May 17, 2008
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Federal Funding for Education


NSBA primarily advocates for increases to two federal programs that are the largest sources of federal funding to school districts and also operate as mandates:

  • Title I grants: the main source of federal funding for the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act
  • IDEA grants: special education funding under the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

Federal funding for elementary and secondary education programs has remained nearly flat from FY 2005 to FY 2007 because of a shift in budget priorities and a perpetual gridlock of recent Congressional appropriations processes.

What to Tell Congress: NSBA's Position
NSBA urges Congress to increase the federal investment public education programs, including:

  • Increase Title I grants for disadvantaged students by $2.5 billion.
  • Increase IDEA grants for special education by $2.5 billion.
  • Reject the proposed cuts/eliminations to other programs, including vocational education and education technology.
  • Reject any private school voucher proposals.

What's Happening Now in Congress?
The House and Senate passed their respective versions of a FY 2009 Congressional Budget Resolution the week of March 10. Both versions included funding increases for education programs above FY 2008 funding levels and the Administration’s proposed budget for FY 2009. Learn more about the budget resolutions passed and how you can communicate with Congress.

Contact Us
If you are a school board member or state school boards association staff member, please contact Kathleen Branch, NSBA's Manager of Federal Advocacy Programs at kbranch@nsba.org.

If you are a Congressional staffer or a member of the media, please contact Deborah Rigsby, NSBA's Director of Federal Legislation at 703-838-6208 or by e-mail at drigsby@nsba.org.

Was This Page Helpful?
We want to hear from You! Send an e-mail to Kathleen Branch, NSBA's Manager of Federal Advocacy Programs at kbranch@nsba.org.


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