Alabama school districts are missing $68 million in federal funds, putting programming and some jobs in jeopardy as state officials try to get answers.

The money, which was meant for local after-school, English learner and professional development programs, is typically sent to schools on July 1 every year. But in an email to state officials Monday, the Education Department said it was pausing disbursements for several grants until it completes a review of those programs.

“These are programs already approved and funded by Congress,” State Superintendent Eric Mackey said in a statement Wednesday morning. “They include programs integral to successful and supportive schools across Alabama, and districts have planned for the 2025-26 school year with an expectation that these formula-based funds would be flowing as normal. Since Congress had appropriated the money in the recent continuing resolution, we had no reason to believe otherwise.”

The freeze comes as schools prepare to make hires and finalize budgets for the new school year. Mackey said much of the amount is directly tied to salaries for teachers, teacher aides and other employees. Some of the funds also are tied to affordable afterschool programs.

“For our continued success, Alabama’s schools need consistency, reliability and transparency in our funding streams,” he said. “Lawmakers, policymakers and our department work together to ensure this kind of consistency, reliability and transparency with state funds.”

Jodi Grant, who heads the national Afterschool Alliance, said the holdup could impact more than 10,000 after-school programs, especially in high-poverty districts like Alabama’s Gadsden City Schools, which has built up its programming in recent years.

Grant said the district, which relies heavily on federal funds, could stand to lose all of its after-school programs by August if funding isn’t restored. Those programs serve more than 1,200 students and employ about 75 staff, she said.

The programs also serve many English learners and provide hours of specialized support to those students. Gadsden Superintendent Keith Blackwell did not respond to a request for comment by the time of publication.

“It’s just catastrophic for our families,” Grant said in a news conference Tuesday. “You’re going to have kids with nowhere to go at the end of the day.”

Richard Franklin, who heads Birmingham’s chapter of the American Federation of Teachers, said the pause could “undermine academic success for the entire state.” In Birmingham, funds supported academic recovery efforts and programs that help students with lots of different learning needs, he said.

“This isn’t just a budget issue—it’s a matter of justice and equity,” he said. “Our students in Birmingham deserve every opportunity to learn, grow and thrive. Stripping away federal funding that supports special education, mental health, reading programs and school safety would be devastating. We cannot allow our kids to become political casualties.”

The department is reviewing the following grant programs:

• Title I-C for migrant education
• Title II-A for professional development
• Title III-A for English learner services
• Title IV-A for student support and academic enrichment
• Title IV-B for 21st Century Community Learning Centers

Alabama received about $90 million for those five programs in 2024, according to the Learning Policy Institute. The group estimates nearly $6.2 billion in disbursements are currently stalled around the country.

Earlier this year, the department froze nearly $9 million in pandemic relief funds meant for a school construction project in Selma and a statewide program for struggling readers. U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon recently reversed course on that decision, allowing Alabama and other states to file for reimbursements.

“We are hopeful that the review period will be expedited, and funds will be released quickly,” Mackey said. “However, we look forward to working expeditiously with our colleagues in Washington as we are only weeks away from the beginning of a new school year and wish to avoid any disruption in services for our students and their families.”