The House of Representatives is debating the largest funding cuts to education in history, including slashing the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act by over $500 million. The President just released his budget asking Congress to increase IDEA funding by $250 million. What is going on in Washington, DC?
In a typical year, the budgeting process in Washington can be confusing. Now factor in that Congress is addressing both fiscal year 2011 and 2012 simultaneously, and the President released his budget on Monday and you’ll need a map to navigate your way through the process.
Since CEC has been closely following the budget process and has recently issued an action alert to the entire CEC membership, we thought it would be useful to explain where we are in the process and how we got here. It’s a rollercoaster, so get ready!
- Early February: President proposes to Congress funding levels for all federal programs;
- Spring/Summer/Early Fall: Congress undergoes a series of procedural requirements and ultimately passes 12 different appropriations bills which focus on different areas (i.e. Labor-Health-Education is one appropriations bill) and fund every federal program;
- Early Fall: President signs appropriations bills into law;
- October 1: The federal fiscal year begins and runs through September 30.
Last year, Congress was unable to complete the second step, meaning that none of the appropriations bills were passed prior to the start of the current federal fiscal year, which began on October 1, 2010. As you may recall from previous postings to this blog, because of this, Congress passed a temporary measure to keep the government running at FY 2010 levels through a ‘Continuing Resolution’.
The Continuing Resolution which is due to expire on March 4, 2011, means that Congress is now faced with making decisions for the remaining seven months of the federal fiscal year (or until September 30, 2011). This brings us to the action taken by the Republican leadership in the House of Representatives last Friday…
Last Friday evening, Congressman Hal Rogers (R-KY), Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee unveiled a bill (also called a ‘Continuing Resolution’) to fund the federal government for the remainder of the fiscal year, which seeks the biggest cuts to education in history.
From the $100 billion in cuts to federal programs, education programs would be cut by $10.566 billion, or 15.4% of the total education budget. These cuts include $557 million to IDEA and $694 million from Title I, among others.
CEC has been urging all of its members to call Congress to vote against the Continuing Resolution. The House of Representatives is expected to vote on the Continuing Resolution as early as Thursday, Feb. 17th. Click here to take action now!
After the House votes, the Continuing Resolution will go to the Senate where a fierce debate is expected during the week of February 28th. Under the cover of a veto-threat issued by President Obama, Senate Democrats – who hold a narrow majority – are expected to reject many of the deep cuts presented by the House.
But, since there is a nationwide movement brewing to cut the deficit, Democrats and Republicans alike will be pressured to reduce federal spending. While it is anyone’s guess what will happen in the Senate, know that CEC will provide regular updates and action alerts.
Whoa – still with us? Now that the update on FY 2011 is finished we can move on to FY 2012!
On Monday, President Obama released his budget proposal to Congress (you may recall this as step one from above) which seeks $48.8 billion for the U.S. Department of Education. Here’s a quick summary of major programs impacting children and youth with exceptionalities:
- IDEA Part B Grants to States for school aged students: $11.705 billion, $200 million increase
- IDEA Part C Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities Program: $489.4 million, $50 million increase
- IDEA Part B Section 619 Preschool Grants: $374.1 million, level funded
- IDEA Part D – Support Programs
- State Personnel Development: $48 million, level funded
- Technical Assistance and Dissemination: $49.5 million, level funded
- Personnel Preparation: $90.7 million, level funded
- Parent Information Centers: $28 million, level funded
- Technology and Media Services: $33.3 million, decrease of $10.7 million in earmarked money
- Research in Special Education within the Institute for Education Sciences: $58.1million, decrease of $13 million
- Special Education Studies and Evaluations within Institute for Education Sciences: $11.5 million, level funded
- Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Act: Dedicated funding eliminated, consolidated into College Pathways and Accelerated Learning program with the High School Graduation Initiative and Advanced Placement at $86 million
- Title I: $14.792 billion, $300 million increase
- Early Learning Challenge Fund: $350 million, new program
- Race to the Top (new district competition): $900 million
- Mentoring for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities: $5 million, new program
- Promoting Readiness of Minors in SSI (PROMISE): $30 million, new program
- Vocational Rehabilitation State grants: $3.1 billion, increase of $56 million
- Investing in Innovation: $300 million
Click here for more program info!
While CEC praised the President for the overall investment in education and the modest increase to IDEA, CEC’s statement made clear that this increase – which does not amount to the rate of inflation for IDEA Part B – is too small to meet the needs of children and youth with exceptionalities.
Additionally, CEC has significant concerns regarding the consolidation of the Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Act, the nation’s only investment in gifted education, and warns of the danger an elimination of this program would have on high ability students and educators who work on their behalf.
Following our budget map/outline above, Congress will now start on step two, the process of considering the President’s budget and will establish their own funding levels for federal programs which will ultimately pass Congress, be signed into law by the President, and ready and available on October 1, 2011…that is if everything goes according to plan this year!
Your involvement is critical in this process – both to fend off threats of cuts and to advocate for increased funding. If the first two months of this Congress are reflective of what’s to come, we’ll need your quick attention and willingness to contact Congress. Remember, we need your voice in two important areas:
- Call Congress to reject cuts to IDEA
- Share with CEC stories of how the economy has impacted you, your students, your school.
Thank you for all you do on behalf of children and youth with disabilities. Stay tuned to this blog for up- to-date developments…
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