White House Education Budget Unveiled


Last Updated: April 12, 2013
 

This article appeared in the April 2013 Rural Policy Matters.

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On April 10, 2013, the Obama administration unveiled its 2014 budget proposal, a 4.6% increase over current levels.

The proposal includes $75 billion for an expansion of federal pre-school programs for low and moderate-income 4-year-olds. That program would be funded through a proposed hike in taxes on tobacco products.

The budget level funds most key formula grants, including the Title I program, which provides funding for very-low income students; IDEA, which provides funding for students with disabilities; and, the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education program, which primarily serves high schools.

In addition, the budget proposal includes funding for a variety of competitive grant programs, including $300 million for a new high school improvement program; an increase of $125 million to support school turnaround; $215 for Investing in Innovation (a $66 million increase, primarily for a new research agency); $300 million for Promise Neighborhoods, a small increase to $1.3 billion for 21st Century Learning Centers; and $40 million for Expanding Educational Options — to help finance charter schools.

The budget also proposes funding for a variety of additional initiatives including programs for mental health, school safety, and $1 billion for a new Race to the Top program to help states improve college student outcomes.

Read more:

Education budget press release, with links to budget summary and requests:

Education budget overview:

General White House press release on budget:

 

Read more from the April 2013 Rural Policy Matters.