OSPI STATEMENT: Reykdal -- President’s Budget Proposal Will Harm Students, Educators

Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction sent this bulletin at 03/17/2017 02:47 PM PDT

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State Superintendent Chris Reykdal

 

Reykdal: President’s Budget Proposal Will Harm Students, Educators

On Thursday, President Donald Trump released his initial proposal for the federal budget. Below is a statement from State Superintendent Chris Reykdal on the proposal.

OLYMPIA—MARCH 17, 2017—President Trump’s proposed federal budget will hurt Washington students and educators. It is that simple.

Students who need academic help beyond the normal school day have used 21st Century Community Learning Centers for more than a decade. The program is incredibly helpful for students who attend high-poverty schools.

In 2016-17, Washington state received $17 million for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers. The President’s proposed budget eliminates this funding.

Additionally, teachers would be less likely to receive growth opportunities in their profession. Title II, Part A of the Every Student Succeeds Act provides funding to improve teacher and principal quality. The funding is used to provide learning opportunities for educators and help districts find and keep the best educators for their students, among other things.

In 2016-17, Washington state received $36.7 million for the program. The President’s proposed budget eliminates this funding as well.

Besides those programs, at least 20 other federal programs would face either cuts or outright elimination. Those include, with nationwide reductions in parentheses:

  • Striving Readers ($190 million),
  • Impact Aid ($66.8 million),
  • Teacher Quality Partnership ($43.1 million), and
  • International Education ($65 million).

President Trump’s proposed budget would deny low-income students access to services – even though these students often need extra help the most. The proposal would deny growth opportunities for teachers – even though we have a massive teacher shortage.

The irony is that the two Washingtons are going in different directions. Washington state legislators are working hard to increase funding and meet our state’s constitutional mandate. Washington D.C., however, believes that the best way to help public education is to decrease funding. Our students and educators deserve better.

Contact

Nathan Olson
OSPI Communications Director
360-725-6015

About OSPI

The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) is the primary agency charged with overseeing K–12 education in Washington state. Led by State Superintendent Chris Reykdal, OSPI works with the state's 295 school districts and nine educational service districts to administer basic education programs and implement education reform on behalf of more than one million public school students.

OSPI provides equal access to all programs and services without discrimination based on sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability.

Questions and complaints of alleged discrimination should be directed to the Equity and Civil Rights Director at 360-725-6162 or P.O. Box 47200, Olympia, WA 98504-7200.