Education holds a prominent position in President Barack Obama’s final budget request for the election year. In his spending plan, Obama calls for new investments in community colleges, measures to prevent teacher layoffs, funding for school facilities, and efforts to improve teacher quality. However, this budget proposal is likely to face resistance in Congress, as Republicans aim to reduce federal involvement in K-12 policy and control spending.
President Obama unveiled his $3.8 trillion budget at Northern Virginia Community College, emphasizing the importance of education and training in the nation’s economic recovery, which is a key theme of his administration’s message for the election campaign.
The president is requesting $69.8 billion in discretionary spending for the U.S. Department of Education in the upcoming fiscal year. This represents a $1.7 billion increase, or 2.5 percent, compared to the current budget year.
In the proposed budget for fiscal year 2013, most domestic programs are expected to receive stagnant funding or cuts. However, the U.S. Department of Education would see a 2.5 percent increase, along with the launch of several education-related initiatives.
"The skills and training that employers are looking for begin with the men and women who educate our children. All of us can point to a teacher who has made a difference in our lives—and I know I can," stated President Obama during his speech at Northern Virginia Community College. "So I want this Congress to provide our schools with the necessary resources to retain good teachers and reward the best ones."
The highlights of the budget proposal include allocating $30 billion to prevent teacher layoffs, with $5 billion dedicated to a competition aimed at enhancing teacher-quality initiatives. Additionally, $30 billion is designated to revamp school facilities nationwide. The president’s signature Race to the Top competition would receive a $300 million increase, and there would be an additional $8 billion for the Community College Career Fund, jointly administered by the Education Department and the U.S. Department of Labor. The administration also seeks to restructure the Career and Technical Education program with $1.1 billion to align it better with current career demands.
Republican leaders in Congress swiftly criticized the budget plan, expressing concerns over increased federal control in K-12 classrooms and excessive costs for taxpayers. On the other hand, the National Education Association, a powerful Democratic supporter, showed support for the administration’s budget blueprint, particularly for the new $5 billion program aimed at improving teacher quality.
Overall, President Obama’s budget proposal prioritizes education as a means to overcome the economic crisis and presents significant funding allocations to address various educational needs and challenges.
"We are delighted to see the president’s commitment to promoting innovation and accountability in recruiting and developing teachers and leaders," Wendy Kopp, the founder and CEO of TFA, expressed in a statement, emphasizing that it will greatly contribute to improving local capacity in nurturing the teaching and principal forces required for educational excellence and equality. Ms. Kusler from the NEA stated that the union supports the administration’s focus on teacher preparation and believes that there should be a broader discussion about ensuring that educators are adequately prepared before entering the classroom.
Competitive Grants
The budget proposal continues to allocate funding to significant Obama administration initiatives. For example, the Race to the Top program, initiated under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, will receive $850 million, a significant increase from the previous year’s funding of $550 million. Part of the new funding for Race to the Top will be used for grants to school districts, while a substantial portion will be allocated to strengthening state early-learning programs. Additionally, the Promise Neighborhood program will receive a substantial boost in funding, nearly doubling from approximately $60 million in fiscal year 2012 to $100 million in fiscal year 2013. This program provides grants to disadvantaged communities, supporting education programs in combination with wrap-around services, such as early-childhood education and health programs. The Department of Education is also advocating for a $100 million increase in the Teacher Incentive Fund, raising its funding to nearly $300 million. This fund provides grants to districts for the implementation of pay-for-performance programs. However, major formula-grant programs will see stagnant funding. For example, Title I grants for educating disadvantaged children will receive $14.5 billion, and special education state grants will receive $11.6 billion. The School Improvement Grant program will remain at the same funding level as the previous year, amounting to $536 million.
Advocates for school districts are not entirely satisfied with this direction. Noelle Ellerson, the assistant director for policy analysis and advocacy at the American Association of School Administrators in Alexandria, Va., stated, "We are pleased to see that, despite a challenging fiscal climate, education remains a priority for the administration. However, we are particularly concerned about the continued preference for investing new funds in competitive programs rather than investing in federal flagship programs, such as Title I and special education, which fund all K-12 schools." The National Association of State Boards of Education echoed this sentiment, even drawing attention to implementation issues faced by states with the first round of Race to the Top funds. The Department of Education released a report revealing that states were behind on their plans and even threatened to withdraw a significant portion of Hawaii’s grant if the state failed to deliver on a promised teacher-evaluation system. "We recommend that the department consider how it can assist states in overcoming these challenges before expanding competitive grant programs extensively," stated Jim Kohlmoos, the executive director of NASBE.
Consolidations, D.C. Vouchers
The administration is also proposing to consolidate 38 smaller, targeted programs into 11 broader funding streams. For example, the $27.2 million Ready to Learn television program and the $160 million Striving Readers program would be combined to form a $186.9 million initiative aimed at enhancing literacy. This is the third consecutive year that the administration has proposed a consolidation plan, but so far, Congress has not implemented it. However, there are two different proposals in Congress for reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which would restructure the Education Department by eliminating many small programs in favor of broader ones.
Improving Early Education, Nutrition, and Higher Education
In the proposed budget for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, there is an increase of approximately $85 million for the Head Start program, bringing the total budget to $8 billion. New regulations have been released, requiring early education centers to demonstrate their effectiveness in preparing disadvantaged children for kindergarten in order to maintain their grants. Part of the increased funding will be allocated towards ensuring accountability in Head Start Centers, which cater to about 962,000 children. According to the federal Office of Head Start, one out of every three centers is considered underperforming.
Within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the president is recommending an increase in spending for the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs. These programs currently reach more than 32 million students on a daily basis. The president has requested an additional $688 million for school lunches, bringing the total budget to approximately $11.4 billion. An extra $181 million is also being sought for breakfasts, making the total budget around $3.5 billion. A portion of the increase, approximately $50 million, will be dedicated to training and technical assistance for implementing the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. This includes overseeing and administering new requirements for school meals, such as incorporating more fruits and vegetables, reducing calories and salt, and serving only fat-free or low-fat milk.
Moreover, the budget request encompasses several higher education proposals that were discussed by the president during his speech at the University of Michigan. One such proposal is to link campus-based financial aid programs, like the Perkins Loan Program and work-study, to student outcomes. Additionally, President Obama aims to establish a $1 billion "Race to the Top" program to incentivize states to improve postsecondary education. Furthermore, there is a provision for a $55 million "First in the World Fund", which aims to promote innovative practices, including the enhancement of technology, in the education system.
