LETTER: "From Freeze to Whiplash: The uncertainty facing rural schools," by Steven L. Johnson

Source: North Dakota Monitor - July 28, 2025

By Steven L. Johnson

The recent reinstatement of nearly $7 billion in federal education funds just weeks before school  starts has left rural educators and administrators frustrated and exhausted. After months of uncertainty and scrambling, we’re now told the funds are coming — but too late to avoid the  chaos caused by the delay. 

Most administrators I’ve spoken with in North Dakota were prepared to make things work  without these funds if they believed their students would still benefit. That’s the “we’ll make it  work” attitude that defines rural communities. However, with property tax caps imposed by state  law, declining enrollment, and the constant uncertainty surrounding federal funding, these same  administrators are bracing for a tough spring in 2026. The challenge is not just funding; it’s how  we attract and retain teachers in these conditions. 

Rural schools, students, and communities have always shown remarkable resilience in the face of  adversity. But this federal funding freeze and subsequent late reinstatement doesn’t just impact  the budgets — it undermines the stability that families in rural areas rely on. Schools in North  Dakota have been left trying to piece together plans without knowing if they would have the  funding to pay for essential services. Educators have had to delay hiring, adjust programs, and  scale back on services they knew were crucial for their students’ success. As Kirsten Baesler  notified us Friday at 10:56 p.m., these funds are now back in the mix, but how many late-night announcements do we need before we realize the impact of this uncertainty on our rural communities? 

Rural schools don’t run on “maybe.” We plan carefully and rely on these federal funds to provide  essential services, from migrant education to after-school programs. But when we’re told to wait,  then suddenly rush to use funds months late, it only makes the work harder and more uncertain. We need stability. It’s time for the federal government to recognize that rural schools can’t  function on last-minute decisions and delayed promises. Our kids deserve better than this.