Rhode Island — Just days after a coalition of school districts, educators, and families filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump-Vance administration’s unlawful freeze of nearly $6 billion in federal education funding, the administration released the funds intended to support the 2025–2026 school year. This is an unmitigated victory, for children and families and the country. In light of this development, the coalition has withdrawn its motion for a preliminary injunction. The underlying lawsuit—Anchorage School District et al. v. Department of Education et al.—remains pending in federal district court in Rhode Island.

The lawsuit came after the administration failed to distribute congressionally appropriated funds that were directed to be delivered to states by July 1. The delay threatened immediate harm to school communities, particularly those serving low-income students, English learners, and other under-resourced populations.

The coalition is represented by Democracy Forward, Jacobson Lawyers Group, and Deluca, Weizenbaum, Barry, and Revens, and includes the American Federation of Teachers Pennsylvania, Anchorage School District, California Federation of Teachers, Cincinnati Public Schools, Fairbanks North Star Borough School District, Florida Education Association, Florida Parent Teacher Association, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Kuspuk School District, New York State United Teachers, Ohio Federation of Teachers, Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals, and Texas American Federation of Teachers.

Plaintiff and co-counsel quotes are available here.

Read the complaint here, the motion for preliminary injunction here, and the withdrawal here.

The legal team at Democracy Forward in this case includes Steven Bressler and Kali Schellenberg.

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Democracy Forward Foundation is a national legal organization that advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy, public education, and regulatory engagement. For more information, please visit www.democracyforward.org.