NC Newsline – After weeks of delay by the Trump administration, afterschool programs in North Carolina and across the nation received federal funding Monday for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year, though advocates remain concern about long-term support for the program.
The release follows weeks of uncertainty and pressure from educators, lawmakers and families, who warned that the delays could disrupt services for thousands of students across the state and nationwide. The federal funding for 21st Century Community Learning Center programs, part of $6.8 billion in nationwide education spending, supports academic enrichment, nutritional assistance, and safe, supervised environments for children while their parents are at work.
But the proposed Trump administration budget for the upcoming fiscal year provides no direct funding for 21st Century Community Learning Centers, instead folding the support into a “K-12 Simplified Funding Plan” which advocates say has significantly reduced overall support.
“While this is the outcome we hoped for, our efforts aren’t over. We have to work together to ensure continued investment in afterschool so that every child in North Carolina has access to a safe, enriching space to learn and grow beyond the school day,” said Elizabeth Anderson, Director of the North Carolina Center for Afterschool Programs in a statement.
While funding for afterschool programs is being released, about $5 billion in other federal education grants remains on hold. This includes money for teacher training, adult literacy, and services for English language learners and migrant students.
In North Carolina, these cuts would disproportionately affect rural counties, which rely heavily on these grants. Recent data show nine of the 10 school districts facing the steepest per-student reductions are in rural areas.
North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson joined 24 other state attorneys generals last week sued the U.S. Department of Education over the funding freeze.
