Federal grant cuts under the Trump administration have left rural school districts in Kentucky struggling to maintain mental health services and other programs. Shannon Johnson, a former school mental health counselor in rural Kentucky, lost her position when a five-year grant was discontinued after just two years. She has since taken a job in Shelby County Public Schools, which does not plan to fill her former role due to lack of funding.
Federal dollars account for roughly 10% of education spending nationally, but rural districts rely more heavily on this funding because they cannot raise as much through property taxes. In Shelby County, federal funds make up about 18% of the budget, supporting teacher development, after-school tutoring, clubs, and transportation. Superintendent Joshua Matthews said the cuts are not political but harm students, noting that teachers focus on student care, not promoting agendas.
Since the administration began reviewing federal grants, millions of dollars for mental health, academic enrichment, and teacher development have been withheld or discontinued. The administration argues these grants do not focus on academics and support diversity efforts contrary to White House priorities. Some cancellations are paused due to legal challenges, but Kentucky is not fighting the decisions.
Nine rural Kentucky districts that received grants to hire counselors must decide whether to keep them. More than half of those counselors have already left for other jobs. To retain positions supported by lost grants, schools would need to make other cuts, such as reducing field trips or increasing class sizes.
Brigitte Blom, president of the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence, which administers a federal grant for Shelby County and other districts, said the uncertainty has forced educators to plan for sustainability two years earlier than usual. In Washington County, a rural district with about 1,800 students, the grant funded mentoring, career exploration, and after-school programs that reduced absenteeism. Superintendent Robin Cochran warned that the effects of funding cuts may take years to become fully apparent.
