Will Leon County public schools lose millions? Education shake-up explained

Tallahassee Democrat | By Alaijah Brown | March 20, 2025

If ‘dollars go away then … services would have to end,’ one top local education official said.

Closing the U.S. Department of Education — a key talking point for decades on the political right that gained significant traction after President Donald Trump was re-elected — could jeopardize the Leon County School District of at least $70 million a year.

At the same time, however, the department’s new secretary has promised the federal government would continue to deliver funding as mandated by law.

The dollars are used for teacher training, educating special needs students and providing extra assistance to schools with a high percentage of low-income students, who account for about 41% of the district’s enrollment.

Although the federal money represents less than half of the district’s $662 million operating budget, assistant superintendent of business services Billy Epting said the money holds up integral operations for the district.

“There are a lot of programs and services that we are able to provide our students in our schools based on receiving those dollars. If those dollars go away then obviously those services would have to end because there’s no way that our state dollars and property tax ad valorem would make up those services,” Epting told the Tallahassee Democrat.

Outgoing Leon High School Principal Billy Epting gives a speech during the 2021 graduation ceremony at Gene Cox Stadium Saturday, June 12, 2021.

About $46 million of the district’s federal income pays for school lunches, services for students with disabilities, and programs for Title I students, who come from low-income households.

And even with the chaos involving confirmed layoffs in the federal department and with President Trump scheduled to sign his executive order calling for a dismantling of the department Thursday, Epting and Superintendent Rocky Hanna echoed: “The sky isn’t falling.”

“I think the states are going to have more say on how they are distributing dollars and what it can be spent on… in the past it has been federal oversight,” Epting said. “We have no indication at this point that the funds are going to go away.”

Newly-appointed Education Secretary Linda McMahon told reporters Tuesday while visiting a South Florida charter school that the funding wouldn’t disappear.

She said the Trump administration’s goal is to do away with the bureaucracy of the national education department in an effort to send more money to the states. She has assured the agency will continue to deliver funding as mandated by law.

Trump’s anticipated executive order is only the first step toward dissolving the agency. Congress, which established the department in 1979, would have to formally take action to finish the job.

According to USA Today, Gov. Ron DeSantis is expected to join other Republican governors and state education commissioners at the White House with Trump for the signing.

A White House summary of the order says it calls for “uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which Americans rely.”

With that precaution in mind, Hanna said it’s “business as usual,” until otherwise noted. In the meantime, he’s keeping a laser focus on boosting state funding support for the district.

Linda McMahon testifies at her Senate confirmation hearing in February before the appointment to be the U.S. Secretary of Education.

DeSantis and legislative leaders have faced criticism for underfunding public schools while increasing funding for private education scholarships.

Earlier this week, Hanna made a last-minute decision Monday to hop on a bus with ESE staff and parents, and ride to the Capitol where they lobbied to increase ESE funding, not just for LCS but for districts across the state.

The district received $19.1 million from the state for ESE support in 2024. This year the state cut the amount down to $18.7 million, putting a strain on the district’s purse. The federal Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA) provides money to school districts to help educate students. LCS received $8.5 million from the grant this year.

Hanna said ESE student behaviors have become more aggressive since the pandemic and the population is in greater need for services at schools, but recruiting and retaining teachers has been difficult.

Leon Country Schools Superintendent Rocky Hanna listens during a board meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025.

“We are desperately searching for teachers and paraprofessionals to help work with this population, but it’s become extremely challenging for us to find individuals and a lot of it’s because of pay,” Hanna said. “We’re really struggling.”

“We have to do something that addresses this issue because otherwise I don’t know how we’re going to continue serving these students at the level we currently are if we don’t get more help.”

Here’s a breakdown of the federal funding Leon County Schools relies on:

Title I

The district got $15 million in federal funding in 2024-25 to support 13,021 students who are economically disadvantaged. That money is used to help pay for teacher professional development, curriculum, instructional and technological supplies. It also provides money to supplement the income of teachers who work with students, and it pays for attendance programs and community engagement. Out of the district’s 48 schools, 21 are federally recognized under Title I.

Free breakfast and lunch

The district got $15.9 million for the federal free lunch reimbursement program. All elementary and high school students eat free in the district. All middle schools except Swift Creek, Montford and Deerlake serve free meals. These three schools are excluded because they don’t serve enough students to meet the minimum quota.

IDEA Grant

The district got $8.5 million to educate students with disabilities. These disabilities include autism, hearing, speech or vision impairments, and intellectual, emotional, physical and learning disabilities.