The Reading (Pennsylvania) School District will receive $51 million in federal funds for school construction after a judge's ruling reversed a decision by the U.S. Department of Education.
The Reading Eagle reports that the attempt to revoke the federal funding put the future of the district’s Reading High School Innovation Academy in jeopardy. The funds, part of the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief, or ESSER, program, had been revoked in March.
A preliminary injunction issued by the court requires the Trump Administration to distribute the funding as originally approved.
The Innovation Academy is already under construction. It is designed to reduce crowding at Reading High and expand science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) academic opportunities for students.
The court order stemmed from a multistate lawsuit joined by Pennsylvania and 15 other states that challenged the federal government’s sudden withholding of funding. The ruling cleared the way for the Pennsylvania Department of Education to resume processing reimbursements.
The Reading School District’s request for the full $51 million has been approved.
The district had been awarded more than $104 million in relief funds and had spent or committed about $66 million to construction and HVAC improvements when the U.S. Department of Education reversed its decision to extend the spending timeline.
With the restoration of the funding, district leaders say the STEM academy project is on track for completion.
“This is a major victory for our students, our families, and our entire community,” said Jennifer Murray, district superintendent. “The RHS Innovation Academy project will continue to move forward without delay, and we are grateful to all who stood with us, including U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, who advocated for our district and made clear that these funds were promised and must be delivered.”
