Trump team rejects Paterson appeal to keep nearly $8 million in school aid
By: James M. O'Neill
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey
..... The Trump administration has refused to reverse its decision to cancel nearly $8 million in federal school aid to the Paterson and Passaic districts, rejecting as appeal by Paterson education officials who argued that the money was not being used for social justice initiatives, equity planning or ideological activities.
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The administration's education commissioner had decided to stop the grants for six Paterson schools and two in the city of Passaic on the grounds that the cities; full-service community school - or FSCS - programs were "in conflict with agency policy and priorities, and so is not in the best interest of the federal government."
..... The December 18 [2025] appeal letter from Paterson Superintendent Laurie Newell said the money was being used for "improving academic engagement, reducing barriers to learning, supporting attendance and coordinating wraparound services for students and families."
..... Newell acknowledged that some of the funding "has supported social-emotional learning (SEL) activities such as mindfulness training, emotional regulation supports, and integrated behavioral-health services."
..... But those expenditures, Newell wrote, were "allowable" under federal law and "directly connected to improving student attendance, behavior and academic engagement."
..... On December 18, [2025] Representative Nelie Pou also sent a letter to U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon highlighting the "catastrophic harm" the cuts would cause and demanded that the funding be restored "before it is too late."
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During Christmas week, Pou's office was in touch with administration officials to make clear the district's willingness to work with the department to address its priorities, said a statement issued by Pou's office on December 30. [2025]
Pou blasts administration move
..... "Despicable does not begin to describe this unjust and outrageous decision," Pou said of the administration's decision to cancel the funding.
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"The Trump Department of Education is ripping support right from the hands of our students in Paterson and Passaic," Pou. "with zero warning, little explanation, no rational basis, and days before Christmas, Paterson schools were notified that $7.9 million in federal support that were counting on would be terminated.
..... "This critical aid funds a myriad of vital services including after-school programming, tutoring, counseling, food assistance and health services - all of which will now cease to exist because of the trump administration's callousness and cruelty," she said.
..... The $8 million have been distributed to eight schools over two to three years. The schools that would lost the money are Passaic High School and School 6 in Passaic, along with Paterson's Eastside, International and Moody High schools., Taub middle school, and school 10 and 16.
..... The Trump administration's decision to discontinue the funding for Paterson and Passaic - as well as about 15 other districts aorta the county - stems from a belief that the money was going toward programs that ran contrary to the president's policies. The U.S. Education Department cited language in Paterson's 2021 funding application.