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Grizzly Discovery Center money paused

Grizzly Discovery Center money paused
MJ Snow, 18, helping a Newport School District student with a shipbuilding project in the Grizzly Discovery Center at Stratton Elementary School, Monday, July 7 in Newport. July 7 marked the first day of GDC’s summer program, this year operating from 8 a.m. to noon weekdays through Aug. 1. MINER PHOTO|GABRIELLE FELICIANO

NEWPORT — The Newport School District is among those affected by the Trump administration’s ongoing pause on almost $7 billion in funding for K-12 schools across the country.

The funding, of which Newport expected about a half a million dollars, is released to states on July 1 each year. But on June 30, the Department of Education notified state education agencies that the funding would instead be held for review, despite the funding having already been approved by the legislature and signed into law by President Donald Trump in March.

“At this point we do not know to what extent these grants will be affected,” Newport Superintendent Dave Smith wrote in an email.

Newport receives funding from three of the programs included in the pause: Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers, Student Support and Academic Enrichment and Supporting Effective Instruction.

The first, 21st Century Community Learning Centers, funds community learning centers that provide academic enrichment during nonschool hours, Smith wrote in an email. At Newport, it is the only source of funding for the Grizzly Discovery Center, the school district’s after-school and summer program for grades K-8.

Over 100 students participate in GDC, with 80 spots at Stratton Elementary School and 30 at Sadie Halstead Middle School.

GDC receives $431,907 from 21st Century Community Learning Centers annually. While GDC is funded through Aug. 31 for fiscal year 2025, program director Vickie Blanchet said she has not received any funding for fiscal year 2026, which includes the 2025–2026 school year and following summer.

“The program will not run unless they release the money that’s already been allocated and signed into law,” Blanchet said.

Student Support and Academic Enrichment improves access to a well-rounded education, school conditions for student learning and the use of technology at Newport, Smith wrote. Supporting Effective Instruction improves the quality and effectiveness of Newport educators and school leadership, as well as access to effective educators for underserved students.

Congress is still drafting the fiscal year 2026 budget, but Trump’s skinny budget request and the Department of Education’s budget justification propose eliminating 21st Century Community Learning Centers, Student Support and Academic Enrichment, Supporting Effective Instruction and the rest of the programs whose funding is under review. Smith wrote that 21st Century Community Learning Centers was added to the fiscal year 2026 budget before June 30, so Newport is advocating for that program to remain there.

Blanchet urged people to contact Sen. Patty Murray, Senate Appropriations Committee vice chair, and Rep. Michael Baumgartner to advocate for the release of the funding.

“Otherwise, come Sept. 1, we have zero money,” Blanchet said.


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