Dr. Carey Wright State Superintendent | Maryland Department Of Education
The president of the State Board of Education, Dr. Joshua Michael, and the State Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Carey M. Wright, have expressed their concern over the recent move by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) to rescind pandemic recovery funds reimbursement. They were taken aback by the notification delivered late on Friday, which affected reimbursements that had previously been sanctioned for states and districts.
Dr. Michael and Dr. Wright stated, "'Shocked' does not begin to describe our reaction when we received the notification late Friday evening that the U.S. Department of Education had immediately rescinded reimbursements to states and districts for approved pandemic recovery funds." For the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) and local school systems, the decision puts over $400 million in jeopardy, representing 11 percent of the $3.2 billion allocated to Maryland for pandemic recovery efforts.
The withdrawal affects various initiatives, such as Maryland Leads grant programs, which include high-dosage tutoring, social-emotional wellness programs, and summer learning initiatives. The Science of Reading program and Grow Your Own initiative, aimed at teacher preparation, are awaiting delivery of materials and tuition payments. Moreover, capital projects like HVAC repair, health room modifications, and carpet replacements are impacted by the funding interruption.
The statement from Dr. Michael and Dr. Wright emphasized, "These funds have been spent or committed with every expectation of reimbursement. The federal government must keep its word to students, educators, and families. We are advising local education agencies to hold on any further spending at this point until we know exactly how to proceed."
The rescission introduced significant financial uncertainty for state and local jurisdictions already contending with budget constraints. The leaders emphasized that "the USDE’s decision is catastrophic" and concluded with a stern warning: "In this action, the federal government is breaking the trust that it once held strong in states across America."
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