The
education portion
of President Barack Obama's 2016 budget would make significant
investments in programs from the preschool through college levels. The
budget proposes a more than 5 percent increase – or $3.6 billion – in
discretionary education funding, up to $70.7 billion from the current
$67.1 billion in 2015. While some say the request represents support of
public education, others say it's more of a federal overreach in an
effort to create a K-14 pipeline.
"[The budget] helps working
families' paychecks go farther by treating things like paid sick leave
and childcare as the economic priorities that they are," Obama said
Monday in announcing the budget proposal. "It gives Americans of every
age the chance to upgrade their skill so they can earn higher wages, and
it includes my plan to make two years of community college free for
responsible students."
[
REWIND: Obama's 2015 Budget: More Early Education Funds, New Race to the Top]
Aside from a few tweaks, the highlights of the education-related
items in Obama's budget had been announced in the weeks leading up to
his State of the Union addressed. In his budget proposal, the president
formally made requests for
education-related tax reforms, an
expansion
of the federal Pay As You Earn student loan repayment program, as well
as the first installment of a 10-year, $60 billion plan to make
community college tuition-free for some students. Obama did, however, add a requirement that would
target the program to lower-income students, barring students with a family income of more than $200,000 from participating. He also
repeated his request for a 10-year, $75 billion universal preschool program, and
$750 million for preschool development grants.
And
as promised by Education Secretary Arne Duncan, the administration's
budget proposal requests an additional $1 billion in Title I funding for
schools and additional funds to help states
audit and reduce unnecessary tests and
improve the quality of those they keep. Funding for grants to improve
the quality, validity and reliability of tests would nearly triple from
about $9 million to $25 million.
The budget also includes
significant requests for Improving Teacher Quality State Grants ($2.3
billion) and the Teaching for Tomorrow program for teacher recruitment
efforts ($1 billion in 2015 and $5 billion over 5 years).
[
READ: Most Students Don't Know Obama's College Ratings Proposal Exists]
"Great teachers and leaders matter more today than ever," Duncan said
in a call with reporters Monday. "Let's do everything we can to
respect, reward and retain them to help all students reach their full
academic and social potential."
The administration also wants to
boost funding for the School Improvement Grant program (a $50 million
increase), which has had at best mixed results in turning around failing
schools.
Federal data on the program shows about one-third of the schools have posted declines in average proficiency since receiving the grants.
Obama
will also ask for an increase of $30.7 million – for a total of $131
million – for the Office for Civil Rights, which handles civil rights
complaints at schools and colleges, including instances of sexual
assault, discrimination and inequitable access to resources. More than
90 colleges and universities are currently under federal investigation
for possible Title IX violations related to how they handle sexual
violence cases. The additional funding would allow the office to hire
200 more full-time employees.
Overall, the budget asks for
significant increases to existing programs, rather than more funding for
new initiatives and competitive grant programs, such as Race to the
Top, which was notably absent, but Republicans still seemed unwilling to
support the budget.
Rep. John Kline, R-Minn., who chairs the House education committee,
said in a statement the budget prioritizes "more spending, more taxes and more government."
[
ALSO: Most U.S. Students Come From Low-Income Families]
"We must help more students pursue the dream of a college degree
without living a nightmare of debt and unemployment," Kline said. "We
must advance K-12 education reform that empowers parents and places more
control in the hands of teachers and local decision-makers."
Lindsey
Burke, a fellow in education policy at The Heritage Foundation, also
said the budget increases federal involvement in public education,
"The
administration’s budget is a blueprint for the spending the White House
hopes to garner in its goal of creating a 'cradle-to-career' education
system, starting with free preschool and continuing through free
community college," Burke said. "But education is a quintessentially
local issue. The more that is spent from Washington, the less control
local leaders – and most importantly – parents have in directing their
children’s learning."
Traditionally left-leaning teachers unions, however, praised Obama for his budget proposal.
Randi
Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, said the
budget aims to "level the playing field for working families."
[
MORE: Senators Detail Plans for No Child Left Behind Debate]
"By targeting
investments in child care and paid sick leave, enabling more students to
go to community college and helping battle America's worn
infrastructure, it gives more families a pathway to the middle class,"
Weingarten said in a statement. "The investments the
president proposes will help the middle class and grow our economy. The
taxes he proposes simply ask those who have done very well to help
others climb up that same ladder of opportunity."
Lily
Eskelsen-Garcia, president of the 3 million-member National Education
Association, called the budget "smart and pragmatic" and a move away
from an "austerity-at-all-costs style of governing."
"He
knows what educators know: An investment in education is a direct
investment in our students and our nation’s future," Eskelsen-Garcia
said in a statement. "That’s why educators have for years called for
funding increases to support programs that improve opportunities for all
students. We are pleased the Obama administration is leaning in and
investing much-needed resourced to help high-needs students in his
latest budget."
