The U.S. House of Representatives voted Wednesday to begin to reverse the damage done by years of disinvestment in education. The Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill (H.R. 2740) includes several billion dollars in crucial increases for early childhood, K-12, and higher education programs.
Educators cheered the House decision to raise education spending, which is currently $7 billion below 2011 levels (after adjusting for inflation).
President Trump and Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos promoted a budget that would have eliminated critical programs that provide professional supports for educators, class size reduction, after-school programs, full-service community schools, and student loan forgiveness.
The nation’s public school students deserve much better, as the House has recognized in its budget.
Here are more details on the increases in the education budget advanced by the House:
- $1 billion increases in each of two landmark programs that serve the students most in need: Title I and the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA)
- $500 million increase in Title II, which will help reduce class sizes and provide professional development for educators
- $40 million for full-service community schools, which more than doubles support for this community-led model
- Making higher education more affordable for students and families, including a $150 increase in the maximum Pell grant
- Increased investment in 21st Century Community Learning Centers (after-school programs) We urge you to VOTE YES on H.R. 2740 to provide these critical, long-overdue investments in education to help give every student the opportunity to succeed.
