Rio Rancho Public Schools leaders are seeking ways to absorb the loss of about $780,000 in federal aid due to a pause in payments.
RRPS Spokesperson Wyndham Kemsley said the amount is less than what’s being withheld from other districts around the state, but the loss of any federal funding is cause for concern.
Kemsley said the district is exploring ways to reallocate dollars for now.
“The main focus is making sure our students are being taken care of,” he said.
On June 30, the U.S. Department of Education informed state education officials that it was delaying the disbursement of $6.9 billion Congress had already approved, pending review. The message, shared with the Sandoval Signpost by the office of U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez, does not identify a timeline for completion of that review.
The message was sent out a day before the federal government typically sends money to schools, and just over a month before the first day of class for most students.
Kemsley said the RRPS portion of the withheld funding would go toward programs for English language learners, teacher professional development and general student support and academic enrichment services.
Roughly 761 of the 17,292 students enrolled in Rio Rancho Public Schools are English Language Learners. This figure represents approximately 4.4% of the student body.
Vasquez sent a letter to the Department of Education and the Office of Management and Budget urging the Trump administration to release the money, contending the delay is unlawful. In a news release, he said New Mexico’s public schools are projected to lose more than $44 million.
“This funding was already approved by Congress, period,” Vasquez said. “There’s no excuse for it to be sitting on the sidelines. “Every day of delay means fewer teachers, fewer resources, and more stress on students, particularly those who need the most support: our rural kids, English language learners, and children from low-income families. As someone who got a lot of help learning English at public school as a kid, I know firsthand that New Mexican students and schools will suffer from this kind of funding uncertainty.”
Albuquerque Public Schools, which serves the Village of Corrales, hasn’t received $12 million in previously approved funding.
Twenty-four states and the District of Columbia have filed a lawsuit challenging the denial of the funding.