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House Republican leaders’ plan to cut funding across government agencies would have a “very real and harmful” impact on families, communities and the economy, said U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, ranking member of the Appropriations Committee, Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn. .
DeLauro asked inside January letter that agency leaders across the federal government are analyzing how the FY 2022 budget cap enacted at levels proposed by Republican leaders will affect agency operations.
“While representing only a small portion of total education funding nationwide, federal resources help states and school districts fill gaps in state and local support and meet the critical needs of our most vulnerable students,” Cardona wrote to DeLauro. in a reply dated March 17.
GOP leaders have hinted at the need reduce expenses for the FY 2024 budget cycle, but have not submitted an official proposal. Concerns about increasing level of national debt support Republican concerns about increased spending.
Earlier this month, President Joe Biden released a statement from his administration proposed FY 24 budget seeks to increase the Department of Education’s budget by $10.8 billion, or 13.6% over the 2023 appropriations.
Debate on the budget will continue through the spring and summer. The federal government’s new fiscal year begins on October 1. In the meantime, here’s a look at how the budget cuts would affect Department of Education services, according to Cardona, under two scenarios: a cut to the FY 22 level or a 22% cut from the current FY 2023 level:
By the numbers
-850 million dollars
Reduction in Title I grants to districts if spending were reduced to FY 22 levels. The reduction would mean a reduction of 13,000 teachers and classroom service providers serving low-income children.
-60,000 teachers
If the Department of Education budget were cut by 22%, Title I schools would have 60,000 fewer teachers and related service providers. This $4 billion cut would affect about 25 million students.
-$3.1 billion
A 22% spending cut would reduce state grants for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act by $3.1 billion and equate to about 48,000 fewer special educators.
1997
A 22% cut in IDEA would reduce federal per-pupil aid to the lowest share since 1997.
– 35 million dollars
Reducing grants to support effective teaching and student support and academic enrichment to the FY 22 level would cut more than $35 million from these programs.
– $1,000
The maximum Pell Grant award would be reduced by $1,000 if current funding were cut by 22%. The cuts would cut aid to all 6.6 million Pell recipients and eliminate Pell grants for about 80,000 students. However, a reduction to the FY 22 enacted level would have “minimal impact on students and parents.”
+40 million
The number of student loan borrowers who would be affected by reduced hours of operation and longer processing times for changes to student loan repayment plans if funding for the Student Financial Aid Administration drops to FY 22 levels.
$31.4 trillion
US debt levels as of March 20 at 4:00 PM EST, according to the US Treasury Department. Federal government debt is the amount of money borrowed to cover the outstanding balance of spending incurred over time.
