HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – Weeks before the start of the school year, Gov. Andy Beshear is joining a nationwide lawsuit that challenges the freezing of $6.8 billion in education funding appropriated by Congress through the U.S. Department of Education. The lawsuit claims that the freeze violates federal statutory and regulatory requirements and could directly impact Kentucky schools.

“This is not about Democrat or Republican, these funds were appropriated by Congress for the education of Kentucky’s children, and it’s my job to ensure we get them,” said Gov. Beshear. “In Kentucky, $96 million in federal education funds are at risk. Our kids and our future depend on a strong education, and these funds are essential to making sure our kids succeed.”

On July 14, a news release from the Governor’s Office said 23 other states and the District of Columbia have joined the lawsuit so far. Under federal law, the ED provides funding to states to support programs that promote classroom learning, improve school conditions, support technology use, fund community learning centers and more.

“The delay or withholding of these Congressionally appropriated funds will impact all our districts, with an especially large impact on Kentucky’s most vulnerable students,” said a statement from Kentucky Commissioner of Education Robbie Fletcher. “It is my responsibility to advocate for Kentucky’s students and ensure they have every possible resource available to them. It is imperative that the funds appropriated by Congress be immediately awarded to Kentucky.”

State plans are approved prior to the release of the funds, and in some cases, already expended, as these funds have been received for decades without incident, according to the news release. However, this year, on June 30, state agencies across the country received a notification announcing that the ED would not be “obligating funds for” six formula funding programs on July 1.

Earlier this summer in May, the U.S Department of Education denied Kentucky schools $10.6 million in projects by cutting COVID relief funding short. This denied $7.9 million that were previously approved to CCPS for construction costs of the new Christian County High School.

Amid this freeze, CCPS is continuing to remain focused on the first day of school on Aug. 18 and the success of the upcoming school year for local students.

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