A Trump administration budget freeze could mean millions of dollars lost for school districts and other educational institutions across Florida that offer after-school and summer programs, including in South Florida.
Until now, the Boys & Girls Club of Palm Beach County operated federally funded programs, such as those that fell under the purview of the organization’s 21st Century Community Learning Center.
That money had allowed the Boys & Girls Club of Palm Beach County to “provide a safe, engaging and enriching environment for over 9,000 young people in grades K-12 annually,” Erin Nicoloso, vice president of marketing and business development, wrote in a statement.
For Broward County Public Schools, “the freeze on federal funds will have significant implications and impact our ability to provide much-needed support for our students,” spokesman John Sullivan wrote in a statement.
“We are analyzing the full extent of this impact and will continue working closely with our federal lawmakers to restore these funds as quickly as possible,” Sullivan wrote.
Asked by the South Florida Sun Sentinel about the federal funding freeze, spokespeople for Palm Beach County Public Schools said the district was working on a response. But the district had not provided information as of Monday afternoon.
Nationwide, the Trump administration is withholding more than $6 billion in federal grants for after-school and summer programs, English language instruction, adult literacy and more as part of a review to ensure grants align with President Donald Trump’s priorities.
The funding pause could affect schools, day cares, summer camps and other programs that provide services to low-income families.
Boys & Girls Clubs provide free child care so parents can work and have used federal funds to help pay for those programs. The club provides kids with hot meals, academic support, athletics programming and mentoring.
“Our programs offer academic support, career exploration, leadership development and access to caring mentors — resources that are often out of reach for many in our community. The stability and consistency of this federal program has strengthened our partnership with the Palm Beach County School District and other local education stakeholders,” Nicoloso wrote.
“Should this funding remain unavailable, the impact would be significant — not only for our organization, but for school districts and youth-serving nonprofits across the country. We would be forced to reduce or eliminate programming, affecting thousands of young people and resulting in the loss of certified teachers and youth development professionals who deliver crucial academic enrichment during non-school hours.”
The Boys & Girls Club of Palm Beach County did not specify exactly how much money would be affected, and while the Boys & Girls Club of Broward County also may be affected by the federal legislation, officials with the organization there declined to comment.
“Across Florida, more than 26,000 young people could be affected,” Nicoloso wrote. “Up to 67 Boys & Girls Clubs statewide could be forced to close, and over 1,200 jobs may be at risk. Families who rely on these programs would be left without safe, structured options for their children.”
If funding isn’t restored soon, some programming may end mid-season, said Jim Clark, president of the Boys & Girls Club of America, who said more than 900 clubs nationwide could close, affecting more than 220,000 kids.
School districts across Florida also are worried about the loss of funding, Bill Montford, chief executive of the Florida Association of District School Superintendents, said in a interview with the Tampa Bay Times.
“They’re very worried, especially if they have to dip into reserves,” Montford said. “This is a serious issue, but not one that superintendents can rush into.”
The U.S. Department of Education, in a notice obtained by The Associated Press, explained the pause was to make sure federal money aligned with the administration’s goals.
“The Department remains committed to ensuring taxpayer resources are spent in accordance with the President’s priorities and the Department’s statutory responsibilities,” it said.
Meanwhile, people behind the Boys & Girls Clubs are hoping to work with lawmakers in hopes of illustrating the impact of the programs.
“We remain hopeful that this critical investment in youth will be preserved, and we are committed to doing all we can to support the continuation of these essential services. Our Club doors are always open to our Legislators should they wish to observe the impact of these programs firsthand,” Nicoloso wrote.
Information from The Associated Press was used to supplement this news article.
Originally Published: