A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

FOR RELEASE: December 2, 2000	Contact:         Roberta Heine or Alexander Wohl (202) 401-3026

ALMOST $8 BILLION INCREASE IN EDUCATION FUNDS AT RISK IF CONGRESS DOES NOT ACT

Impact on America's Children
( PDF or MS Word )
State-by-State
Fact Sheet
President's Saturday radio address

As Congress returns on Monday to finish the federal budget more than two months late, millions of schoolchildren across the country are still waiting for increases in education funding. The bipartisan agreement abandoned by the Republican leadership when they adjourned in November would increase federal education investment by almost $8 billion.

"When Congress left town prior to Election Day, it left some very important unfinished business," said U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley. "When members come back to Washington they need to put politics aside and finish this piece of the nation's business by passing an education budget that includes the increases in the bipartisan agreement."

The budget agreement set aside by Republicans in Congress included new funding to reduce class size, provide emergency repairs for run down schools, increase after-school opportunities, improve teacher quality, help turn around low-performing schools, strengthen support for children with disabilities, and expand access to and funding for college. However, at the very last minute, the agreement did not receive the support of the congressional leadership. Failure by Congress to pass this bipartisan budget would demonstrate their willingness to put partisan politics ahead of America's children.

Almost $8 billion in new funding for education is in jeopardy if the Congress fails to act on the FY2001 budget, including increases in a number of key areas, including:

Reducing Class Size with the third installment to hire and train 100,000 new teachers over seven years to reduce class sizes in early grades to 18 students per class: + $450,000,000

Upgrade Teacher Skills and Quality with Eisenhower Professional Development State Grants that help teachers improve their skills in core academic subjects and reduce the number of uncertified and out-of-field teachers: + $250,000,000

Improve Reading and Math by increasing Title I Grants to local education agencies which help disadvantaged students learn the basics and achieve high standards: + $639,000,000

School Renovation Grants would provide support for emergency repairs, such as repair of roofs, plumbing and electrical systems, meeting fire and safety codes: + $1,000,000,000

21st Century After-School Programs offer families a safe place for their children to learn during after-school and summertime hours: + $547,000,000

Strengthen Accountability by accelerating state and local efforts to improve the lowest performing Title I schools with reforms ranging from intensive teacher training to required implementation of proven reforms to school takeovers: + $116,000,000

Comprehensive School Reform help schools develop or adapt comprehensive school reform models that are based on reliable research and effective practices: + $40,000,000

Special Education Grants to States assist states in providing a free appropriate public education to more than 6.3 million children with disabilities nationally: + $1,700,000,000

Pell Grants provide grant assistance to help low-income undergraduate students attend college: + $1,400,000,000 (an increase of $500 in the maximum Pell grant)

Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants provide grant assistance to low-income undergraduate students: + $60,000,000

Federal Work-Study helps undergraduate and graduate students pay for college through part-time work assistance: + $77,000,000

GEAR UP prepares low-income middle and high school students for college by providing tutoring, counseling, and financial aid: + $125,000,000

"I hope that when Congress returns to work next week, it will move forward with this nearly $8 billion increase and go one step further to pass school modernization tax legislation," Riley said. "It would be incredibly irresponsible for Congress to adjourn yet again without addressing America's priorities."

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