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Forbes
16 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
Education Department Budget Request Includes Massive Cuts
Just adding a little flexibility here. The 2026 budget request for the U.S. Department of Education has been released, and it follows through on President Donald Trump's promise of deep cuts for a department marked for elimination. The budget summary begins by quoting a portion of Trump's speech from his signing of the executive order calling for the elimination of the department. 'But we're going to be returning education very simply back to the states where it belongs,' he promised. The proposed budget seems to indicate that not only will states get more responsibility for education, but additional costs as well. Per Trump's promise, the proposal leaves Title I (support for schools with low income students) and IDEA (funding for students with special needs) intact. But billions of dollars for other programs have been slashed. The budget proposes a new item, the K-12 Simplified Funding Program, which 'would consolidate eighteen currently funded formula and competitive grant programs for elementary and secondary education into a single State formula grant program.' The stated goal is to eliminate 'siloes and bureaucratic red tape," however it appears to eliminate more than that. The K-12 SFP funding request is for $2 billion. The 2024 levels of combined funding for the 18 programs folded into K-12 SFP is over $6.5 billion. The consolidation comes with a $4.5 billion funding cut. One program alone, aimed at supporting effective instruction, was previously funded at $2.19 billion. Other programs to be combined into the K-12 SFP include programs for addressing literacy, supporting at-risk youth, arts in education, and American history and civics education. Community learning centers and rural education supports would also be lumped in. The federal government previously provided $380 million to help fund state assessments; that would also be part of the K-12 SFP. The budget request repeatedly notes that this combining of programs would give the states flexibility and 'discretion to support any activity that was previously allowed' under the previous program, but states will need a great deal of flexibility to make up for a $4.5 billion cut in funding for these programs. I have emailed the department for clarification of what certainly appears to be a cut on top of the consolidation and will add their reply if it arrives. Additionally, there are ten more programs under elementary and secondary education that have been cut entirely. Elimination of teacher-supporting grant programs like the Supporting Effective Educator Development (SEED) program and teacher and school leader incentive grants were explained with the line, 'Elimination of this program is part of the Administration's overall effort to restore fiscal discipline and reduce the Federal role in education.' The grants used by states to help with migrant education were likewise eliminated. Others, like Full Service Community Schools grants were eliminated with the note, 'States and localities, not the Federal government, are best suited to determine whether to support the activities authorized under this program or similar activities within their own budgets and without unnecessary administrative burden imposed by the Federal government.' English Language Acquisition, am $890 million program to support students learning English as a new language, was also cut with this language. In other words, if states think they want to do it, they can budget the funds themselves. Those eliminated programs represent another $1.1 billion in cuts. Meanwhile, the Charter Schools Program, with its history of fraud and waste, will get an additional $60 million. The IDEA grant funding is actually increased by around $650 million, but the budget request also consolidates other grant programs into the IDEA grants for state. Those additional programs account for the increase in IDEA funding, but it will apparently be up to states whether to use the funds that way. While the request keeps Career and Technical Education fairly steady, with a $2.3 million drop in national programs. However, the $729 million for adult education is eliminated entirely ("States and localities, not the Federal government, are best suited etc…") Beyond the K-12 funding, there are other cuts in the proposal. International Education and Foreign Language Studies are zeroed out because 'these programs are inconsistent with Administration priorities and do not advance American interests or values.' The Federal TRIO Program, a program aimed at providing college outreach and support to individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, is eliminated. The Teacher Quality Partnership, aimed at boosting the teacher pipeline and adding diversity to the teacher pool, is also eliminated. Everything under the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), the research wing of the department, is an asterisk until the administration is done 'reimagining a more efficient, effective, and useful IES.' However, the funding for the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), the test that measures how U.S. students are doing, is still there, albeit reduced from $193 million to $137 million. The salary request for the department moves from the 2025 figure of $2.769 billion to $2.514 billion (with IES still undetermined) even though personnel has been cut from 4,099 in 2024 to a projected 2,179 (though there are still personnel issues to be sorted out in court). The Office of Civil Rights would be cut from $140 million to $63 million. Unlike her predecessor Betsy DeVos, Education Secretary Linda McMahon did not request that Special Olympics funding be cut. This is a budget request, likely to be debated and revised and kicked around the halls of Congress before its done. This proposal is a far cry from actually eliminating the department, but it would certainly undercut the states' ability to support their students.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Nevada Legislature passes charter school raises, bill goes to Lombardo's desk
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A key piece of legislation received final approval Thursday night in the Nevada Legislature, putting an end to a fight over education funding. Raises for charter school teachers, a missing component in the education budget, were approved as the Nevada Senate passed Assembly Bill 398 (AB398). Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo had threatened to veto the $12.4 billion education bill because it left out charter school teachers. He called those raises 'non-negotiable.' AB398 allocates nearly $38 million — $19.3 million annually — for the raises. The bill also includes $45 million to fund additional compensation for teachers across the state in 'hard-to-fill' positions, including Title I schools. The bill passed 20-0 in the Senate, a bipartisan display of the Legislature's commitment to treat charter school teachers the same as any other teacher employed by a Nevada school district. Education support professionals (ESPs) are included in the charter school plan. State report shows Nevada charter schools outperform public schools in test scores 'This is a major victory for Governor Lombardo, the legislature, and all Nevadans. For more than three sessions, I have worked on education reform and getting permanent teacher pay raises. I am honored that we got it done with bipartisan support,' Republican Assembly Minority Leader Gregory Hafen said in an emailed statement. Hafen and Democratic Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager sponsored the bill. In an interview this week with 8 News Now, Yeager said there's a reason for keeping charter school raises separate from the overall education funding. 'We segregate it out in a different bill because we want to make sure that that money actually goes to increase compensation both for teachers and education support professionals (ESPs) and it's not just supplanting other money,' Yeager said. 'It allows legislators to stay involved in the process over the next two years to make sure that happens. And then going into the next legislative session, we can decide whether we want to put it in the base budget or not,' he said. Charter schools will be required to provide the State Public Charter School Authority with certain basic information, including the number of teachers and ESPs employed as of October 1, 2024, and October 1, 2025. A plan to provide the salary increases is also required. Money for the raises will be allocated by the Legislature's Interim Finance Committee and distributed through the charter authority. Lawmakers have already dipped into the Education Stabilization Account, known as the rainy day account for schools, to meet spending outlined in the $12.4 billion budget. On May 8, lawmakers approved a $115.7 million withdrawal on top of $126.9 million allocated from the same fund on May 7. In total, lawmakers are drawing that account down by about a quarter-million dollars, leaving it with an estimated reserve of $639.6 million. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Summer school aims to bridge the gap of lost learning during Helene
May 28—Students in Haywood County have a key opportunity this summer to recover valuable instructional time lost to Hurricane Helene and winter weather, with programs available to support learning and allow for retakes of end-of-grade and end-of-course tests. "I encourage parents to participate in this program. Take advantage of this," said Haywood County Schools Board Chairman Chuck Francis. The program can be particularly beneficial for students who struggled this year, given that they missed 22 days thanks to Helene and winter weather. While Haywood County Schools is sixth in the state in academic performance, up from seventh last year, Superintendent Dr. Trevor Putnam isn't sure if Haywood can hold onto its high rank due to the disruption in learning from Helene. "We are down 200 plus instructional hours. I still think we will be in the running, but it will be hard to give up 200 hours of instructional time and compete with schools that had a full year," Putnam said. "You can't create 200 hours out of thin air." However, "we are going to get as many instructional hours back in the summer as possible," Putnam said. But it's more than just those hours missed. "It's not just the 22 days, but you think about the crisis and turmoil the kids were in after that," said Assist. Superintendent Jill Barker. "It's not just the 22 days. It's been more than that. We're trying to mitigate that." School leaders were also faced with the challenge of piecing together multiple different funding sources to provide the programs, as some money came from the state and some came from the federal level. They also had to face the challenge of making sure they achieved all of the requirements attached to the money for each program. "There's different rules for transportation. There's different rules for food," Barker said. Some students will have the opportunity to re-test before the school year is out, while others will have the opportunity to re-test during the summer program. "Kids that need intensive intervention, we're encouraging them to come to the summer program and re-test at the end of June," Barker said. "It is to mitigate lost instruction for kids. ... We are just trying to have that opportunity for kids that want to come." Following are some of the programs offered. Read to Achieve Students in kindergarten through third grade can take part in the Read to Achieve program. Read to Achieve Program will include phonics instruction, writing and specific reading intervention strategies. Transportation and meals (breakfast and lunch) will be provided. The Read to Achieve program is funded with state dollars, while Haywood County Schools is chipping in from Title I funds to add kindergarteners to the program. Building Master Builders Students in fourth or fifth grade have the opportunity to take part in the Building Master Builders program, which focuses on math and reading with some sciences added in. "They'll be doing YouCubed summer math, which includes math and reading. They'll also have some enrichment activities that will vary by school," Haywood County Schools Title I Director Charly Inman said. Those enrichment activities include the Science Olympiad, drones and Legos. Summer YouCubed Middle schoolers can take part in the Summer YouCubed Math Program. The programs aimed at fourth through eighth graders are being funded by state dollars, coming from the School Extension Learning Recovery Program, a direct response to Helene's impact. "That money will definitely cover all of the teachers and bus drivers. We're also able to get a director for each school," Inman said. Students in eighth grade or below will receive a meal. There will also be buses for students. Credit recovery for high school High school students can participate in a credit-recovery program in order to avoid falling behind. The high school program will not offer food, as each session will be about two hours shorter than those for the younger grades. High schoolers will also not attend on Fridays. Participation is voluntary in each of the summer programs, so parents or guardians make the decision. Parent notifications regarding students who could benefit from the service have already gone out. The help sessions will last three to four weeks, starting June 10. Classes are taught by local teachers.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Facing 200,000+ Vacancies, U.S. Schools Urged to Tap International Teacher Talent Through Exchange Visitor Program Sponsored by GEC
NASHVIILLE, Tenn., May 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- With the U.S. facing an estimated 200,000 teacher vacancies in the 2024–2025 school year, school districts are being urged to explore global hiring pathways to sustain educational quality and classroom continuity. One such solution: the Exchange Visitor (EV) Teacher Program, administered by the U.S. Department of State. As a long-standing designated sponsor, GEC is helping schools nationwide recruit and onboard fully qualified international teachers in high-need subject areas such as Special Education, Math, Science, and World Languages. "Many schools are out of local options — this is a national crisis, not a local shortage," said Cem Arituluk, Director of GEC. "Our program gives districts access to a pipeline of certified, English-proficient educators from abroad who are prepared to step in quickly and make a difference." According to recent data from the Learning Policy Institute and the National Center for Education Statistics:- 44 states report teacher shortages in core areas- Rural and Title I schools are disproportionately affected- Special Education is among the hardest roles to fill The Exchange Visitor Teacher Program:- Allows schools to hire international teachers for 3–5 years- Enhances classroom diversity and cultural competence- Offers a federally compliant, structured hiring channel- Supports educational equity by ensuring students have access to stable instruction GEC's support includes:- Full credential and background verification- Visa sponsorship and compliance management- Access to a nationwide database of screened international teachers With over two decades of experience, GEC has helped thousands of international participants successfully join U.S. schools and organizations under multiple Exchange Visitor programs. School leaders interested in bridging staffing gaps can contact GEC at: email: carituluk@ About GEC ExchangesGEC Exchanges is a U.S. Department of State-designated sponsor for Exchange Visitor Programs with over 20 years of experience. GEC supports school districts across the country in recruiting global talent to meet urgent needs and enrich American classrooms through cultural exchange. Contact:Cem Arituluk(615) 391-2546 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Global Educational Concepts (GEC) Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Facing 200,000+ Vacancies, U.S. Schools Urged to Tap International Teacher Talent Through Exchange Visitor Program Sponsored by GEC
NASHVIILLE, Tenn., May 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- With the U.S. facing an estimated 200,000 teacher vacancies in the 2024–2025 school year, school districts are being urged to explore global hiring pathways to sustain educational quality and classroom continuity. One such solution: the Exchange Visitor (EV) Teacher Program, administered by the U.S. Department of State. As a long-standing designated sponsor, GEC is helping schools nationwide recruit and onboard fully qualified international teachers in high-need subject areas such as Special Education, Math, Science, and World Languages. "Many schools are out of local options — this is a national crisis, not a local shortage," said Cem Arituluk, Director of GEC. "Our program gives districts access to a pipeline of certified, English-proficient educators from abroad who are prepared to step in quickly and make a difference." According to recent data from the Learning Policy Institute and the National Center for Education Statistics:- 44 states report teacher shortages in core areas- Rural and Title I schools are disproportionately affected- Special Education is among the hardest roles to fill The Exchange Visitor Teacher Program:- Allows schools to hire international teachers for 3–5 years- Enhances classroom diversity and cultural competence- Offers a federally compliant, structured hiring channel- Supports educational equity by ensuring students have access to stable instruction GEC's support includes:- Full credential and background verification- Visa sponsorship and compliance management- Access to a nationwide database of screened international teachers With over two decades of experience, GEC has helped thousands of international participants successfully join U.S. schools and organizations under multiple Exchange Visitor programs. School leaders interested in bridging staffing gaps can contact GEC at: email: carituluk@ About GEC ExchangesGEC Exchanges is a U.S. Department of State-designated sponsor for Exchange Visitor Programs with over 20 years of experience. GEC supports school districts across the country in recruiting global talent to meet urgent needs and enrich American classrooms through cultural exchange. Contact:Cem Arituluk(615) 391-2546 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Global Educational Concepts (GEC) Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
