Trump 2.0: How Much Federal Education Aid Does Your School or Congressional District Receive?

Today, Education Law Center released a new advocacy tool focused on federal PK-12 funding. Using the most recently released Census Survey of School System Finances (F33) reports for the 2022-23 school year, the interactive data tool provides a clear picture of how threats to federal funding would affect school districts as well as congressional districts. The data can be linked to a specific school or congressional district to allow users to easily generate customized talking points targeted to municipal or school district leaders as well as their representatives in Congress.

“We hope advocates will use this detailed data to understand and communicate the high stakes behind the current threats from the Trump administration,” said Danielle Farrie, ELC Research Director.

Why It Is More Important Than Ever To Focus on Federal Education Funding Cuts

In the first 100 days of the Trump Administration alone:

• DOGE has cut hundreds of grants and contracts for teacher preparation programs and education research;
• The Department of Education is withholding hundreds of millions of dollars in Covid relief funding already spent or committed by states and school districts;
• President Trump has threatened to withhold federal funding to school districts and states that do not conform to his “anti-DEI” agenda or who require vaccinations against COVID-19; and
• The Trump Administration has threatened to block all federal funding to Maine because of its “noncompliance” with his executive order blocking transgender students’ from participating in sports.

At the same time, Republicans in Congress are proposing drastic reductions in the federal budget that would require the Education and Workforce Committee to find at least $330 billion to cut. The Trump Administration has also asked Congress to eliminate funding for Head Start, a sixty-year-old early education program for low-income families administered through the Department of Health and Human Services.

In addition, the Trump Administration is faithfully executing goals laid out in Project 2025, which calls for the elimination of Title I funding within 10 years and the conversion of IDEA funding to block grants or vouchers.

“Now is the time to advocate for the nation’s public school students by contacting members of Congress, sharing this information with education and community stakeholders, and making clear that our students, parents, and educators desperately need these resources,” said Robert Kim, ELC Executive Director. 

How the Tool Works

After selecting either a school district or congressional district, users can view the total and per-pupil amount of federal funding the school or congressional district receives, as well as estimates of the number of students enrolled in the district, the share of total revenue coming from federal sources, the number of full-time teachers that federal funding supports, and detailed revenue totals for the individual programs that are reported in the survey (e.g., school meal programs, Title I, IDEA, Impact Aid). The advocacy tool also provides contact information and committee assignments for congressional representatives.

For additional tools to support advocates committed to protecting federal funding for public schools, visit the interactive tools page on ELC’s website.

Related Stories:

TRUMP 2.0: HOW MUCH FEDERAL EDUCATION AID COULD YOUR STATE LOSE?

PUTTING A PRICE TAG ON UNIVERSAL SCHOOL VOUCHER PROGRAMS

RESISTING TRUMP’S ASSAULT ON STUDENTS AND SCHOOLS: HOW ELC IS FIGHTING BACK

Press Contact:
Sharon Krengel
Director of Policy, Strategic Partnerships and Communications
skrengel@edlawcenter.org
973-624-1815, x240