As a direct result of President Bush's No Child Left Behind Act, the federal government is spending more money on elementary and secondary (K-12) education than at any other point in America's history. Republicans promised to dramatically increase federal education funding, linked to high standards and accountability for the first time, and this is exactly what has happened. More than ever is being spent to educate our children - and more than ever is being expected from the education system.

NCLB promised two things: tough reforms to hold schools accountable for the education of their students, and adequate resources to help them uphold the higher standards they were expected to meet. The reforms are being put in place. All of the money that was promised, however, is not.

While NCLB holds great promise, the Bush Administration and Congressional Republicans have consistently failed to allocate authorized resources. To date, nearly $27 billion has been withheld from America's public education system. This means that major education programs, such as Title I for disadvantaged students and special education, continue to be significantly under-funded. The President and Congress have turned their backs on our schools, leaving them without the resources they desperately need to ensure the highest quality education for every child in every school.
Federal K-12 education spending has increased by an historic $7 billion (from $17.4 billion in FY 2001, the final Clinton budget, to $24.4 billion in FY 2005) in three years since the hallmark education reform legislation was signed into law.

Despite the twin challenges of war and economic uncertainty, President Bush and Congress have expanded funding for all of America's education priorities. Research and opinion polls consistently show Americans believe the most important factor in improving America's schools is high standards and accountability for results - not spending. Republicans in Congress, under the leadership of President Bush, have provided both the resources and the reforms Americans want for education. The Bush Administration and Republican Congress' unwillingness to fully fund NCLB means children in Pennsylvania missed out on $337 million in K-12 education funds last year.

 

Teacher Quality
Pennsylvania's teachers are losing out on nearly $12 million in Teacher Quality Grants, which help teachers improve their expertise and skills. With full funding of professional development activities, Pennsylvania would have been able to hire hundreds of new teachers.

Title I aid for disadvantaged students, the cornerstone of the No Child Left Behind Act, has increased by 44% since FY 2001, to $12.7 billion in FY 2005. In fact, Title I funding received a larger combined increase during the first two years of President Bush's administration than it received in the previous seven years combined under President Clinton. This program (Title I) assists school districts serving a large number of low-income children in improving their academic achievement. With full funding of Title I, 181,381 children in Pennsylvania would be receiving additional academic services. Because the Bush Administration and the Republican Congress refuse to fulfill their promises, the children of Pennsylvania will lose almost $217 million in Title I grants in 2004.

 

After School Programs
Research suggests that children who have access to quality after school programs do better in school. After school programs provide a safe place for students to receive academic assistance and participate in enrichment activities. President Bush and the Republican Congress shortchanged Pennsylvania students by over $25 million in after school funding.

 

Special Education
Failure to fund special education will result in inadequate services for children with special needs. In 2004, children in Pennsylvania will not receive more than $41 million of special education funds they were promised.

 

English Language Learners
With full funding, Pennsylvania would be able to serve 26,006 additional students with limited English skills. (For more information go to edworkforce )

 

The No Child Left Behind Act Can be Good News for Children and Families of Pennsylvania:

*Benefits an estimated 1.8 million Pennsylvania public school children, 3,164 Pennsylvania public schools, and 114,700 Pennsylvania teachers

*Increases federal education funding for Pennsylvania to more than $1.6 billion to help local schools ensure that no child is left behind - more than $178 million more than last year, and a 27.8 percent increase over 2000 levels

*Increases Title I funding to more than $459.2 million to boost the quality of education for disadvantaged children of Pennsylvania - more than $75 million more than last year, and a 25.7 percent increase over 2000 levels

*Provides more than $28 million in funding for Reading First to ensure that every public school child in Pennsylvania learns to read at or above grade level by the third grade

*Requires every classroom in Pennsylvania to have a highly-qualified teacher and provides more than $113 million to train and retain skilled educators

*Provides an estimated $17.2 million to help ensure safe and drug-free schools in Pennsylvania

*Provides an estimated $11.5 million to fund after-school programs for at-risk children in Pennsylvania

*Provides more than $11.6 million in funding to help Pennsylvania school districts assess how well children are learning and schools are teaching

*Increases Pell Grant funding to an estimated $370.6 million - $23.5 million more than last year, and a 24.7 percent increase over 2000 levels - to ensure greater access to a college education for deserving Pennsylvania students from disadvantaged backgrounds

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note: Funding figures are U.S. Department of Education estimates
Other figures include data from the Department's National Center for Education Statistics at www.nces.ed.gov

Other information was collected from the following sites:
education force
white house