President Barack Obama's FY2017 Budget Request includes several education provisions that Department of Education (ED) Interim Secretary John King stated “support broader efforts to expand opportunity and ensure that every child can achieve his or her full potential.” Budget-related resources are listed below.
- FY2017 Budget Summary and Background Information (PDF)
- FY2017 Budget Fact Sheet (PDF)
- FY2017 Budget Highlights (PowerPoint Presentation)
- FY2017 Budget Request Resources from ED (Website)
- Congressional Budget Office Glossary of Budget Terms (PDF)
Selected highlights from the Committee for Education Funding, unless otherwise cited, include:
- ED discretionary/mandatory funding +$1.3 billion (2%) / +$139.7 billion
- In FY2016, Obama proposed $70.7 billion in discretionary funding and $145 billion in new mandatory spending.
- The FY2017 figures exclude Preschool Development Grants (PDG) since the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) transferred them from ED to Health and Human Services (HHS).
- PDG request under HHS is $350 million (+40% or +$100 million)
- Expanding computer science course access +$4 billion request over the next three years
- Also an additional $100 million for related competitive grants for school districts
- Title I grants +$450 million, total of $15.4 billion
- While this seems like an increase, it’s essentially frozen compared to FY2016 Title I and School Improvement Grant (SIG) appropriations. ESSA eliminated SIG, but increased the percentage of allowable use of ESSA Title I funds for school improvements from 4% to 7%.
- IDEA grants to states are essentially frozen at $11.9 billion.
- Every Student Succeeds Act Title IV Block Grants (Student Support and Academic Enrichment grants) +$500 million
- Proposal includes option for states to make competitive grants available to LEAs and raise minimum grant level to $50,000.
- Education Innovation and Research Program (replaces the Investing in Innovation program) +$60 million, total of $180 million
- Teacher and School Leader Incentive Program $250 million
- This is +$20 million (+8.7%) over the current Teacher Incentive Fund (TIF) program.
- Supporting Effective Educator Development +$6 million (+6.4% over the amount now provided via ESSA Title II, total of $100 million)
- School Leader Recruitment and Support +$13.6 million (+81.9% over the current School Leadership Program, total of $30 million)
- Teach to Lead Grants +$10 million
- Builds on ED’s “Teach to Lead” convenings; provides direct support to teachers to develop innovative reforms to improve student outcomes.
- Teacher and Principal Pathways Program +$125 million
- Grants to higher-ed and nonprofit organizations working with school districts to expand STEM-related high-quality pathways into the teaching profession for high-needs schools
- Stronger Together Grants (new program to expand charter and magnet schools among other things) +$120 million
- Charter School Grants +$17 million, total of $350 million
- Magnet Schools Assistance +$18 million, total of $18 million
- RESPECT: The Best Jobs in the World +$250 million
- New program to attract/retain teachers in high-needs schools
- English-Language Acquisition Grants +$63 million, total of $800 million
- State Assessment Grants +$25 million (+6.6%, total of $403 million)
- Promise Neighborhoods +$55 million, (+75.3%, total of $128 million)
It is reported that the U.S. House and Senate Budget chairmen are writing their own budget proposals that may attempt to push spending down to original sequester levels. TASBO will post updates as this continues to develop.