Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell has secured a settlement with the U.S. Department of Education that preserves access to federal education funds. The funds, provided through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), support programs for low-income and unhoused students and were originally available through March 2026, according to the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office release.
The dispute began when the Department of Education announced that states would no longer have access to certain ARPA funds. Campbell, along with 16 other states, filed a lawsuit arguing that the policy change threatened essential services. She stated that the funding is needed to help schools address learning loss and financial strain from COVID-19.
The lawsuit focused on three ARPA-funded programs: Homeless Children and Youth (HCY), Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER), and Emergency Assistance to Nonpublic Schools (EANS). These programs were intended to remain available until March 2026…