White House’s proposed education budget

Posted by on March 24, 2014

The White House’s education wish list

The president’s FY 2015 budget includes level funding for key formula programs and introduces several new competitive initiatives, reports Alyson Klein for Education Week. Overall, the White House is requesting $68.6 billion for the Department of Education, a $1.3 billion increase over FY 2014. A new $300 million Race to the Top would help states and districts create data systems that track characteristics like teacher and principal experience and effectiveness, academic achievement, and student coursework. It includes school grants to attract and retain effective teachers, extend learning time, bolster school culture, and help students with non-cognitive skills. The White House is also seeking $200 million to bolster professional development around use of technology, including student data systems to improve instruction. It’s requesting $150 million to redesign high schools and help them partner with employers and institutions of higher education. Title I and special ed grants would stay at last year’s level, roughly $14.4 billion and $11.5 billion respectively. Charter schools would get $240 million and the School Improvement Grant program would get $505 million, last year’s levels. Investing in Innovation would be raised to $165 million. The administration is again seeking $75 billion over 10 years to help states expand prekindergarten programs, and wants $500 million for preschool development grants to help states improve early-childhood education.

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2014/03/obama_pitches_race_to_the_top_.html