Dear Northampton County Public Schools Families and Community,
We aim to provide clarity and reassurance regarding the U.S. Department of Education’s (USED’s) recent notification to State Education Agencies that grant awards for selected grants will not be released until it has completed a review of those programs. The specific federal grants under review include:
Migrant Education (Title I, Part C)
Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants (Title II, Part A)
English Language Acquisition (Title III)
Student Support and Academic Enrichment (Title IV, Part A)
21st Century Community Learning Centers (Title IV, Part B)
Adult Basic and Literacy Education / English Literacy / Civics Education Grants
Northampton County Public Schools’ allocations in the above-referenced grants totaled $942,378 in fiscal year 2025. However, the funding that is being withheld, pending federal review, pertains to fiscal year 2026 allocations. Until we receive detailed accounts, we don't have an exact dollar figure for the future local impact at this time. Therefore, we are still awaiting detailed guidance from the U.S. Department of Education and the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) regarding the impact during fiscal year 2026.
The timeline for impact varies by grant, and we do not anticipate immediate effects from the decision to withhold funding, as we have some funding remaining from awards previously distributed to Virginia in previous budget cycles. We are permitted to spend those funds in accordance with the original 27-month grant award period, allowing us some time for continued monitoring and evaluation of potentially impacted grants.
One update on this is our two most significant federal grant awards, Title I, Part A and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), were released to the VDOE on schedule, along with our Career and Technical Education (Perkins) grant and Title V funding for Small, Rural, Low Income divisions.
If the currently withheld funds are not released in the near future, there is the potential for broader impacts across Virginia school divisions, including ours. We are monitoring developments and maintaining regular contact with state and federal officials to understand how this situation may evolve.
At this time, no layoffs or program eliminations are planned. However, if the funding remains withheld, there may be a need to:
Prioritize essential services and programs critical to student support
Adjust after-school and supplemental program scopes
Review professional development budgets
To address this funding uncertainty, NCPS is preparing a proactive response:
Reviewing our current budget.
This includes analyzing the division and school-level programs that rely on the affected federal funding.
Closely monitoring the situation as our local budget cycle approaches, and will keep you updated on any significant developments.
Where possible, we’ll use reserves, redirect local funding, or seek community grants to help fill short-term gaps.
Pursuing advocacy and alternative support.
We’re partnering with the Virginia Department of Education to advocate for the prompt release of funds. This partnership involves regular communication and joint efforts to ensure that the needs of Northampton County Public Schools are effectively represented in discussions with state and federal officials.
What’s next?
We stay committed to keeping our families, staff, and community informed as more information becomes available. Your understanding and support during this time are greatly appreciated.
We’ll communicate with updates for staff, families, and the community as decisions are made.
Our priority remains ensuring that our schools, students, and staff have the necessary resources to succeed.
Thank you for your continued support of Northampton County Public Schools.
Sincerely,
Dr. Lisa L. Martin
Superintendent
Northampton County Public Schools
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