How the federal government shutdown will affect California’s schools and students

For California students, parents and schools, there are many concerns about the federal government shutdown, the first since 2018.

In the short term, Californians should see no changes. The U.S. Department of Education has said it will continue to move forward with many of its responsibilities, including financial aid dollars for college students and money for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Title I schools. Most grant funding to schools won’t be affected either, since that money is largely issued over the summer.

But 87% of the department’s workforce will be furloughed, and it won’t be issuing any new federal grants. Investigations into civil rights complaints made by students and families through the department’s Office for Civil Rights, which enforces federal civil