• Bush Budget Proposal Ignores Needs of Kids with Disabilities; Gifts and Talents

Bush Budget Proposal Ignores Needs of Kids with Disabilities; Gifts and Talents
In releasing a budget proposal that eliminates, cuts, and freezes spending on programs that benefit students with disabilities and/or gifts and talents, President Bush sent a disappointing message to the special/gifted education communities on Monday.

IDEA programs that support children and youth with disabilities birth through age 21 as well programs that help carryout the goals of IDEA (such as personnel preparation), all fell victim to President Bush’s proposed budget elimination, decrease or level funding. Throughout his budget proposal, the President consistently disregards the growing population of children with disabilities – both in school settings, preschool and early intervention programs – and the increased funding this growth commands. In 1975, Congress mandated that the Federal government pay 40 percent of the extra cost of educating a student with a disability. For 31-years the Federal government has broken its promise to students with disabilities; currently the Federal government pays only 17.7 percent of the cost to fully fund IDEA. The President’s budget would further lessen the Federal commitment to 16.5 percentage.

Just two weeks after stressing the importance of global competitiveness in his State of the Union address, President Bush has proposed elimination of the only Federal program that supports students with gifts and talents, the Javits Gifted and Talented Education program. The Javits program -- a small program by federal standards -- has been providing essential resources for the education our nation’s most advanced learners. Countless numbers of students and educators have benefited from the practical resources the Javits program has provided, including helping teachers develop gifted education strategies, supporting research, and initiating projects that reach out to children from disadvantaged backgrounds who have been plagued by low expectations. By proposing to eliminate this program, President Bush limits the opportunities for students with gifts and talents across the country.

Meanwhile, President Bush included $300 million to expand “private school choice” programs, also known as vouchers. While President Bush chooses not to include any additional funding for special education and proposed elimination of the only Federal program to support gifted learners, he has simultaneously proposed funneling public funding into private schools. CEC has regularly spoken out on its opposition to vouchers, believing that public funding should be dedicated to the students and personnel in the public school system.

While the President’s budget does not support special and gifted education, it does include increases for Title I grants to local education agencies, Title I school improvement grants, maximum Pell Grant award, among other programs.

The President’s budget proposal marks the beginning of the Congressional appropriations process – a process by which members of Congress will accept, reject or alter the President’s budget to reflect the needs of their constituents. Full funding of IDEA and increased funding for the Javits program are top priorities of CEC. CEC is always actively involved in every step of the appropriations process by advocating on behalf of students with disabilities and/or gifts and talents. It is critical that members of Congress hear from their constituents of the impact under-funding IDEA and the Javits program has on students. To email your member of Congress on the latest issues concerning students with disabilities and/or gifts and talents visit CEC’s Legislative Action Center.

Education programs the President proposed to eliminate/under-fund, include:

Please Note: Due to unfinished FY 2007 appropriations legislation that funds education programs, funding levels for FY 2007 (October 1, 2006 - September 30, 2007) remain undecided. Last week, the House passed a Joint Resolution stating that most programs were to operate at FY 2006 levels with some exceptions. First, some programs received funding increases. Second, 60 programs were funded at below FY 2006 levels, however those programs have not been made public. The Senate is expected to consider the House Joint Resolution next week and subsequently the President will sign it into law.

This chart is based off of the most current information available -- a combination of the House Joint Resolution and funding levels published by the Department of Education. As Congress completes FY 2007 funding levels and proposes FY 2008 levels, CEC will keep its members informed through future Policy Updates.
FY 2008 President's Request FY 2007 Appropriation

IDEA Part B .................................$10,491.0 (-200 million).......................$10,691.9

Section 619 - Preschool Grants...........380.8................................................. 380.8

IDEA Part C.......................................423.1..................................................423.1

IDEA Part D

--State Personnel Development..........0[1] (-50.1 million)..............................50.1

--Technical Assistance/Dissemination.......48.9.................................................. 48.9

--Personnel Preparation.........................89.7...................................................89.7

--Parent Information Centers..................25.7...................................................25.7

--Technology and Media Services.......25.1(-13.3million)..............................38.4

Voc. Rehab. Transition Initiative...............2.8....................................................2.8

Javits Grants for Gifted & Talented..........0 (-9.6 million)...............................9.6

Research in Special Education................71.8....................................................71.8

NCLB................................................24.5 (+1.2 billion)............................23.3

Title I Grants to LEAs.........................13.9 (+ 1.2 billion)............................12.7

Title I School Improvement Grants......500 (+500 million)...............................0

TRIO ................................................828.2.................................................828.2

GEAR UP............................................303.4..................................................303.4

Vocational Education State Grants.............2.8....................................................2.8

Safe and Drug-Free Schools...............324.2 (- 201.2).................................525.4

Even Start..............................................0 ............................................. 111.6

Elementary/Secondary School Counseling.0...............................................34.7

Parental Info and Resource Centers...........0...............................................39.6