Recent analysis conducted by the Committee for Education Funding (CEF) shows that current Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 funding levels for six of the largest Education Department programs are either at or below their inflation-adjusted FY 2011 levels. FY 2011 was chosen as a baseline for this analysis because it was the Department of Education’s highest total discretionary funding level prior to FY 2018. Even with the proposed substantial funding increase given to these programs in the House FY 2020 Labor, Health and Human Services and Education appropriations bill, many still fall short of their FY 2011 levels.
These programs include:
- Perkins CTE state grants
- Title I state grants
- IDEA Part B state grants
- Impact Aid
- Title II – Supporting Effective Instruction state grants; and
- 21st Century Community Learning Centers
Further, the total budget, both current and FY 2020 proposed, for the Department of Education is below the FY 2011 levels. The chart (below) shows that even if funding had simply kept pace with inflation, and not included any additional increase in appropriations, funding would be significantly higher than it is currently for federal education programs.
With the growing skills-gap, and increased popularity and participation in CTE programs nationwide, an increase in funds for Perkins CTE State Grants is critical to ensure that students continue to receive high-quality CTE programs that prepare them for college and career success upon graduation. Your advocacy on behalf of CTE funding is more important than ever, so we urge you to reach out to your elected officials and ask for an increase in Perkins CTE State Grants in FY 2020.
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