Topic
Follow the latest funding developments across US K-12 education. Budgets, bond measures, state, federal and foundation funding decisions.
Last updated: October 7, 2026
As of October 7, 2026, K-12 News has published 21 funding stories over the last 30 days, across 11 states and 12 organizations. The most active states are California, Kansas and Connecticut.
Mililani students will gain hands-on manufacturing training through a new MEERA lab, part of a $1.75 million statewide investment that also supports programs at six O‘ahu middle schools.
A $6.6 million grant will support the Florida Department of Education in increasing opportunities for students in the state to gain experience through work-based learning.
Congress passed and President Trump signed a stopgap spending measure that keeps Perkins V career and technical education funding at current levels through December 11.
Illinois is allocating $15 million for educator recruitment and retention in fiscal 2027. The 100 selected districts account for about 77% of reported teacher vacancies statewide.
The five-year federal grant will expand small-group reading interventions for Connecticut K-3 students with significant reading difficulties across 75 elementary schools, with coaching for educators.
Pennsylvania’s program has placed 42 school psychology interns in 22 schools this year. Eligible interns in high-need districts may receive stipends, Praxis fee waivers and additional training.
Pennsylvania announced $3.5 million in PAsmart grants to 17 organizations to broaden career pathways in advanced manufacturing, construction, digital technology and energy for learners statewide.
Massachusetts Governor Healey is working with Project Bread to offer meals at no cost to children attending child care settings and afterschool programs.
Connecticut awarded grants to 41 special education programs to expand local and regional services for students with disabilities and reduce reliance on out-of-district placements.
The Healey-Driscoll administration announced it will keep investing in tutoring to support early reading skills, with the funding covering 338 Massachusetts schools.
The Illinois State Board of Education released fiscal 2027 district allocations. Every school district will receive more state funding than last year, with updated counts of low-income students.
Gov. Healey awarded close to $25 million for literacy instruction in Massachusetts. The funding is intended to improve reading instruction across the state.
Board considers plan to balance 2026-27 budget
Keith R. Krueger will leave his role as CoSN chief executive in spring 2027. During his tenure, the association expanded training for district technology leaders and advocated for federal E-Rate funding.
Colorado education officials announced $23.8 million in two noncompetitive grants to help schools buy locally grown ingredients, prepare meals from scratch and raise pay for nutrition workers.
The state awarded $14.6 million to support the expansion of preapprenticeship and apprenticeship opportunities in Florida, according to the education department.
Massachusetts Gov. Healey increased school funding to help retain teachers, paraprofessionals and mental health counselors, supporting staffing in the state's schools.
Governor
Governor
Governor
Unknown
Chief Executive Officer
Education Commissioner
School funding developments include increased state allocations in Illinois and continued federal career and technical education funding at current levels. Illinois’s fiscal 2027 evidence-based funding grew by $350 million to $9.3 billion, with every district receiving more than last year, while a federal stopgap measure extended Perkins V funding through December 11. Kansas received an $8.4 million federal grant to strengthen its educator pipeline. In Massachusetts, Gov. Healey appointed western Massachusetts K–12 education and universal preschool leaders to the Foundation Budget Review Commission.
States are expanding career pathways and hands-on learning through grants, new facilities and work placements, including apprenticeships and work-based learning in Florida, paid AI internships in Massachusetts and a manufacturing lab at Mililani High School in Hawaii. Pennsylvania awarded $3.5 million to broaden career pathways, while Mississippi launched a statewide initiative connecting classroom lessons with college and careers for the 2026–27 school year. Rhode Island and Maryland are working with Advance CTE to expand pathway access with student participation in program and policy design. At the federal level, a stopgap spending measure maintained Perkins V career and technical education funding at current levels through December 11.
Connecticut is expanding K–3 reading interventions and educator coaching through a five-year, $10 million grant covering 75 elementary schools, while Massachusetts is continuing early literacy tutoring funding for 338 schools and awarded nearly $25 million for literacy instruction. Nine Pennsylvania teacher preparation programs received accreditation aligned with structured literacy standards, and Mississippi designated science-of-reading schools and is implementing a statewide adolescent literacy initiative for 2026–27. Indiana reported its fifth consecutive year of rising literacy rates, while Colorado reported elementary literacy gains alongside persistent achievement gaps and declining middle school English language arts scores. In Maine, the number of students earning biliteracy recognition rose 18 percent, and the number of high schools offering it grew 11.5 percent.
Special education services, IEPs, disability supports and related funding.
Recent grant announcements in Kansas, Florida, Connecticut and Colorado fund educator recruitment pathways, career training, early literacy and school meals. Kansas received $8.4 million in federal funding to strengthen its educator pipeline, while Florida announced the start of Workforce Pell Grant funding for short-term, career-focused training. Connecticut’s five-year, $10 million federal grant will expand small-group reading interventions and educator coaching across 75 elementary schools serving K–3 students with significant reading difficulties. Colorado announced $23.8 million in two noncompetitive grants to expand local food purchasing and scratch cooking in schools and raise nutrition workers’ pay.
States are funding educator recruitment and preparation and changing certification pathways: Kansas received an $8.4 million federal educator-pipeline grant, while Illinois allocated $15 million for recruitment and retention in 100 districts accounting for about 77% of reported teacher vacancies. Pennsylvania joined the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact to reduce certification barriers for eligible out-of-state teachers, and Connecticut opened registration for a free six-week paraeducator preparation academy. Teacher recognition programs also progressed from regional selections to finalists and statewide winners in Missouri and Iowa, while Colorado announced finalists and Hawaii, Kansas, Indiana, New York and Florida named 2027 Teachers of the Year.
Based on: OCDE breaks ground on new Rancho Soñado education center, marking a long-awaited return
Based on: $10,000 Hyundai grant supports Saddleback High’s plans for outdoor STEM learning
Based on: With Shapiro Administration Investments in Student Mental Health, Highly Qualified Social Workers Are Supporting Gettysburg Area School District Students
Based on: Connecticut State Department of Education Awards $2 Million in High-Dosage Tutoring Grants to 42 Local Education Agencies
Based on: Kansas receives $4.51 million to expand special education teacher apprenticeships
Based on: Connecticut Receives $4.7 Million Federal Grant to Expand Special Education Workforce Pathways
