27 Michigan school districts, including Benton Harbor Area Schools, are facing cuts to federal funding.
Last Friday, the Michigan Department of Education received notice from the U.S. Department of Education that the deadline for reimbursement requests for pandemic relief and ARPA funds was abruptly changed from March 28, 2026, to March 28, 2025, the same day the notice was issued.
Berrien RESA Superintendent Eric Hoppstock explained that these districts had planned to use this funding for improvement projects but will now need to find an alternative solution.
“This is no fault of the districts,” Hoppstock says. “They have applied for the extensions, were granted the extensions, and now for somebody to say, you know what, we’re going to move the timeline up quite a bit, and if you’re not done by then, then the money’s not available to you. You’re going to have to find the money someplace else. And so it’s just the unexpected nature of it that’s really going to be problematic.”
In total, Michigan school districts are set to lose over $40 million in federal pandemic funding. Benton Harbor is expected to lose $4,579,396 in ARPA funding.
“And so it’s going to potentially put financial pressure and pinch cash flows, and they may have to trim other programs to pay off something that they didn’t expect,” Hoppstock says.
State Superintendent Dr. Michael F. Rice released a statement on the matter saying the withdrawal of federal pandemic relief funds meant for improving the air quality and safety of schools in Michigan is unacceptable.
He hopes that Michigan’s congressional representatives work to ensure that federal commitments to schools are upheld.
