On Feb. 3, California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and the California Department of Education issued a public statement via social media and sent a letter to all California local educational agencies announcing that a temporary restraining order has been granted in the federal lawsuit filed by Attorney General Rob Bonta and 22 other state attorneys general, in which Thurmond is a declarant. The TRO prevents the Trump administration from freezing critical federal assistance for education, health care, law enforcement and disaster relief.

On Friday, Jan. 31, a judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island issued the TRO, blocking the federal government’s efforts to pause or terminate existing federal assistance to the states until a subsequent hearing. It follows a Jan. 29 statement by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt that suggested that a pause in federal assistance would continue to be implemented, in spite of an earlier Office of Management and Budget memo to the contrary.

In the superintendent’s statement and letter, Thurmond encourages all California schools, districts and county leaders to stay the course and focus on local programs that are successfully improving student outcomes.

“I encourage all educators to remain focused on accelerating the achievement of our students. Together, we have reduced chronic absenteeism for all student groups, and we have begun to close persistent achievement gaps, especially for our socioeconomically disadvantaged students. We must build upon these efforts to make sure that all our young people are able to learn, grow and thrive. Now is not the time to be distracted by external efforts to demean and divide,” Thurmond said. “As I visit schools across our state, I am always impressed by the programs that our local educational agencies have designed to put state and federal dollars to work for kids. Please continue to stay the course with local programs that are producing results. Now is the time when our students need consistency, support and community more than ever.  We know that our kids deserve our best, and we will continue to have your back every day so that you can give your best. Together, we will keep working to move the needle for student achievement, no matter what.”

For information, visit cde.ca.gov.