Judge Says Education Department Remains Barred From Canceling COVID-19 School Aid


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Key Details

  • What’s the money for?
    Congress approved $276 billion in 2020 (the “Education Stabilization Fund”) to help schools during the pandemic. Funds could be used for things like safer classrooms, mental health support, or tutoring.
  • Original Deadlines:
    • States had until Sept. 30, 2024 to decide how to spend the money.
    • They then had until Jan. 28, 2025 to actually pay for those plans.
  • Extension Granted (Then Reversed):
    The Education Department later gave states until March 2026 to use the funds. But in March 2023, they suddenly canceled the extension, saying the pandemic was over and the money should be used faster.

Why States Sued

  • 16 states + Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania’s governor argued:
    ➔ The reversal was unfair and broke federal rules.
    ➔ Schools need time to properly spend the money (e.g., hiring staff, launching programs).
  • Judge Ramos Agreed:
    He blocked the Education Department’s reversal in May 2024, calling it “arbitrary.” His June 3 order keeps that block in place.

What Happens Now

  • The Education Department must:
    ✅ Process states’ funding requests quickly.
    ✅ Not enforce a rushed May 2024 deadline to spend the money.
    ⚖️ Provide updates to the court on the status of payments.
  • The department argues it has the legal right to change deadlines, but the judge isn’t convinced yet.

Why This Matters

Schools relied on these funds for programs like:

  • Summer learning to fix “COVID learning loss.”
  • HVAC upgrades for cleaner air.
  • Mental health counselors.

Cutting off funds abruptly could disrupt these efforts. The ruling gives schools breathing room to finish what they started.

Who’s Involved?

States fighting the Education Department:
New York (leading the case), Arizona, California, D.C., Pennsylvania, and 13 others.

What’s Next?
The case continues, but for now, schools in these states can keep using COVID funds until at least March 2026 unless the court rules otherwise.

TL;DR: A judge says the government can’t rush states to spend COVID school aid—they get their original extension back while the legal fight plays out.

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