(Radio Iowa) – Federal funding is on hold for many programs in Iowa schools that help English language learners and migrant students. Theron Schutte is superintendent of the Marshalltown Community School District, where more than a third of students are English language learners. Schutte says much of the money goes toward paying contracts for staff members who work with underserved populations. He says any loss of funds could have a “significantly negative effect.”

“We would have to make some very difficult decisions going forward,” Schutte says, “which could result in employee layoffs and or programming discontinuation.” The Iowa Department of Education has encouraged superintendents to use leftover funds from past years while the programs are up in the air. Stacey Cole is superintendent of the Storm Lake Community School District, where more than 40-percent of students are English language learners. Cole says if the money doesn’t come through, the district would have to end some federally-funded programs and resort to pay cuts or layoffs.

“Many, many districts were already saying, we don’t know how we’re going to keep providing the services that we’re trying to provide now. We were already there,” Cole says. “This is going to cut us to the core.” The U.S. Department of Education says it’s reviewing the funding to make sure taxpayer money is spent in alignment with the president’s priorities and the department’s statutory responsibilities.