NAESP advocacy and policy expert David Griffith outlines what school leaders need to know about the government shutdown.
The federal government shut down at midnight on Oct. 1, the beginning of the federal fiscal year, because Congress hasn’t enacted any of its FY26 spending bills and Republican and Democratic legislative leaders were not able to come to a deal on temporary funding while they negotiated permanent appropriations levels.
So what does the shutdown mean for pre-K-8 school leaders? Here are several key points for you to know that will help you understand the situation and prepare your school community.
K-12 Funding
The good news is that school leaders probably won’t notice any effects of the shutdown in the short-term. Federal K-12 formula grants are advance-funded, meaning that a large portion of these funds were sent to states earlier this summer (though some of these funds took longer than usual to arrive), while the remainder are supposed to go out on Oct. 1.
U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon has said Title I and Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) funds would still be sent out in the event of a shutdown.
More uncertain is the status of important funding like Title II professional development grants that were briefly withheld this summer. They are also typically sent out on Oct. 1, but the agreement that helped release the earlier tranche of funds stipulated that the remainder would be made available by Oct. 3, and it is unclear if the shutdown will impact that disbursement. If your school has planned professional development activities dependent on these funds, you might want to check with your district and have contingency plans ready.
Other Programs
Head Start programs might be suspended during the shutdown like they were in past shutdowns. The Department of Health and Human Services says that staff will still process existing contracts and grants but doesn’t specifically reference Head Start. If your school hosts or partners with Head Start programs, monitor the situation closely if the shutdown lasts more than a few days.
If your school district is the recipient of Impact Aid because they’re situated near federal land or military bases, payments might be delayed.
U.S. Department of Education
Most staff—95 percent—at the U.S. Department of Education will be furloughed for the duration of the shutdown. Most department functions and activities will be curtailed, including new grants, civil rights investigations, and most anything related to K-12 education. The remaining 5 percent of staff will be primarily focused on college student financial aid.
The Trump administration has threatened to permanently lay off government employees, presumably including those at the U.S. Department of Education, in the event of a shutdown. In addition, the Office of Management and Budget has said it will also consider further layoffs after a shutdown and when a final FY26 spending plan is enacted. These potential changes could affect the long-term capacity of the department to support schools even after the shutdown ends.
Federal Property and Field Trips
The administration has broad latitude to determine which government programs and activities are deemed “essential” and remain open during a shutdown—airport security and air traffic controllers, for example. Typically, national parks and museums, both in Washington, D.C., and across the country, have closed during shutdowns. But this time they might remain open in a limited capacity with just a few staff.
If your school is planning any upcoming field trips to federal land or government buildings, it is best to check directly with these venues in advance to confirm their status.
Family Considerations
The parents and guardians of students who are federal employees are facing great uncertainty and stress about their jobs and finances during this time. “Nonessential” employees will not be reporting for work nor getting paid during the shutdown, though furloughed employees have typically gotten back pay once the shutdown ends.
Even “essential” employees who are working are not compensated during this time and will only get paid once the shutdown ends. Whichever the case, federal employees will experience increasing financial pressures and many a feeling of being in limbo the longer a shutdown goes on.
David Griffith is associate executive director, Policy and Advocacy, at NAESP. Via NAESP.
