One Gaston County educator said he is heading into the school year with hope after the U.S. Department of Education unfroze nearly $7 billion in funding.

In Massachusetts, the freeze translated into $108 million withheld, leaving many districts scrambling to ensure they could still provide services.

The U.S. Education Department is beginning to release federal education funding to states, including several grants to New Mexico. In June, the Trump Administration told states that it was withholding previously approved federal grants for “further review” leaving several school districts with no economic support,