$24M in Magnet School Funding Halted by Trump Administration

School districts in Chicago, New York City, and Virginia stand to lose upwards of $24 million in federal funding in the next fiscal term, due to a missed deadline issued by the Trump administration concerning potential violations of civil rights.

Craig Trainor, the Department of Education’s acting assistant secretary for civil rights, cautioned the school districts last week that failure to comply with federal laws could lead to their multimillion-dollar Magnet School Assistance Program grants, known as MSAP grants, being uncertified. These grants are intended to support public ‘magnet’ schools, institutions designed to foster a diverse student body.

In correspondence sent on Sept. 16 to New York City Public Schools Chair Gregory Faulkner, Chicago Board of Education President Sean Harden, and Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Michelle Reid, Trainor accused the districts of Title IX violations, alleging discrimination based on sex in policies for transgender and gender-expansive students.

This development follows earlier reports that Trainor will not certify the districts as civil rights law compliant as a result of the missed deadline. This certification is a requirement for the receipt of MSAP funding, meaning these districts may not be eligible for the grants in the coming fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1.

The significance becomes clear when we consider the amounts at risk: $15 million for New York City Community School Districts, $5.8 million for Chicago Public Schools, and $3.4 million for Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia.

Reports indicate that New York’s guidelines demand that transgender and expansive students should have access to facilities consistent with their asserted gender identity at school. These guidelines also allow students to participate in sports teams or activities according to their asserted gender identity. Fairfax County Public Schools is reported to have a similar policy, while Chicago Public Schools is under scrutiny for allowing transgender students access to intimate spaces and opportunities in competitive sports.

The Department of Education argues that these policies amount to discrimination against students based on race and sex. Meanwhile, the school districts maintain that they are striving to create an inclusive environment for all students. This raises important questions about how to balance these different considerations.

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Several school districts have expressed disappointment and frustration with the situation, stating that implementing policy changes of this magnitude requires more time. However, the Department of Education has remained firm in its stance, stating that it is the responsibility of the school districts to ensure that their policies do not violate federal law.

The debate over these school policies continues, with federal funding hanging in the balance. As always, we’ll keep you informed as more information becomes available.