Trump Pushes Cuts for Education and Job Training in First Budget

Today, the White House released President Trump’s initial budget framework (known as a “skinny budget”) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2018. While it does not include the Administration’s requested funding levels for Perkins (a more detailed plan is expected in late spring), it does provide a troubling preview of the president’s funding priorities for the coming fiscal year.

Though the proposal is touted as a “blueprint to make America great again,” it is anything but when it comes to supporting education and job training. As we previously reported, the president will request a $54 billion increase in defense spending to be offset largely with cuts to domestic programs. Specifically, the budget would cut $9 billion (13 percent) in total from the Department of Education. The Administration boasts of eliminating or reducing over 20 federal education programs, including 21st Century Community Learning Centers after-school programs, Teacher Quality Partnership Grants for teacher education, Federal Work Study student aid, and ESSA Title II funds to support effective educators. The plan includes some targeted increases focusing heavily on the Administration’s “school choice” initiatives. Though the document is scarce on policy details, it proposes $250 million for a new private school voucher program and an additional $1 billion for ESSA Title I for the purpose of incentivizing states to adopt “portability” in school funding.

Workforce development programs at the Department of Labor would also be on the chopping block. The department would be cut by $2.5 billion (21 percent) overall. The budget suggests unspecified cuts to WIOA state grants and argues for shifting more of the burden for funding job training services to states, localities and employers.

Again, while no information on proposed Perkins funding was included in this outline, the overall reduction in funding and lack of details is not promising. The president has pledged to expand “vocational and technical education” in his first 100 days in office. Cutting funding will only reduce access to opportunities for young people and displaced adult workers who want to develop their skills, grow their knowledge and pursue a rewarding career. Moreover, the budget is the first test of this Administration’s commitment to supporting high-quality CTE. Take a few minutes to tell President Trump about the importance of investing in CTE through Perkins. Remind him that we cannot cut our way to a 21st century workforce!

Comments

[Eileen Fleming-Patonay]

Career and Technology Education is not just school, it is job training and economic development. With all the new jobs being created, it is imperative we train our students.
Thank you.

[Dr. Brenda D. Long]

I urge you to support education and, specifically, Career and Technical Education. Career and Technical Education provides opportunities for individuals to have successful careers and supplies a trained and competitive workforce for a strong economy. Career and Technical Education has rigorous and innovative programs for middle and high school students which assist students in developing career pathways for additional training and ready for the workforce. Strong academics and technical skills are required for a competitive and qualified workforce.

[Allison Dees]

Career and Technical Education provides students with work based learning opportunities that prepares them for skilled jobs after high school. It also provides them with exploration so that they can continue their education after high school in high wage and high demand jobs. Career and Technical Education programs are industry driven. Students can earn industry recognized credentials before graduating high school.

With all the new jobs your administration is creating we need Career and Technical education in our middle and high schools so students can be competitive and qualified when joining the workforce.

[Charles Rinehart]

Somewhere along the lines schools put less importance on everyday skills like being able to fry an egg or cut a board. While every student that takes a building trades class does not go into a trade, they still get valuable skills they will use in their adult lives. Beyond the basic carpentry skills everyone should know, students learn many soft skills like collaboration, group work, picking up after yourself, seeing a project through to the end, and expressing their ideas in a way that is understandable to others.

[maryjane]

thank you for this information.

[Catherine Mbinya]

It is quite important for graduating students to have the necessary skills for survival after High school. It's quite important to train them.

[Denny]

I am happy to pass on your services to others I know who are in the same situation, can't fault the service you have provided at all.