Georgia after -school programs are braced for closure due to freezing of federal financing

Georgia is expected to lose $ 100 million in subsidy finance due to the break of the US Department of Education on Educational Fairies.

Hundreds of after -school and summer programs that serve thousands of students in Georgia can be closed after a national freezing of federal subsidy. The Atlanta YMCA is such an organization. Kim Nelson, the Chief Program Officer, says that the funds are used as reimbursements for products and services required for operation.

“Unfortunately, the community we serve in a risky and low income community, and this financing is so important to be able to offer the different services, and the program would look very different,” she said. ‘You actually say that [the] The majority of us should close our doors and not offer programming, “Nelson said Than.

The federal subsidies support after school, summer enrichment, English language learning, literacy for adults and teacher training. More than $ 6 billion in funds were planned to stop on July 1. These programs support around 27,000 students in the entire state, with a special focus on rural and disadvantaged areas.

Katie Landes, director of the Georgia State school network, said that the freezing is a threat to programs in 60% of the districts.

Landes said: “Parents are scrambling because they don’t know if that after -school care will be there.”

Lisa Morgan, head of the Georgia Association of Educators, said that several programs are in danger before the school starts.

The Ministry of Education mention in a memo that it remains dedicated to the directing of funds in line With the president priorities. These priorities include the removal of each program with an assumed “radical left -wing agenda”.

However, the agency did not offer a timeline when the assessment would end.

In Alabama, Gadsden City Schools stated that it should be possible to close its after -school program, with 1200 students with a low income and possibly affecting a maximum of 75 personnel positions, if funds are not released soon.

In Georgia, school districts and non -profit organizations are struggling with staff shortages and access to the program content for working families.

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