Wednesday, July 9, 2025
Like many school districts across the nation, Princeton City Schools is deeply concerned about the delay in the release of critical federal education funds, which are currently under administrative review.
In 2024-2025, Princeton City School District received $238,752.31 in Title IIA funding for professional development, $212,246.54 in Title III LEP funding for English learner services, and $142,461.25 in Title IVA funding for STEM Summer School, field trips, and curriculum experiences for students.
Funding cuts will directly impact our gifted students, as well as additional support for our most vulnerable students, including those from low-income households, English language learners, and students who require extra academic enrichment outside of traditional classroom hours.
While the immediate financial impact is still being assessed, we are already facing difficult decisions about how to move forward with programming, staffing, and services that these federal dollars help sustain. Prior to the May 2025 levy passage in our community, Princeton had already implemented a hiring freeze, reduced staff, reduced professional development and trainings, and made operational cost reductions. The $10.6 million loss in revenue for 2025 due to the levy failure in November 2024 meant that $5,299,378 in reductions had already been factored into the 2025-2026 school year.
Princeton serves a richly diverse student body, and the sudden disruption to funding threatens our ability to maintain equitable support across all schools in the district.
We have planned responsibly and worked on tight budgets; however, no local planning can fully compensate for a delay or reduction in federally promised resources, especially when those resources are tied to federal mandates and student civil rights protections. It is hard to plan for a school year, when funding is taken away with little notice and significantly rising costs.
In the meantime, our leadership team is working closely with the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, local legislators, and educational partners to understand the full implications and to advocate for the timely release of the funds Congress has already appropriated. We are also preparing contingency plans should this hold continue into the upcoming school year, which include looking for grant funding from private foundations.
As always, Princeton City Schools remains committed to empowering every student for college, career, and life success—but we urge federal leaders to act quickly to resolve this issue so that our focus can remain where it belongs: on teaching, learning, and student well-being.
Sincerely,
G. Elgin Card
Superintendent
Princeton City School District