Earlier this summer, the U.S. Department of Education sent a letter that to all states notifying them of a funding freeze or impoundment in several Title programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Title funds as of July 1, 2025.
There was a lot of concern from the yeshiva and day school community about the potential loss or delay of critical professional development, ESL, and student support programs. The silence from State Educational Authorities, including NYSED, only added to the concerns. While it was hard to envision that the administration would take away these programs or that they had the legal right to do so, the facts on the ground remained ominous.
There were many politicians and advocates that highlighted this issue to the administration, and the issue certainly affected the public schools more than the private schools. Across political lines, there were politicians going on record about the potential damage to needy children of these actions, and thankfully, the funding was released at the end of July. We are hopeful that there won’t be major ramifications from the delays.
This situation underscores some key points for school leaders, both administrative and educational, to keep in mind. First, politics and education intersect often, and it is critical to maintain an active presence in expressing our needs to politicians from all sides of the spectrum. Advocacy is not an optional activity in our times, and our collective work in this area makes a difference in ways that we’re not always aware of. Second, government programs are a privilege that we enjoy by virtue of living in a society that recognizes the needs of all children, including nonpublic schools. We should also remember that and approach government programs with the proper gratitude as they’re not automatic.