Trump admin withholds over $100 million from Indiana schools and education

Updated Tuesday, July 8, 2025, 10 a.m. 

The Trump administration told states that it won’t be dispersing over $6 billion in federal education grants, according to reporting from NPR. 

That money would normally go to a wide range of school programs, such as migrant education, resources for English language learners and before- and after-school learning.

Indiana expected to receive roughly $107 million in funding that is now on hold. That’s based on funding levels from last year. Congress passed a continuing resolution in March that extends federal funding. States were expecting to receive roughly the same amount in 2025 as they did in 2024.

In a message Monday, the U.S. Department of Education told states it is reviewing funding for those programs. The department typically disburses that funding by July 1, according to NPR.

"Given the change in Administrations, the Department is reviewing the FY 2025 funding for the [Title I-C, II-A, III-A, IV-A, IV-B] grant program(s), and decisions have not yet been made concerning submissions and awards for this upcoming year,” according to the Education Department message reported by NPR. 

The Indiana Department of Education shared what the federal department said about the funds currently on hold in a weekly newsletter. They did not answer specific questions from WFYI about the funding freeze.

IDOE will tell “schools as we know more about these allocations.”

Keith Gambill, president of the Indiana State Teachers Association, said “deeply concerned” about the Trump administration’s decision.

“This action impacts every state and thousands of school districts,” Gambill said in a statement. “Without these funds, schools will be forced to make harmful decisions that directly affect students, educators and public schools.”

The state’s largest teachers union urges the federal government to release the funds, Gambill said in a statement.

Here are the funding programs and how much has been withheld from Indiana. 

Title I-C Migrant Education Program: $2.5 million

The Migrant Education Program aims to ensure that migrant students “reach challenging academic standards and graduate with a high school diploma,” according to the federal program description.

These funds also support educational transitions for migrant children, who often move multiple times a year with their families. Program leaders also work to locate and recruit students to enroll them in provided programming. 

The Migrant Education Program reported that nearly 500 migrant students moved to Indiana or around the state during the 2022-23 school year. 

Title II-A Supporting Effective Instruction: $41.2 million

The Supporting Effective Instruction state grants provide funding to state and local agencies to “increase student achievement consistent with the challenging state academic standards,” according to the federal program description.

Title III-A English Language Acquisition State Grants: $10.1 million

The English Language Acquisition state grants provide support to students learning English. Indiana has more than 97,000 English language learners, according to the state’s 2024-25 school count.

Title IV-A Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program: $20.7 million

The Student Support and Academic Enrichment program is intended to provide all students with access to a “well-rounded” education, improve school conditions for learning and support technology use and digital literacy, according to the federal program description.

That includes support like college and career guidance, trauma-formed practices in schools and expanded rural access to technology. 

Title IV-B Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers: $19.9 million

Funding for this federal grant program focuses on before- and after-school options for families through community learning centers. It primarily serves students in low-income, high-poverty areas who need academic support.

Indiana recipients include a range of providers such as school districts, Boys & Girls Clubs and community centers. The John Boner Community Center on the east side of Indianapolis, for example, received about $170,000 in 2024.

Adult basic education, literacy and civics grants: $12.8 million

Adult Basic and Literacy Education state grants provided more than $12 to Indiana in 2024. The program supports local family literacy services and English literacy programs. These funds support adults and out-of-school youth age 16 and older.

The administration also withheld more than $750,000 from a separate adult English literacy and civics education state grant program. 

This story was updated with a response from the Indiana Department of Education.

Rachel Fradette is the WFYI Statehouse education reporter. Contact Rachel at rfradette@wfyi.org.