, they will be left scrambling as kids return to classrooms. I thank Attorney General Jackson for bringing his action and call on the U.S. Department of Education to release the funds that North Carolina is owed.”
N.C. Superintendent of Public Instruction Maurice “Mo” Green also supported the legal challenge.
“While the N.C. 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,” Green said. “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.”
The federal education grant funding at stake in this lawsuit supports North Carolina public school budgets, teacher salaries, before- and after-school programs for students, community learning centers, teacher development programs, and more. Summer programs and hiring for the school year were already underway in anticipation of the grant funds being released on July 1.
On the evening of June 30, the U.S. Department of Education paused the flow of these funds nationwide without warning, even though they were already approved by Congress.
Recent data shows that rural school districts will suffer the largest drop in investment per student, with some districts losing over $300 per pupil. Nine of the 10 school districts losing the most money per student are in rural North Carolina. The counties devastated by Hurricane Helene are facing a cut of roughly $18 million.
The loss of nearly 1,000 educator jobs could be a major blow to school districts throughout North Carolina, especially given the state’s ongoing teacher shortage, and to the state’s economy. For the 2023-2024 school year, data shows almost 9,000 NC teachers left the profession.
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.