Dear OUSD Families, Staff, and Community,
As your new Superintendent, I am committed to keeping you informed of important developments that may affect our schools, children, and staff. Recently, federal actions were taken that affect funding for several educational programs nationwide. I would like to share how this may impact Orange Unified and outline the steps we are taking in response.
On June 30, 2025, the California Department of Education (CDE) was informed that federal funding for certain education programs, previously approved by Congress for the 2025–26 school year, would not be released as scheduled on July 1. This pause is part of a broader federal review and affects school districts across the state, including OUSD. These funds had already been included in the District’s adopted budget for the 2025–26 fiscal year.
Impact on Orange Unified
The funding pause affects approximately $1.8 million in anticipated revenue for our District, which is about 2% of our total budget. The federal funding programs provide:
Nearly 60% of the salaries for staff, such as teachers on special assignment who help students who need extra support with learning
Supplemental services in the areas of professional learning opportunities for staff to remain apprised of relevant teaching strategies
Services to support children learning English as a new language
Student safety enhancement with regard to educational technology
Enhanced technology integration and enrichment programs
While this is a concerning development, I want to reassure you that Orange Unified is financially prepared. Thanks to the responsible fiscal oversight of our Board of Education, the District has the ability to continue all planned programs and services for the 2025–26 school year, as outlined in the Board-adopted budget, regardless of the final outcome of the federal review this school year.
