Maryland AG Joins Multistate Lawsuit Challenging Federal Education Funding Cuts

Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown is leading a legal challenge against the U.S. Department of Education, contesting abrupt cuts to funding for Full Service Community School (FSCS) programs. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, contends that these funding reductions are unlawful and will negatively impact students and families who rely on these vital services.

The Full Service Community School programs are designed to provide concentrated support to elementary and secondary schools facing significant need. These initiatives offer students and their families crucial assistance with academic, health, and social challenges. While the Department of Education typically awards FSCS grants for five-year periods, with annual decisions to continue funding based on grantee performance, recent actions have deviated from this established process.

In mid-December, numerous FSCS grantees received notifications that their funding would be immediately discontinued. The Department of Education cited conflicts with the previous administration’s priorities as the reason for these cuts. This decision means that students in Maryland and across the country risk losing access to essential academic, financial, and community support systems.

One such program, funded by an intended five-year grant awarded to the University of Maryland at Baltimore (UMB) in 2022, was set to receive approximately $1.9 million. This funding was designated for FSCS programs at Renaissance Academy and Augusta Fells Savage Institute of Visual Arts, both Baltimore City Public High Schools. Since the program’s inception, the schools have reported increased student attendance, and hundreds of students have benefited from food distribution, housing assistance, and help with utility payments. However, just before the holiday season, UMB was informed that its program would cease at the end of December. The Department of Education’s justification for this discontinuation reportedly centered on two mentions of “anti-racism” within the program’s 2022 application. This abrupt cancellation represents a loss of roughly $800,000 in funding over the next two years, posing significant challenges for the students and families dependent on the program’s comprehensive support.

The lawsuit, filed by Attorney General Brown along with the attorneys general of North Carolina and the District of Columbia, alleges that the Department of Education’s actions violate the Administrative Procedure Act. The coalition is seeking a federal court ruling that declares these funding discontinuances unlawful and requests an injunction to reverse the Department’s decisions. The outcome of this legal action could have significant implications for the continued operation of FSCS programs nationwide, impacting the availability of critical resources for underserved student populations.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the Maryland Attorney General.

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