Education Funding and Budget

Title I

Labor-HHS-Education

Appropriations

Let’s invest in our future

The safety and well-being of students and educators cannot be compromised when they return to in-person instruction.

To reopen K-12 public school buildings and college campuses safely, we need to modify classrooms, cafeterias, and buses to permit social distancing. We also need to intensify support and instruction for traumatized students, reverse learning losses, and retool HVAC systems to ensure proper ventilation.

The current federal share of the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) is $12.76 billion—the equivalent of 13 percent of the 40 percent Congress promised to provide, far short of what is needed for the 6.8 million students with disabilities.

The closest the federal government has come to fulfilling its commitment to fund 40 percent of IDEA was 18 percent in 2005. The chronic underfunding of IDEA places additional burdens on states, local school districts, and taxpayers.

Congress should increase education funding and target the students most in need—for example, through Title I of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), IDEA, and the Full-Service Community Schools program.

Take Action!

Support strong public schools by taking these actions today.

Demand Congress Fund Programs to Produce the Diverse Educator Workforce our Nation Needs

Congress is weighing a crucial budget agreement to fund a variety of important priorities, including education. Programs to address the educator shortage and diversify the profession should be part of any budget agreement Congress passes.

Email your senators and representatives and urge them to fund programs that will produce, recruit, and retain diverse, committed educators.

Support historic investments in public education

It’s time for Congress to invest in the children who are the future of America. The funding levels for FY2022 approved by the House chart a new course in public education, the backbone of our nation’s human infrastructure. Overall, U.S. Department of Education funding would increase by 41 percent next year—the biggest percentage increase for any agency. Key elements of the bill include a $19.5 billion increase for Title I programs, a $400 increase in the maximum Pell Grant, a $3.1 billion boost for special education, and $443 million for full-service community schools—far above the $30 million provided this year.

Urge your senators to support the education funding levels for FY2022 approved by the House.

Bills in Congress

HR 5376

Build Back Better Act

HR 3684

The bipartisan infrastructure bill contains several provisions to help create safe, healthy school environments
that support student learning and growth.

HR 764

A bill to require full funding of part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.