Well, the numbers are out and the WIOA Title II number is actually… pretty good, considering. The House level funds us at $596 million (presumably split the same way between state grants and national leadership — $582/$14 million respectively, but that’s unconfirmed), which is significant when you look at Sarah’s tables and see just how many cuts are proposed for many other programs. The entire Dept. of Education was cut by $4 billion. So my gloomy prediction during yesterday’s call was off. You all should consider thanking committee members for sparing us (although I don’t think there is any harm in reminding them that the funding is still too low, and that overall spending for education remains too low). Special thanks surely goes to Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) once again. We’ve had multiple conversations with her and her staff about adult ed over the years — and she is a really powerful ally. Just a few weeks ago at a forum here in DC she specially called out the President’s cuts to adult education (among many other things) and she has been our firewall in the House for a long time. Jeff > Begin forwarded message: > . > From: Sarah Abernathy <abernathy@cef.org> > Subject: CEF Update: 07.12.17 - Preliminary FY 2018 House Labor-HHS-Education bill summary > Date: July 12, 2017 at 8:04:38 PM EDT > To: CEFMembersList <CEFMembersList@americancontinentalgroup.onmicrosoft.com> > > > > Wednesday, July 12, 2017 > > Dear CEF Members: > > I. House FY 2018 Labor-HHS-Education funding bill > > · Department of Education is deeply cut – There’s lots to unpack between the bill text <http://docs.house.gov/meetings/AP/AP07/20170713/106250/BILLS-115HR-SC-AP-FY2018-LaborHHS-LaborHHSFY2018.pdf> and press release <https://appropriations.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=394995> that the House Appropriations Committee released late this afternoon. Here are my preliminary thoughts and analysis, which may change after we see the table that shows funding program by program. My attached colorful table has green highlights where I make informed assumptions about program funding based on what I know from the account total. I have left blank the funding levels for programs where I can’t tell what the bill has – that does not mean there is no funding! I’ll know more tomorrow when we can get some details, and may therefore refine some of these numbers. > · Major points are: > · Cuts Department of Education funding by $4 billion – The Chairman’s press release calls it a $2.4 billion cut, but that doesn’t count the rescission of Pell grant funds made in the FY 2017 bill (it rescinded $1.31 billion) and in this FY 2018 bill (it rescinds $3.3 billion). Counting both rescissions – which is the right thing to do! – this bill cuts available education resources by $4 billion compared with last year (the difference between the $4 billion cut and the Chairman’s smaller claimed cut is because this bill makes a bigger rescission). > · Appears to reject President’s voucher increases – The bill does not include the President’s requested $1 billion for a new Title I set aside, and does not appear to have the increase the President requested for research into school choice. It provides a $28 million increase for public charter schools, which is $130 million less than the President’s budget requested. > · Rescinds $3.3 billion from previously appropriated Pell Grant funding – This cut would not affect the maximum award for next year, which is frozen at the 2017 level, but removes funding already appropriated for Pell Grants, whose costs can vary greatly from year to year. Other than this huge rescission, it provides about the same level of funding for higher education and student financial assistance as last year. > · Increases are few and far between – The bill increases funding for the following Department of Education programs: > o Special Education state grants – up $200 million, plus other special education funding goes up by an additional $75 million > o Title IV-A student support and academic enrichment grants – up $100 million > o TRIO – up $60 million > o Charter schools – up $28 million > o GEAR UP – up $10 million > o Impact Aid – up $5 million > > · Funding levels for other education-related programs – > o Workforce development – The bill cuts funding in the Department of Labor for job training programs, slashing funding for the Employment and Training Administration by $1.5 billion. It provides a total of $3.0 billion for programs under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. > o Head Start – up $22 million > o Child care and development block grants – up $4 million > o Preschool development grants – maintained at $250 million > o Institute of Library and Museum Services – I believe that funding is maintained at last year’s level. > > - Sarah > > Sarah Abernathy, Deputy Executive Director > > 1800 M Street, NW > Suite 500 South > Washington, DC 20036 > T: 202-327-8125 > abernathy@cef.org <mailto:abernathy@cef.org> > www.cef.org <http://www.cef.org/> > Twitter @edfunding > >