Federal funding freeze sidesteps Park City for now but district eyes $131K at risk

Photo: Photo by CDC

PARK CITY, Utah — Park City School District officials say their after-school and summer programs will continue to operate despite a nationwide freeze on $6.8 billion in federal K-12 grants, which has left dozens of Utah programs in limbo.

“Because we operate differently than many of the programs highlighted in the recent reporting, our offerings are not dependent on the federal funding streams that were impacted by the freeze,” district public information officer Colton Elliott said. Tuition, local property-tax revenue, support from the Park City Education Foundation, and limited state “At-Risk” dollars cover most costs, he added. Still, about $131,000 tied to other federal legislation “is potentially at risk,” and district leaders are already reviewing budgets to protect face-to-face instruction, Elliott said.

The district’s reassurance stands in stark contrast to conditions elsewhere in the state. The Utah News Dispatch reported that 83 after-school and summer programs serving roughly 10,000 children are funded by the 21st Century Community Learning Centers grants, which are now on hold. Normally distributed in spring, the money is being reviewed by the Trump administration for alignment with other initiatives, the outlet noted.

“Programs depend on that funding in order to be able to operate,” Ben Trentelman, executive director of the Utah Afterschool Network, told Utah News Dispatch. Without reimbursements, he said, some sites, particularly in rural communities, may close within weeks.

Demand already far outstrips supply: for every child enrolled, eight more wait for a spot, according to survey data cited by Utah News Dispatch. Anna Thomas, policy director at Voices for Utah Children, told the outlet that staff “are already operating on a shoestring,” and the freeze could force many children out of safe, educational settings this summer.

Park City’s programs are insulated in part because the district does not qualify for 21st Century funds, which are generally reserved for high-poverty schools. Even so, Elliott said administrators are “actively working to ensure that any funds currently supporting face-to-face instruction are preserved,” while non-instructional spending undergoes review.

State officials have told grant recipients they may use any remaining federal dollars through August, but Utah News Dispatch reported there is no guarantee of reimbursement afterward. Some programs plan to borrow and hope for retroactive payment; others may scale back hours or end services entirely.

Elliott said that if any shortfall reaches Park City, district leaders will work to cover it by trimming expenses that are not directly tied to student instruction, not by cutting after-school or summer programs.