By Pacific Ialand Times News Staff
The fate of the Guam Department of Education’s unliquidated Covid-era federal grants hangs in the balance amid the impending dissolution of the U.S. Department of Education, which would entail budget cuts.
Federal education officials earlier approved the local education department’s request for an extension of the Education Stabilization Fund liquidation until March 28, 2025, and for the American Rescue Plan funds until March 28, 2026.
President Donald Trump on Thursday issued an executive order, dismantling the USDOE and transferring education control to individual states and territories.
The directive will abolish federally funded positions at GDOE.
While the ESF and ARP grants have been obligated to Guam under the Biden administration, it is unclear how the new presidential directive will affect the unused funds, which are supposed to be drawn from the department that will be axed.
“The funds are crucial for the renovation and refurbishment of campuses,
improvements in classroom supplies, curriculum materials, technology licenses, and safety upgrades throughout Guam's public educational institutions,” Guam Del. James Moylan said.
On March 12, Moylan requested Education Secretary Linda McMahon to exempt Guam from the department’s new rule requiring grant recipients
to pay the costs upfront and then ask for reimbursement later.
Moylan underscored the urgent need for the waiver to ensure the timely completion of critical projects in the local education system.
“The unique circumstances faced by the U.S. territories make this change overly burdensome, particularly with the limited funding available compared to state governments,” he added, noting that the local education agency is facing difficulties in meeting the liquidation deadline for ARP funding.
In 2021, the GDOE received nearly $400 million in federal Covid-19 relief funding: $110.6 million in a second round of the Education Stabilization Fund to ensure the continued safety of students and staff and aid in the transition to face-to-face instruction; and $286.9 million in American Rescue Plan funds to return students safely to in-person instruction and address lost instructional time that resulted from pandemic restrictions.
"The funding provided under the ARP act is critical for the well-being and success of our students,” Moylan said.
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