Superintendents: Loss of federal funding would hit students most in need of support

Maine schools risk losing $250 million in federal funding due to a Title IX dispute over transgender athlete participation, with the U.S. Department of Education citing noncompliance. Loss of funding would heavily impact vulnerable students, affecting services like math and reading intervention, special education, and support for homeless students. Superintendents say local budgets can’t replace federal support, which currently funds key staff, educational programs, and compliance with federal mandates. Timing and process for funding cuts remain unclear, though similar recent federal actions in Maine have faced legal challenges and reversals. Portland Press Herald