There’s more to school-safety story than dollar figure

“The Obama administration had cut $300 million from school safety.” — Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, on March 7 in an interview on CNN’s “New Day”

President Barack Obama called for eliminating the

Safe and DrugFree Schools and Communities State Grants program as part of his budget request in 2013, saving $294 million. Congress went along. So that’s about $300 million. But there’s more to this story than just the dollar figure.

After the killings of elementary schoolers and their teachers in Newtown, Conn., Obama rolled out a plan including an assault weapon ban and changes to the background check system, and $385 million in new spending for schools. It offered “$150 million to school districts and law enforcement agencies to hire school resource officers, school psychologists, social workers, and counselors.” There were $30 million for schools to design emergency management plans, and $40 million “to help districts work with law enforcement and other local agencies to coordinate services for students who demonstrate need.” There were at least $75 million aimed at boosting mental health interventions at schools.

Our ruling

Cruz’s statement contains an element of truth but ignores critical facts that would give a different impression. We rate it Mostly False.

AMERICAN-STATESMAN U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz says the Obama administration cut school safety funds.