Trump wants to end school desegregation grant. How it could impact Wake County.
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Trump administration delays $2.4M in MSAP funds owed to four Wake schools.
- Department of Education cites civil rights review for withholding grant money.
- Wake County risks losing $5.1M more as Trump seeks to end MSAP program entirely.
The Trump administration has withheld millions of dollars in magnet school funds from the Wake County school system and is trying to end a federal program meant to help desegregate public schools.
Wake County still hasn’t received $2.4 million in federal Magnet School Assistance Program (MSAP) grant funds that were supposed to be distributed by April 1. The U.S. Department of Education — which is trying to end the MSAP program — has cited a civil rights review for not releasing the magnet grant money to Wake and other school districts.
It’s creating uncertainty for the four Wake magnet schools that are being funded by the grant.
“Because those funds have not yet been released, all non-personnel spending has been placed on hold,” Wake said in a statement to The News & Observer. “This has limited program implementation, professional learning for staff, instructional supplies and materials, and student experiences.”
The budget hole could triple if the Trump administration withholds another $5.1 million in grant funding that Wake is supposed to receive by Oct. 1 for eight other magnet schools.
The Department of Education did not return emails from The N&O requesting comment.
Magnet schools used to promote desegregation
The MSAP program, as its website notes, provides grants “to establish and operate magnet schools, with special curricula, to attract a diverse group of students and desegregate public schools.”
Wake County operates magnet programs across the district to reduce the percentage of low-income students in schools and to compete with charter schools and private schools. Wake has won more than $100 million in MSAP grants since 1985.
In 2021, Wake won a $14.1 million grant to support the addition of language immersion, language enhancement and global studies programs at Dillard Drive Elementary and Dillard Drive Middle in Raleigh, Smith Elementary in Garner and East Cary Middle. Wake was supposed to receive this year’s installment of $2.4 million back in the spring.
Wake’s magnet funds are among more than $1 billion in federal grants — including for school desegregration, disability services, higher-education preparation, teacher training and academic research — that haven’t been released yet, Education Week reported.
Feds want to look at Wake’s policies
Several MSAP recipients were told they wouldn’t get their money until the Department of Education completed a civil rights review, Education Week reported. The Trump administration has made ending diversity, equity and inclusion programs among its priorities.
Wake says the Education Department wanted more information on the district’s equity policy, minority business policy and Title IX policy.
- Wake’s equity policy includes statements about recruiting and retaining a “racially and linguistically diverse” school staff and eliminating practices that lead to over- or under-representation in areas such as student discipline and academically gifted programs.
- Wake’s minority business policy talks about encouraging participation of historically underutilized businesses in the district’s purchase of goods and services.
- In April, the school board dropped Biden era Title IX protections for LGBTQ+ students from its anti-discrimination policies. But Wake cited a 2020 federal appellate court ruling to say transgender students can still use the school restroom that matches their gender identity.
“We are hopeful the review will be completed successfully,” the district said in a statement. “At this time, we have no reason to believe otherwise.”
Trump wants to end school desegregation grant
The Trump administration proposed eliminating the MSAP program in its federal education budget. The Department of Education wants to consolidate a dozen federal programs, including MSAP, into a single grant and let states decide how to spend the money.
Magnet Schools of America, a trade organization representing magnet schools, has fought to preserve the MSAP program. The group praised the votes Tuesday by U.S. House and Senate appropriations committees to defy Trump and preserve the MSAP program.
“Level funding for MSAP in both chambers is a clear recognition of the power of magnet schools to advance opportunity, innovation, and excellence in public education,” Ramin Taheri, chief executive officer of Magnet Schools of America, said in a news release Tuesday. “At a time when education resources are under historic pressure, we are proud that Congress continues to prioritize magnet schools as a proven, high-impact model.”
Wake waiting on millions in magnet grants
The Trump administration’s efforts to end the MSAP program have raised questions about whether Wake will still get the magnet-school grant money it had been previously awarded.
Chief Business Officer David Neter told school board members recently that Wake doesn’t have enough unused grant funds to cover the $2.4 million this school year. School board members asked Neter to come back with more details on what Wake would do if the grant is terminated.
Wake is also among 50 school districts nationally waiting on their Oct. 1 MSAP awards. The Education Department is supposed to provide Wake with $5.1 million for programs at Centennial Campus Middle, East Millbrook Middle and Wildwood Forest Elementary in Raleigh; Wake Forest Elementary; East Wake High; Wendel Elementary; Wendell Middle and Zebulon Middle..
Wake has already lost $30 million in federal grants this year after the Trump administration terminated grants for teacher training and school-based mental health.
The Trump administration has eventually provided money it withheld, such as the $6.8 billion in federal education dollars that were supposed to be given by July 1. The money was released after a federal review and a lawsuit filed by North Carolina and several other states.
This story was originally published September 11, 2025 at 5:15 AM.
