17 K-12 Programs Consolidated into MEGA Grants

What this cut would actually mean

Because MEGA's $2 billion is far smaller than the $6.5 billion these 17 programs previously received, states would have to choose which activities to keep — in practice this likely means many of the roughly 10,000 local afterschool and summer programs lose dedicated funding and close or shrink, teacher-training pipelines funded by Supporting Effective Instruction grants shrink, dedicated support for identifying and serving homeless students weakens, and state testing/assessment systems lose guaranteed federal dollars. Because MEGA requires states to spend half its funds on literacy and math instruction, even less money is left over for the other services — like family engagement centers, homeless student support, and afterschool care — that used to have their own guaranteed funding.

Why this hits Alabama harder

Alabama's child poverty rate is about 20%, well above the national average of roughly 16%, and Alabama schools rely heavily on federal Title I dollars to serve low-income students. Because MEGA grant consolidation cuts total K-12 funding by 69% while folding Title I and after-school programs together, Alabama's high share of poor and Title I-eligible students means the state stands to lose more support per child than most of the country. Rural Alabama districts, which make up a large part of the state, also depend on these targeted federal dollars more than wealthier, less rural states do.

• What is the poverty rate in Alabama? | USAFacts — Reports Alabama's child poverty rate at 20.2% in 2024, higher than the national average, showing more Alabama children rely on income-targeted school programs like Title I.
• Estimated Percent of People Age 0-17 in Poverty for Alabama | FRED — Federal Reserve Economic Data shows Alabama's under-18 poverty rate at 20.4% in 2024, underscoring the state's above-average share of students eligible for Title I and related federal K-12 aid.