Capito, Collins applaud action by Education Dept. to release appropriated funds

The U.S. Department of Education said on July 18 that it plans to release fiscal year 2025 funding to support 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) after pressure was applied by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and several of their Senate colleagues.

Federal funding for the 21st CCLCs, which support low-income families and rural communities with after-school programs and summer education, had already been appropriated by Congress, said Sen. Collins.

“I am so glad my colleagues and I were able to work together to effectively urge the administration to get these funds released,” Sen. Collins said on Friday. “There is more funding that still needs to be disbursed, and I will continue to work to ensure it is delivered swiftly so educators can prepare for the upcoming academic year with certainty and Maine students and families have the resources they need to succeed.”

“21st Century Community Learning Centers offer important services that many West Virginians rely on,” explained Sen. Capito. “This program supports states in providing quality after-school and summer learning programs for students while enabling their parents to work and contribute to local economies.

“We should be supporting education opportunities like these,” she added. “Doing so will help our students in West Virginia and across the country thrive.”

The department’s new plans follow a July 16 letter led by Sens. Capito and Collins and eight of their colleagues sent to Russell Vought, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), seeking release of the education formula funding.

Specifically, the senators requested that the administration “faithfully implement” the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Full-Year Continuing Resolution Act, which Congress passed and Trump signed into law earlier this year.

Among the lawmakers who joined Sen. Collins and Sen. Capito in signing the letter were U.S. Sens. Deb Fischer (R-NE), John Hoeven (R-ND), and Mike Rounds (R-SD).

Sen. Collins said on July 17 she also personally urged U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon to unfreeze the funds.

The Education Department said it will release the 21st CCLC funds to state education agencies, allowing afterschool and summer programs to resume. At the start of July, the department and OMB had said the funds were being withheld until a programmatic review was completed.