On April 10th, President Obama released his Fiscal Year 2014 Budget. Overall, for education, it’s good news. The Administration is requesting $71.2 billion in discretionary appropriations for the Department of Education in fiscal year 2014, an increase of $3.1 billion, or 4.5 percent, over the fiscal year 2012 level.
The 2014 budget request for the Department of Education is focused on six priorities: (1) high-quality early learning opportunities for all children, (2) improving teaching and learning in K-12 education, (3) making our schools safer and creating positive learning environments, (4) career-readiness for all, (5) improving affordability and quality in postsecondary education, and (6) supporting the Administration’s Ladders of Opportunity initiative for high-poverty communities.
Within these six areas, there are several opportunities to improve educational outcomes for boys of color. Most of these resources, however, are from competitive funding streams that will require States and/or LEAs to demonstrate innovative practice in planning and implementation. States and LEAs can begin now to plan strategically, gather research, and create the cross-sector partnerships necessary to be prepared for accessing these resources if they become available.
A few highlights from the budget:
- $1.3 billion in 2014 and $75 billion over 10 years in mandatory funding for Preschool for All
- $750 million for competitively awarded Preschool Development Grants
- $462.7 million for the Grants for Infants and Families program under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
- $372.6 million for IDEA Preschool Grants
- $3.0 billion for the new Excellent Instructional Teams program
- $190 million in mandatory funding for a new Presidential Teaching Fellows program
- $5 billion in one-time mandatory funds for the RESPECT Project to help States and districts reshape the teaching profession
- $1.3 billion for 21st Century Community Learning Centers
- $659 million for School Turnaround Grants
- $215 million for Investing in Innovation Grants
- $50 million for School Climate Transformation Grants
- $25 million for Project Prevent Grants for LEAs in communities with pervasive violence
- $1.1 billion for a reauthorized Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education program
- $300 million for a new High School Redesign program
- $42 million for a demonstration and evaluation of dual enrollment programs
- $4 billion in mandatory funds for a Community College to Career Fund
- $300 million for Promise Neighborhoods
- $102.2 million for College Pathways and Accelerated Learning
- $14.5 billion for Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies, renamed as Title I College and Career Ready Students