ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo.—The state of Missouri says it is asking the U.S. Department of Education to reconsider its decision to end an extension period for spending pandemic-era relief funds that could mean a loss of $2.3 million for the Ferguson-Florissant School District.

The money was supposed to pay for HVAC upgrades and asbestos issues, and is part of a larger amount of money–more than $32 million–that the state stands to lose, impacting statewide afterschool programs, and funding for statewide literacy and math consultants, among other expenditures.

Federal officials notified state education departments on March 28 that it was rescinding extensions to use the money, but would allow states to appeal on a program-by-program basis.

In Illinois, more than $77 million is at stake, including $19 million on HVAC improvements across the East St. Louis School District.

On Thursday, several states, including Illinois, sued the U.S. Department of Education and Secretary Linda McMahon in federal court to reinstate the previous extension date of March 28, 2026.