Educators Have Concerns With Federal Funding
Although it’s early in the process, Montana’s school officials have concerns after the Trump administration put on hold $6.8 billion in federal funds for K-12 schools last week.
“It’s still early for us to know, we haven’t gotten any definite numbers,” Wolf Point Superintendent of Schools Dr. David Perkins said. “It’s not a good thing. I can say that.”
According to information that Perkins received from the School Administrators of Montana, the biggest impact will be on Title II, Part A. Montana receives almost $11 millions in federal monies under Title II. That likely impacts every district in the state.
“It’s going to affect us, the effects we don’t know yet,” Perkins said.
Title funds that are connected might include the following: • Title I, Part C: Migrant education
• Title II, A: Support effective instruction (typically used for class size reductions or professional development)
• Title III, A: English, language learners.
• Title IV, A: Student support and academic enrichment (may be used for homeless/at-risk programs or other student support programs) • Title IV, B: 21st Century grants, out of school time (grants that support after school programs) Perkins said the funding that might impact Wolf Point the most include Title IV, A regarding homeless people and Title IV, B regarding after- school programs. According to information the Department of Education, Montana is estimated to experience total cuts in 2026 for supporting effective instruction state grants, 21st Century community learning centers, student support and academic enrichment state grants, English language acquisition, adult basic and literacy education state grants, English literacy and civics education state grants.
“We may have some cuts coming that we may have to look at,” Perkins said. “It does depend on the amount. How much we don’t know yet.”
It does appear that Wolf Point will still receive about the same amount of Impact Aid funds. Perkins notes that funds help replace tax revenue.
