Impact of the federal education funding freeze on WPS

On June 30, school districts across Kansas were notified by the U.S. Department of Education of a pause on some federal education title funding. Wichita Public Schools relies on federal funds to deliver crucial services to students who qualify. More than $6.3 million is paused for Wichita students.

The support WPS provides to students is important for their academic and personal growth. WPS knows the crucial role these funds play in the lives of students and remains committed to making every student Future Ready. 

Impact on Wichita Public Schools
The amount and purpose of the paused funding is listed below: 

• Title I Part C (Migrant)
  • $293,000 in funding expected for 2025-26 school year
  • These funds provide educational access for students and families who move to the district for work in the agriculture industry
• Title IIA and IVA
  • $3,663,796 in funding expected for 2025-26 school year
  • These funds enhance teaching through instructional coaching
• Title III
  • $1,026,022 in funding expected for 2025-26 school year
  • These funds teach English language learners and provide supports for multilingual families
• Title IVB (21st Century STEALTH)
  • $549,886 in funding expected for 2025-26 school year
  • These funds extend learning and enrichment through after school programs (STEALTH)

Federal funds are restricted and can only be spent on specific items.

Wichita Public Schools response:
WPS intends to utilize its reserve funds to pay for FTE (full-time equivalency) salaries associated with the programs whose funding is currently paused. We will wait on any non-salary expenses until we receive further information. Unplanned legislative action and timing of federal funding disbursements are two reasons WPS keeps reserve funds on hand.

Impacts to private/parochial schools:

In addition to supporting public school students, federal law provides funding to help students who attend accredited private and parochial schools. These services are provided by a Local Education Agency (LEA). WPS is the LEA responsible for administering certain federal funds for qualifying students within the WPS boundary, even those who do not attend WPS schools. These can come in the form of WPS staff members working with students at non-public schools or WPS using federal funding to pay for certain professional development costs of staff members working at non-public schools.

The impact of paused funds to private and parochial schools located within the WPS boundary are:

• Title IIA and IVA
  • $745,173 in funding expected for 2025-26 school year
  • These funds enhance teaching through instructional coaching
• Title III
  • $75,140 in funding expected for 2025-26 school year
  • These funds teach English language learners and provide supports for multilingual families

Related Information:

• Learn about our ESOL programs and how they support students (July 7, 2025 BOE meeting) Watch here
   
• Learn more about cash balances, the federal funding freeze and the Financial Oversight Committee (July 7, 2025 BOE meeting) Watch here 
   
• Learn more about unrestricted cash reserves (May 5, 2025 BOE meeting) Watch here
   
• Instructional Coaches help our teachers improve their classroom instruction. Meet one of our instructional coaches who received a 2025 Distinguished Classroom Teacher Award.