The U.S. Congress passed a $1.3 trillion spending bill early Friday, March 23, 2018, with less than 24 hours to spare to avert a government shutdown. The 2,232-page spending bill was passed in the Senate 65-32, about 12 hours after being passed in the House by 256-to-167. The omnibus bill funds the federal government for the remainder of the 2018 budget year through September 30th.
According to media reports, the bill increases U.S. Department of Education spending by $3.9 billion over previously appropriated amounts for fiscal year 2018, effectively rejecting recommendations by U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and President Trump related to private school choice and open enrollment initiatives, in addition to making significant cuts to federal education funding.
The $3.9 billion increase to USED providing a total of $70.9 b for FY 2018 is welcome; however, if FY 2012 USED funding levels ($68.1 b) had kept pace with inflation, the USED would be funded at $74.8 b.
Select Key Program Specific Details:
- ESSA Title I: $300 m increase to $15.8 b
- ESSA Title IV: $700 m increase to $1.1 b
- IDEA State Grants (Part B): $275 m increase to $12.3 b
- Impact Aid: $86 m increase, to $1.4 b
- Charter Schools: $58 m increase, to $400 m
- 21stCentury Community Learning Centers: $20 m increase, to $1.2 b
- State Assessments: $8.9 m increase to $378 m
- Career and Technical Education State Grants: $75 m increase to $1.193 b
- Homeless Youth/Children: $8 m increase to $85 m
- Rural Education: $5 m increase to $181 m
- Promise Neighborhoods: $5 m increase to $78 m
- ESSA Title II: Level funded at $2.056 b
- Innovative Approaches to Literacy: Level funded at $27 m
- Migrant Students: Level funded at $375 m
- Neglected/Delinquent Students: Level funded at $48 m
- Comprehensive Literacy Development grants: Level funded at $190 m
- English language Acquisition: Level funded at $737 m
The chart below excepted from the March 23, 2018 Education Week article “President Trump Signs Spending Bill That Includes Billions More for Education” shows which key programs will receive more, less or approximately level funding in fiscal year 2018 compared to 2017.
