Federal Funds Unlocked: Relief for Green Bay, Brown County Schools

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More than $3 million in long-awaited federal education funding has been released to Green Bay and Brown County school districts, offering a measure of relief after weeks of uncertainty. The funds, tied to several Title programs, will help sustain critical services and avoid disruptive budget cuts in the upcoming school year.

On July 25, the Trump administration confirmed it would release the remaining $5.5 billion out of the $7 billion in federal education funding that had been withheld for nearly a month. These funds are tied to federal Title programs, which include support for English as a Second Language (ESL) learning, teacher development, school technology upgrades, and after-school initiatives, particularly in schools serving high-poverty communities.

Districts nationwide had anticipated these funds on July 1, but were notified on June 30 that the payments were placed under review. Some had already factored the money into their budgets and began spending in anticipation. For Green Bay and Brown County, the decision to resume funding represents more than just reimbursement; it protects essential services families count on.

The Green Bay Area Public School District stands to receive approximately $2.4 million in Title funding. However, due to federal restrictions that prohibit “supplanting” or replacing local or state funding with federal dollars, the district is required to spend more than the allocated federal amount to maintain compliance. As a result, the real impact of the Title funding on the district’s overall operations is estimated at $3 million to $3.4 million, according to district officials.

“These funds provide critical services to our students and their families, which were already contracted and staffed for the upcoming school year,” Superintendent Vicki Bayer stated in an email. “Without these funds, difficult decisions would have been required to determine budget cuts that would have negatively impacted students and working families.”

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction has launched a dedicated webpage to monitor how shifts in federal funding affect local school districts. It includes data on each district’s allocation for the 2024–2025 school year and breaks down what portion of the funding is tied specifically to Title programs.

With the release of these funds, school leaders in Green Bay and throughout Brown County can now move forward with more certainty, preserving programs that directly support student success and classroom stability.