DETROIT – Dozens of school districts across Michigan are expected to lose millions in federal funding after the U.S. Department of Education suddenly cut off COVID relief funds.
Related: ‘There doesn’t seem to be a rationale’: Michigan leaders react to US Department of Education cuts
On Friday, March 28, at 5 p.m., the U.S. Department of Education, led by Secretary Linda McMahon, unexpectedly changed the deadline for reimbursement requests for funds related to the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) and the American Rescue Plan (ARP) to the same day and time.
The original deadline was March 28, 2026.
Michigan Superintendent Dr. Michael F. Rice said the state could lose more than $40 million that was approved to be used for projects in 27 districts and that the abrupt policy change jeopardizes the districts’ financial plans, possibly forcing cuts to educational spending or savings.
“The 27 districts entered contracts with the understanding that their preapproved projects would be reimbursed by the federal government,” Rice said. “A change in administrations should not void previous commitments. Without the promised March 2026 date for federal reimbursement requests, districts may be forced to reduce instructional expenditures for students, diminish savings, or both to honor these contracts.”
According to the Michigan Department of Education, the district that could be hit hardest by the change is the Flint City School District, which looks to lose more than $15 million in funds and Metro Detroit school districts could lose more than $17 million.
The U.S. Department of Education claimed that the funding is no longer justifiable or needed.
“COVID is over,” the Department said in a statement sent to our NBC affiliate in Washington. “States and school districts can no longer claim they are spending their emergency pandemic funds on COVID relief when there are numerous documented examples of misuse.”
In a statement from the Michigan Department of Education, officials said they had already distributed about $24.2 million out of over $40 million based on reported district spending, with Flint receiving $14.2 million from a $15.6 million request. Some districts haven’t requested payment yet, risking $17.8 million in funds, while MDE could lose $5 million in administrative costs unless the U.S. Department of Education honors the previous extension approval request.
A full list of the roughly $42 million in funds that districts could lose can be seen below.
Bold text denotes a school district in Metro Detroit
American Rescue Plan — $40,069,759.21
Metro Detroit total — $15,895,765.88
| District | Amount remaining |
|---|---|
| Battle Creek Public Schools | $3,389,571.43 |
| Benton Harbor Area Schools | $4,579,396.00 |
| Bridgeport-Spaulding Schools | $543,527.85 |
| Brighton Area Schools | $1,190,714.15 |
| Chandler Park Academy | $1,017,396.45 |
| Flint City School District | $15,603,029.05 |
| Hamtramck School District | $7,248,920.00 |
| Lincoln Park School District | $1,394,178.42 |
| Pontiac School District | $3,294,052.23 |
| Port Huron Area Schools | $497,205.00 |
| Reed City Area Schools | $58,469.00 |
| Woodhaven-Brownstown Schools | $1,253,299.63 |
Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations — $1,905,141.25
Metro Detroit total — $1,425,137.00
| District | Amount remaining |
|---|---|
| Adrian Public Schools | $7,281.00 |
| Carman-Ainsworth Comm. Schools | $234,818.00 |
| Grandville Public Schools | $24,545.11 |
| Greenville Public Schools | $24,022.00 |
| Insight School of Michigan | $33,363.00 |
| Marquette Area Public Schools | $9,912.14 |
| Marysville Public Schools | $367,159.00 |
| Michigan Great Lakes Virtual Academy | $79,928.00 |
| Northville Public Schools | $62,650.00 |
| River Rouge, City School District | $28,772.00 |
| Royal Oak Schools | $44,398.00 |
| Van Buren Public Schools | $90,000.00 |
| Wayland Union Schools | $66,135.00 |
| West Bloomfield School District | $734,015.00 |
| Whiteford Agricultural School District | $98,143.00 |
Related: Michigan’s superintendent reacts to Education Department staffing cuts
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