Historic Budget Cuts Shortchange American Students
February 10, 2006
Washington, DC - Less than one week after President Bush used his State of the Union address to pay lip service to improving educational opportunities for American students, he released a budget proposal that includes the largest cut in the Department of Education's history. President Bush's radical education budget would eliminate 42 highly effective education programs, including all vocational and technical education programs, education technology state grants, Upward Bound programs, and even the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities State Grants.
Yesterday, the Senate Democratic Policy Committee issued a report detailing the impact of President Bush's proposed cuts. In addition to forcing working families to pay more for college, the President's proposed budget dramatically underfunds No Child Left Behind, undercuts Title I grants aimed at helping disadvantaged students succeed academically, undermines special education programs, shortchanges after-school programs, and keeps children from taking advantage of Head Start.
"President Bush's credibility took another hit this week when he turned his back on America's schoolchildren," said Democratic National Committee Communications Director Karen Finney. "One week after giving lip service to improving educational opportunities, President Bush turned around and asked for historic cuts in education spending.
"Together, America can do better than President Bush's misplaced priorities and empty rhetoric on education spending. Republicans in Washington should join Democrats in providing the American people a strong public education system that helps children excel in school and provides them every opportunity to live the American Dream."
The following is a summary of the Democratic Policy Committee study of President Bush's cuts in education spending:
Forcing working families to pay more for college. President Bush's budget freezes the maximum Pell Grant award at $4,050, the same level as Fiscal Year 2003, and eliminates the Perkins loan program altogether. President Bush also proposed eliminating the Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP) program, which provides a federal match to states for need-based grant and work-study assistance.
Underfunding No Child Left Behind. The President's proposed funding for NCLB programs is $15.4 billion below the authorized level.
Inadequate Title I grants. The President's budget fails to fully fund the Title I program, which provides needed resources to local school districts to help disadvantaged students succeed academically. Twenty-nine states would lose Title I funding in Fiscal Year 2007.
A step backward on special education. The President's budget for Part B State Grants under the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) would provide just 17 percent of the extra cost of special education in Fiscal Year 2007, down from 18 percent in Fiscal Year 2006 and 19 percent in Fiscal Year 2007. Proposed funding is also $6.3 billion below the amount Congress authorized for Fiscal Year 2007 when IDEA was reauthorized in 2004.
Shortchanging after-school programs. President Bush proposes keeping funding for key after-school programs at $981 million in Fiscal Year 2007, $1.5 billion below the authorized level, denying two million students after-school services through the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program.
Inadequate funding for Head Start. With current funding levels, the Head Start program serves only about one-half of eligible children. Because President Bush's budget would not even provide a cost-of-living adjustment, fewer children will likely receive Head Start services.
For the full report, click here: http://democrats.senate.gov/dpc/dpc-new.cfm?doc_name=fs-109-2-21.
