The Trump administration is withholding more than $6 billion in previously approved federal education grants to schools.
According to data from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, the freeze is impacting about $169 million in the state.
In Guilford County, that amounts to a little over $6 million. Superintendent Whitney Oakley spoke about it briefly at a school board meeting this week.
“These funds help us support teacher and principal growth and development, instructional support and critical safety programs," Oakley said. "We're actively reaching out to other school districts across the state and the country and leveraging organizations like the Council of Great City Schools to understand available avenues for advocacy.”
Guilford County School Board Member Khem Irby urged parents to get involved too.
“Your children are at risk of losing a lot of services," Irby said. "If we don't get the funding that we need, it's going to be a struggle in those classrooms.”
Over in Forsyth County, state data shows $5.5 million in federal funding is being withheld.
Interim Superintendent Catty Moore said that may halt a number of initiatives, including The Crosby Scholars program, which helps students prepare for college enrollment.
She said the district can use remaining funds from previous years to cover some costs, but her priority is paying for positions — not programs.
“Because we can defer the stuff, the training, whatever it is, but we want to make sure we’re taking care of the people," Moore said. "We need them to figure this out at the federal level.”
Moore, like Oakley, said she’s considering whether the district should make a public statement about the impact of the funding freeze.
“Do we need to do something, even if it might seem symbolic, to know that we are paying attention and it's not OK?" Moore said.
The state said it will provide updates to school districts as it receives further guidance from the federal government.