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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Education Department eyes program cuts, consolidations in FY26 budget plan
This story was originally published on K-12 Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily K-12 Dive newsletter. The Trump administration revealed more details of its fiscal year 2026 budget proposal for the U.S. Department of Education on Friday, detailing its vision for how the agency would support students with disabilities and those from low-income families while also cutting federal red tape and expanding school choice incentives. Last month, the White House released an FY 2026 "skinny" budget that included a more than $4.5 billion cut in K-12 funding. The more comprehensive budget recommends a total of $66.7 billion for all Education Department activities, which would be $12 billion, or 15.3%, less than its current funding level. "Our goal is clear: to make education better, fairer, and more accountable by ending Federal overreach and empowering families, schools, and States who best know the needs of their students," the budget document said. The budget recommends maintaining funding for Title I, Part A grants to low-income school communities at $18.4 billion and an increase of $677.5 million — for a total of $14.9 billion — for Part B state grants under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Other K-12 programs slated for increases or level funding include the charter school grant program ($500 million), Impact Aid ($1.6 billion), Indian education ($194.7 million), and career and technical education ($1.45 billion). But several other programs are targeted for spending reductions and eliminations under a new K-12 Simplified Funding Program. The K-12 SFP merges 18 current competitive formula funding grant programs into one $2 billion formula grant program that the administration said will spur innovation and give states more decision-making power. Programs that used to have dedicated line budgets — such as the McKinney-Vento grant to support students experiencing homelessness, the 21st Century Community Learning Centers for before and afterschool learning programs, and the Title II, Part A program to support teacher effectiveness — would be consolidated in the K-12 SFP. Some other programs are being recommended for defunding. Those programs include teacher and school leader incentive grants, the Supporting Effective Educator Development grant, the English Language Acquisition state grants, and full service community schools. Eliminating these programs would ensure fiscal discipline, reduce the federal role in education and give states more authority to make their own fiscal decisions, the budget document said. Many of the proposed cuts are to programs that the Trump administration said are too "woke" or rooted in diversity, equity and inclusion practices. For example, the White House said it wants to eliminate $315 million for Preschool Development grants that the administration said was a "push" to include DEI practices into early childhood programs. Another $77 million is recommended for cuts to Teacher Quality Partnerships because the grants were used to "indoctrinate new teachers," the White House said. Equity Assistance Centers, which are funded at $7 million currently, would be eliminated because the technical assistance work includes divisive topics such as critical race theory, DEI, social justice activism and anti-racist practices, according to budget documents. One program previously thought to be considered for elimination — the Head Start early learning program for young children — is now recommended for level funding at $12.3 billion, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. While the Trump administration has released more details of its FY 26 plan, justifications for the proposals are still being developed. U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon will appear before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee panel Tuesday to discuss the funding requests. Some conservative organizations applauded the spending plan. Madison Marino Doan, a policy analyst in the Center for Education Policy at The Heritage Foundation, said the request represents what the Education Department calls a "responsible wind-down" of the agency, which is welcomed by the conservative group. Doan said The Heritage Foundation is especially encouraged by the proposed consolidation of 18 grant programs into the K-12 SFP. "If implemented effectively, the department has indicated that these changes would reduce administrative burdens and compliance costs, allowing more resources to flow directly to students and classrooms, and giving states and districts greater flexibility to meet their unique needs," Doan said. Many education associations, however, were quick to condemn the fiscal plan, the first annual budget proposal of President Donald Trump's second term. AASA, The School Superintendents Association, said it was "disappointed" in the budget recommendations and opposes the cuts and consolidations. 'In an attempt to provide flexible district funding, the President proposed cuts to resources that are imperative to delivering services for rural schools, evidence-based reading instruction, professional development for educators, supports for English-language learners as well as music, art, and STEM programs,' AASA said in a statement. For special education grants, the Trump administration wants to consolidate preschool grants to states and IDEA, Part D funding for technical assistance and teacher preparation into the Part B program. Funding for IDEA Part C for services to infants and toddlers with disabilities would remain a separate formula grant program. Although the fiscal design would give states more flexibility with spending the Part D dollars, the budget proposal said states would still be required to meet key IDEA accountability and reporting requirements. AASA points out that consolidations mean that the administration's proposed $677.5 million increase for IDEA Part B won't see much of a boost because those programs were collectively funded at $676 million. Myrna Mandlawitz, the policy and legislative consultant at the Council of Administrators of Special Education, said the problem with lumping the Part B, the preschool grant program and Part D together is that those sections of IDEA allocations were meant to be their own funding avenues to ensure each population served by those programs get the fiscal attention they need. "When all the money is just sent to states, some states do well and some not so well," Mandlawitz said. Jodi Grant, executive director of Afterschool Alliance, offered a dire warning if the budget proposal was accepted as written, saying that funding cuts to after-school programing will lead to "more academic failures, more hungry kids, more chronic absenteeism, higher dropout rates, more parents forced out of their jobs, and a less STEM-ready and successful workforce.' In a statement, Grant said, "Unless Congress rejects this devastating proposal, afterschool and summer learning programs in every corner of the country will close and our child care crisis will worsen dramatically." Eddie Koen, president of the Institute for Educational Leadership, criticized the proposed elimination of Full-Service Community Schools and the K-12 SFP consolidation of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers. "The Department of Education's FY26 Budget Request falls far short of funding the evidence-based, bold, family and child-centered strategies our students, families, schools, and communities urgently need,' Koen said in a statement. Even leaders who are overseeing programs recommended for increases or level funding voiced their concerns. "Maintaining funding for a third consecutive year — without accounting for inflation, workforce competition, or increased needs — is effectively a deep cut," said Yasmina Vinci, executive director of the National Head Start Association, in a statement. "It means programs will be forced to make impossible choices, including reducing enrollment, cutting hours, or laying off staff." The federal government is technically operating on the approved FY 2024 budget since Congress has not finalized a FY 2025 spending plan. An extension of the FY 2024 budget, or continuing resolution, runs through Sept. 30, and the 2026 fiscal year starts on Oct. 1. But as the Trump administration has already begun downsizing the Education Department and cutting programs, Democrats in Congress have criticized the White House for not adhering to the spending plan and for delays in getting approved money to states and districts. A May 16 letter to McMahon from three Democratic leaders of congressional appropriations committees chided the Education Department for what the lawmakers said are delays in providing states and school districts with information about expected formula funding. "We implore the Department to reverse course, stop creating chaos, provide states and school districts with information about the resources Congress provided in the 2025 appropriations law and begin to support states and their school districts in the effective implementation of federal law," the letter said. According to Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY, and Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., vice chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, President Trump is expected to submit a request to Congress this week to rescind funds already appropriated. In addition to debating funding levels for FY 26, Congress is also working on a massive tax and spending package that seeks to make permanent tax cuts enacted in 2017 under the first Trump administration. The budget reconciliation package aims to reduce taxes and offset costs of new priorities under the second Trump administration, including a new federal private school choice initiative.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
How Medicaid Cuts Could Impact Early Intervention for Young Children
The first warning sign Rebecca Amidon spotted was when her 1-year-old daughter wasn't walking on her feet. 'She would only walk on her knees, and her coordination seemed really off,' Amidon recounted. Then physical therapists noticed tremors, a sign of a neurological condition that affects balance and coordination. Medicaid covered a brain MRI, which led to a proper diagnosis as well as orthotic ankle braces and weekly physical therapy appointments at the local hospital to support her development. 'Medicaid is there to catch us all when we fall,' said Amidon, who lives in Manistee, Michigan. 'It's not just for people who've always needed it; it's for people like my family as well, who never thought that we would be in a position to rely on it. Without Medicaid and these early intervention services, our family would be facing a much different reality.' Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter As plans for cutting hundreds of billions of dollars in Medicaid take shape in Congress and President Donald Trump's proposed budget, parents and child health advocates are warning about collateral damage. Namely, the healthy development of young American children. Nationwide, 31 million children rely on Medicaid, and experts such as Julie Kashen, senior fellow and director for women's economic justice at The Century Foundation, have sounded the alarm, saying, 'Reductions in coverage could worsen the health of those children and their communities.' While Congressional debate is largely focused on cutting coverage for low-income adults and limiting states' ability to raise taxes for healthcare spending, the impact could well cause children to lose services and access to health care. 'There's not a lot of fat to cut in Medicaid,' Elisabeth Wright Burak, senior fellow at the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families said on a recent webinar. 'Cuts would put states in a very difficult position of making hard decisions between spending more or rolling back existing coverage or services.' Medicaid, a state-federal partnership, supports American families in many different ways. The health coverage it provides to low-income children has been shown to improve health and boost educational attainment. Nearly three in 10 child care workers are covered by Medicaid, and it is a major funder of community health workers. Medicaid also helps fund part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which provides early intervention screening and services. Established by Congress in 2004, the program is designed 'to enhance the development of infants and toddlers with disabilities, to minimize their potential for developmental delay and to recognize the significant brain development that occurs during a child's first three years of life.' The program provides early intervention screening and services with resources that vary by state. Nationwide, about 540,000 children under age 3 receive Part C services, and about half of them are enrolled in Medicaid, according to a report from the Infant and Toddler Coordinators Association. Part C saves taxpayers money by minimizing long-term costs for children with disabilities, promoting school readiness and reducing the prevalence of severe disabilities in adulthood. These benefits have been extensively documented: These services are proven to support outcomes for infants and toddlers with developmental delays. As a result of early intervention services, 42% of young children served did not need special education by the time they reached kindergarten. Infants and toddlers with disabilities who receive services under Part C demonstrate improved social-emotional skills, knowledge and behaviors — with two-thirds substantially improving and about one half catching up to a level appropriate for their age. Every state has different Medicaid policies and protocols, which can limit the support that children receive. In Texas, 75% of the state's Medicaid enrollees are children, said Adriana D. Kohler, policy director of Texans Care for Children, a children's advocacy nonprofit. About 2.8% of the state's children under age 3 receive Part C services compared to 7% nationwide, the latest data show 'It's pretty complicated for the early intervention providers,' Kohler said. 'We leverage over a dozen different funding sources, and Medicaid is a critical source of funding.' Related Owing to drastic cuts in Medicaid that Texas lawmakers enacted in 2011, the number of early intervention providers dropped from 58 to 40, while enrollment in the Part C program dropped by 20% to 30% in some areas, according to Kohler. 'You had to be a more severe case or have higher needs in order to qualify,' she said. 'These programs are having to do more with less.' Texas is also one of 10 states that has not agreed to the Medicaid expansion approved in the Affordable Care Act, meaning that uninsured adults living under the poverty line cannot access Medicaid unless they are pregnant, gave birth in the past year, have a disability or live in a nursing home. Burak underscored the particular risks for children's health care in states that did not expand Medicaid and rely on taxing managed care organizations to pay for services. A proposal now before Congress would prohibit such provider taxes, meaning states like Texas would likely be forced to cut back on coverage or services for kids.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
3 things to know from Linda McMahon's FY 2026 testimony
This story was originally published on K-12 Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily K-12 Dive newsletter. U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon defended the Trump administration's proposed spending plan for fiscal year 2026 at a House hearing in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, saying the budget will "shrink federal bureaucracy, save taxpayer money and empower states." The funding proposal also prepares for the eventual closure of the U.S. Department of Education, McMahon told members of a House Appropriations subcommittee during her first congressional budget hearing as education secretary. "It is the mission to shut down the bureaucracy of the Department of Education," said McMahon, who added several times during the 2 1/2 hour hearing that she would work with Congress to close the agency. A top-line "skinny" budget proposal released May 2 calls for a $4.5 billion cut from the current K-12 spending plan, which calculates to a 15% reduction. It proposes maintaining spending for Title I, Part A and for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act while consolidating or eliminating other programs' grants. Only money for charter schools is recommended for an increase. McMahon said the spending reductions are realized by eliminating duplicative or ineffective programs, reducing regulatory compliance, and giving states more flexibility in how they dedicate those dollars. But Democratic lawmakers pushed back, saying a retreat in federal education funding and oversight would lead to fewer resources and protections for public school students. "Almost always when we talk about block granting programs, we make very, very substantial, substantive cuts in the availability of resources for the programs that are covered," said Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md. McMahon said some state education leaders are calling for less federal interference. "I think we're going to see more money available in the states with less red tape," she said. The Trump administration is expected to release a more detailed budget with spending and reduction justifications soon. FY 2026 starts on Oct. 1 Here are some other highlights from the budget hearing held by the House Appropriations Subcommittee for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies. Although the hearing was held to discuss the FY 2026 budget proposal, several lawmakers asked McMahon about the significant spending and workforce cuts taking place during the current fiscal year. In the early months of the Trump administration, the Education Department has cut its workforce by half; canceled hundreds of millions of dollars in research, mental health and teacher preparation grants; and asked states to reapply for extensions for pre-approved COVID-19 emergency funds. "The administration is recklessly and unlawfully freezing and stealing congressionally appropriated funds from agencies, programs and services across the government that serve the American people," said subcommittee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn. DeLauro also said she would challenge efforts to close the Education Department, adding it would not happen "on our watch." McMahon said the agency is evaluating every single program "carefully" as it chooses to discontinue funds. Later, when DeLauro asked if McMahon was going to follow the FY 2025 spending plan as approved by Congress, McMahon said, "We are going to abide by the law." McMahon said one of President Donald Trump's priorities for education is "making sure that no student is imprisoned, if you will, in a failing school" and that he is "absolutely focused" on providing school choice for parents so "children have the right to an education that is best for them." The secretary told lawmakers that the Education Department would support school choice through an increase in charter school funds and through federal block grants to states, and that state leaders would determine how best to use those funds. Several Republican members praised the efforts to give parents more educational options for their children. Subcommittee Chair Robert Aderholt, R-Ala., said student achievement has not increased despite a rise in federal education spending. "Students need reading, writing, math and critical thinking for everyday activities to succeed in their jobs and to make life's big decisions," Aderholt said. "Too many schools, encouraged and facilitated by federal funding, have let things like social justice advocacy, divisive issues crowd out the focus on teaching students and the core subjects." However, several Democratic lawmakers voiced support for prioritizing the public education system. "I am not opposed to parents using their own money to send their children to private school, but it is a strong public school education system that ensures that every child, no matter their background or ZIP code, has a fair shot at success," said Rep. Lois Frankel, D-Fla. McMahon said a core reason for students' lackluster academic performance is poor reading skills. "We've lost the fundamental basics," McMahon said, such as the science of reading, which includes phonics, understanding and fluency in reading. "Because if we can get that right, I think we're going to see a great deal of improvement in our schools across our country, but we're not doing it." McMahon spoke about the Mississippi "miracle," or how the state of Mississippi made significant gains in reading performance through science of reading approaches. Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., said the state also didn't automatically promote 3rd graders to 4th grade who couldn't read. "If you don't read by the end of the 3rd grade, forget it. Everything beyond there requires reading skill," Harris said. But DeLauro said the elimination of grants to study literacy and other academic improvements and the planned block granting of some federal funds is "beyond distressing." Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-Pa., also voiced frustration to McMahon. "You think the federal Department of Education is not living up to what it ought to be doing, and you cite some statistics for students who are not doing as well as they ought to be," Dean said. "And yet, you decide that the answer to that is not to check on these investments and make sure students are achieving. It is to shut the whole doggone thing down. That doesn't make any sense.' Recommended Reading Layoffs, cuts, chaos: The Education Department in Trump's first 90 days Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
California ends ban on special education funds for children in religious schools
The state of California agreed in federal court Monday to stop barring children with disabilities who want to attend religious private schools from receiving special education funding. For decades, children with disabilities have been able to access federal funding for free special education and related services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The federal law allows some of this funding to be used in private schools as well, but California lawmakers had, until this week, disqualified religious private schools from access to this program. A group of Orthodox Jewish parents and schools first brought a lawsuit against the California Department of Education in 2023 over this state law, which barred them from receiving IDEA funds to send their kids to Orthodox Jewish schools. The parents argued that their children should be able to receive an education that is in line with their Jewish traditions and beliefs while also providing a quality education that meets their needs. California Parents Sue Over Law Preventing Religious Schools From Using State Funds For Special Ed Students "It's outrageous that California politicians are using religion as an excuse to deny special education benefits to kids with disabilities," Nicholas Reaves, senior counsel for Becket, a legal group representing the parents, previously told Fox News Digital. "Excluding religious schools from programs which help these children reach their full potential is just plain wrong." Read On The Fox News App In October, a federal appeals court agreed, declaring that California was violating the Constitution by requiring schools to be non-religious for families to apply for these funds. The case returned to district court. On Monday, California and the Los Angeles Unified School District agreed to a court order that permanently prohibits them from enforcing a "nonsectarian" requirement to access the special education funding. Becket hailed the court victory in a press release. "California spent decades treating Jewish kids like second-class citizens. Today's settlement ensures that Jewish kids with disabilities can access the resources they need and deserve—just like everyone else," Eric Rassbach, vice president and senior counsel at Becket, said in a statement. Supreme Court To Hear Arguments On School Choice Case Involving Catholic Charter School The California Department of Education did not return a request for comment. Fox News' Kendall Tietz contributed to this article source: California ends ban on special education funds for children in religious schools
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Guilford County Schools explains funding challenge to serve exceptional children
GUILFORD COUNTY, N.C. (WGHP) — Guilford County Schools is grappling with an issue facing school districts nationwide. Educators want to know how they can best educate students with disabilities or learning challenges, who are also known as exceptional children. The number of students with disabilities or learning challenges has gone up in recent years, and the funding from the federal and state levels to provide legally mandated services has not. GCS is stretching itself thin to meet the needs of thousands of exceptional children. Exceptional children are those who have different educational needs than other students, whether it be in the form of a physical disability or one that isn't as apparent. Lindy Teachy works as an EC support lead for seven elementary schools with GCS. 'We definitely see a rise in our students who have mental health, social, emotional needs, behavioral needs. There's definitely been an increase in recent years in students who are presenting with those needs,' Teachy said. Exceptional children are given individual educational programs, or IEPs, which are legally binding documents with a plan for the student to achieve their educational goals with the support structure they need. A student granted an IEP must fall into one of 14 categories under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, including autism, ADHD and more. To give students the best tools to be able to learn and focus, teachers often get creative on their own. At Bessemer Elementary School, Mrs. Morehead's classroom contains a balancing desk, a rocking chair and other options to help students. She also provides tea and snacks out of her own pocket, and she brought the rocking chair from home. Making sure all students have an accessible education is no small feat. In addition to a monetary cost, it comes at an emotional cost as well. 'They are doing the work, meeting the needs. They are very tired,' Teachy said. The state provides funding for EC students that is capped at 13 percent of the student body and at about $5,300 per student. GCS has about 10,000 EC students, which is closer to 15 percent, according to district officials. 'Our state-level funding has pretty much remained the same,' said Kimberly Steinke, the chief exceptional children and student services officer at GCS. While most of the EC students have milder challenges, some have far greater needs that exceed $5,300 a year. One example is a child requiring a nurse. 'On average, the cost of a nurse per year per student is about $65,000,' Steinke said. They also need more teachers and volunteers. 'All of the resources and all of the technology and all of the curriculum in the world cannot replace a good teacher,' Teachy said. If you are interested in volunteering, visit the school district website to learn more. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
