Latest News and Comment from Education

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Obama Budget Increases Education Spending, But Flatlines Funds For Poor And Students With Disabilities

Obama Budget Increases Education Spending, But Flatlines Funds For Poor And Students With Disabilities:




While President Barack Obama's 2014 budget proposal asks for an overall spending increase to education, most of that will go to new programs and competitive grants as two key funds devoted to poor students and students with disabilities flatline.

According to the administration's budget documents, amid a slew of other budget cuts, the Obama administration is asking for $71.2 billion in discretionary funding for education, an ask that represents a 4.6 percent or 3.1 billion increase over 2012 levels.

The flashiest education item on the budget is the preschool expansion initiative Obama has been alluding to since his State of the Union address. According to the budget, the program will be called "Preschool for All." The administration estimates that the program will cost $77 billion over 10 years, offset by an increased tobacco taxfrom $1.01 to $1.95. (Already, the tobacco industry is protesting any increase).

The budget also includes $750 million to incentivize states to expand their own pre-school programs. According