Gov. Kelly Ayotte took credit for the release of $20 million in frozen federal funding for schools in New Hampshire, saying she had met privately with Secretary of Education Linda McMahon “multiple times” since the funding was frozen late last month.
Ayotte “secured the release of federal education funding for academic enrichment, English language learning, and other key programs for New Hampshire schools,” her office wrote in a press release sent Friday.
The Trump administration announced a day before the funding was set to be dispersed that it would withhold a total of nearly $7 billion in grants to states. Following bipartisan public pressure, the federal Department of Education announced earlier Friday that all of the money had been unfrozen.
The grants fund teacher training, education for migrant children and English language learners, and before- and after-school enrichment programs.
As attorneys general from 24 states sued the administration to block the funding freeze, New Hampshire’s Republican leaders stayed quiet — at least publicly. Ayotte’s meetings with McMahon had not been disclosed.
“As I told Secretary McMahon in multiple meetings, this funding is critical to delivering a best-in-class education for every child in New Hampshire,” Ayotte said in the statement. “I thank her and the Trump Administration for responding to our concerns.”
Democratic Congressman Maggie Goodlander said she also pushed for the release of the funds.
“I’m glad to see that after fierce advocacy and legal challenges, the federal funding promised to our schools will finally be released,” she said in a statement. “I will never let our public schools be pushed around.”
Jeremy Margolis can be contacted at jmargolis@cmonitor.com.
