President wants to move one third of education funding to private schools, vouchers and other “school choice” programs—paid for with deep cuts to our public schools.
- We’ve spent the last decade fighting to restore all the funding our schools lost during the devastating Great Recession.
- We helped convince California voters to pass Propositions 30 and 55.
- We took countless “Midnight Rides” to Sacramento to lobby our state leaders to protect our schools.
- We stopped massive layoffs and furloughs.
- Arts and music programs came back.
- And we still have more to accomplish.
But even as we make some headway to rebuild our schools, massive proposed education cuts threaten to undo our progress. The Trump Administration’s Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Request released in early March 2017 is a frightening blueprint that slashes $9.2 billion—16%—in education funding. California school districts depend on those funds.
Here is what the White House proposes:
Massive transfer of education funds to private schools
The Trump administration wants to eventually spend a third of federal education dollars—$20 billion—for private schools, vouchers and other “school choice” initiatives. This would mean deep cuts to federal funding for our public schools. This transfer of money from public to private would begin this year with $1.4 billion allocated to expand vouchers, but this is just the beginning in the march to transfer the full $20 billion to vouchers.
School nutrition
This budget proposal asks for $150 million in cuts to the USDA school lunch program, which would affect children’s health and their ability to learn.
After-school programs
The White House proposes complete elimination of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, which funds programs like Beyond the Bell and L.A.’s Best. LAUSD says that without this funding, it will be forced to completely eliminate Beyond the Bell for High School students, including, programs for academic decathlon competitors and English learners, as well as band programs.
Arts programs
The White House also asks Congress to completely eliminate the National Endowment for the Arts, which develops arts education programs and curricula.
Other proposed cuts
- Complete elimination of ESSA Title II funding, which supports teacher training
- $104 million cut to the GEAR UP program and a $92 million cut to the TRIO program. Together, these programs assist low-income individuals, first-generation college students, and individuals with disabilities to prepare for, enter and succeed in college
- The President’s budget proposal also completely eliminates 20 other programs, including Striving Readers (grants targeted toward students with disabilities or limited English proficiency) and Teacher Quality Partnership (a teacher training and recruitment grant program).
