"Late yesterday, we received deeply concerning news from the U.S. Department of Education regarding a sudden and unprecedented withholding of $6.9 billion in critical education funding authorized for the current fiscal year. This includes a potential of more than $800 million for California schools. 

This abrupt action, without prior warning or consultation, puts at risk essential programs that support our most vulnerable students: English learners, migrant families, adult learners and after-school programs that keep kids safe and engaged. These are not optional supports; they are the very backbone of equitable education in our communities. These funds were enacted by Congress and signed into law by the President earlier this year. Districts and county offices across California, including here in Los Angeles County, built their budgets with the reasonable expectation that these dollars would be delivered, as they have been every year. 

At this time, we are still working to calculate the full impact of this decision on Los Angeles County’s schools and programs. Cuts to these programs will impact our ability to provide the specialized support these students need and deserve, potentially widening existing achievement gaps and hindering their educational progress. 

I want to assure our school leaders, families, and partners that we are exploring every possible step to mitigate the immediate impacts.  

Now, more than ever, we must remain united and focused. Our commitment to educational equity, student success and community empowerment is unwavering. We have faced challenges before, and we will face this one together with clarity, purpose and resilience."