State’s school funding in peril
President’s federal budget proposes to trim after-school programs, teacher preparation
California’s federal funding for K-12 education would shrink from about $4 billion this fiscal year to $3.64 billion in 2017-18, under the Trump administration’s proposed budget.
Presidential budgets typically serve as wish lists, and it is far from clear what parts of the document released this week will be enacted by Congress. The proposed federal budget would cut the U.S. Department of Education by more than 13 percent, from roughly $68 billion to about $59 billion.
Gone would be $2.1 billion the government spends on teacher preparation and $1.2 billion for after-school programs. In 201516 California received $249 million for teacher preparation programs and $132 million for after-school programs.
California’s state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson blasted the budget’s education proposals. “I give this budget an F grade for failing public school students in California and across the nation,” he said.
The budget plan allocates $1.4 billion for “school choice” initiatives. This includes an extra $150 million, above the current level of $333 million, to help
“I give this budget an F grade for failing public school students in California and across the nation.” — Tom Torlakson, state superintendent of public instruction
charter schools get started, and to “replicate and expand” existing high-quality charter schools. The budget also calls for an additional $250 million to provide scholarships to students from low-income families to attend private schools.
These programs are often referred to as vouchers, although they can be funded in a variety of ways.
The California Charter Schools Association took issue with the proposed budget.
“We are concerned by the deep cuts included in the proposed FY 2018 budget released ... by the federal government,” spokesperson Emily Bertelli said. “Sustaining charter schools and all public schools requires great investments at all levels.”
The budget would increase funding for the Title I program for schools serving low-income students to $15.9 billion. However, $1 billion of those funds would go toward a demonstration program that would send money to school districts that agree to accept out-ofdistrict students.
The proposed budget also calls for funds for states and school districts to “test and build evidence for the effectiveness of private school choice.”
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has called Trump’s plan “the most ambitious expansion of education choice in our nation’s history.”
It is unclear if states like California whose constitutions place restrictions on using public funds for private schools would be able to participate in the program.
On the higher education front, the White House seeks to cut $143 billion over the next decade through changes to the way federal student loans are managed. For the federal work-study program, California would receive just $56 million in 2017-18 under the budget, a roughly 50 percent drop from the previous year. California would also lose $86.8 million in tuition assistance for low-income students.
California’s higher education leaders reacted with dismay.
Lupita Cortez Alcalá, executive director of the California Student Aid Commission, said she was “extremely concerned” that some students would be scared away from enrolling in college if some of the Trump administration proposals pass Congress.
Even though California offers generous Cal Grants for low-income students, federally subsidized loans and work-study jobs are also important parts of financial aid packages, she said. Without them, “students are going to be taking out more private loans or maybe not attending at all,” she said.