(The Bulletin) – The war between the state of California and the Trump Administration has wedged its way into the classroom. Local school districts, such as the Compton Unified School District, may pay a steep price because of it.
Allocated funds from the U.S. Congress set to funnel their way into California have been halted by the Trump White House. According to CalMatters, as much as $811 million designated for California is on pause. The California Department of Education (CDE) estimates that number to be a little higher at $1 billion.
And that has California Superintendent Tony Thurmond and other state education leaders crying foul.
“The President is completely disregarding the democratic process by impounding dollars already budgeted, rather than trying to make his case for cuts to elected representatives sent to Congress by the American people to make these decisions. In the notification we received, the Trump Administration provides no legal justification for withholding these dollars from our students. The Administration is punishing children for the sole reason that states refuse to cater to Trump’s political ideology,” said Thurmond.
“The Administration is withholding funds that employ vital school staff who provide critical resources and supports for learning for all students. Every child will feel the impact of this disruption delivered shortly before the start of the school year, when our students, educators, and families should be anticipating the year ahead and making plans to support our children’s learning and growth,” Thurmond went on to say.
It is not just California that the administration is targeting. It is the programs for which the funding has been allocated nationwide. All total, the money frozen goes into the billions of dollars range.
More specifically, the programs feeling the pain of the funds being withheld are in five categories. They are: Title I-C: Migrant Education ($375 million); Professional Development-Title II-A ($2.2 billion); Before and After School programs ($1.4 billion) -Title IV-B; English Learner Services-Title III-A ($890 million); and academic enrichment Title IV A ($1.3 billion).
Compton Unified School Board Vice President Satra Zurita said the withholding of these funds means there will be plenty of upheaval and uncertainty for educators, parents and students.
“As vice president of the school board, I’m proud that our district continues to maintain a positively certified budget through careful planning and responsible stewardship,” Zurita said. “Still, potential delays or cuts to federal funding—particularly Title I, II, III, and IV—could have serious consequences.”
“These programs fund critical student services, including after-school programs, professional development for teachers, and language support for English learners. Even with strong financial management, we may be forced to reduce staff, cut programs, or rely on reserves to bridge funding gaps. Our priority is to protect the programs that help our students thrive,” she continued.
Now, should those funds continue to be withheld, that would present a different set of issues. Educational disparities would continue. The possible layoffs of staff, tutors, and speaking specialists would become a firm reality.
And there could be disruptions in learning services, all which would be bad for everyone involved, she said.
“Decisions like this lead to uncertainty in school finances, for services benefiting students, leading to cuts in staffing tied to programs funded under the Title I, II, III & IV,” said Zurita, who also serves as Compton’s City Clerk. “A long-term delay in funding or an unforeseen elimination of funding could impact services to students under Title 1 funding. The elimination of Title II would significantly impact professional development of teachers within our organization.”
She continued, “The elimination of Title III funding would have a significant impact on immigrant students’ acquisition of language, along with other services provided to them. The elimination of Title IV funding would significantly impact after-school services provided to students. An overall impact on our budget would be evident, resulting in immediate draw downs of our reserve to meet the needs of students within our organization.”
Featured Image: Compton City Clerk and Compton Unified School District Board Vice President Satra Zurita sits next to former Vice President Kamala Harris at the 2025 Compton High School graduation ceremony on June 5, 2025. Photo credit: Dennis J. Freeman
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