Funding Increases for Title I, Special Education from 2017 Budget Deal

A budget deal for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2017 was proposed to slightly increase spending for Title I programs, increasing spending by $100 million compared to Fiscal Year 2016. This would make the total budget for Fiscal Year 2017 $15.5 billion. On top of this, $450 million was already determined to to be moved over from the School Improvement Grants program.

Other highlights for the education market include state grants for special education programs would be increased by $90 million, totaling $12 billion. There is a proposed $400 million increase for the Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grant Program, otherwise known as Title IV, Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

While the increase in funding would positively affect Special Education, the total education budget would still decrease by $60 million from Fiscal Year 2016. Some cuts that are included in the budget deal are a $294 million cut for Title II grants for teacher development.

The deal displays that Congress is fighting the large budget cuts displayed in Trump's Fiscal Year 2018 budget. One example includes Trump seeking to eliminate $1 billion towards 21st Century Community Learning Centers in his 2018 budget. In this budget deal for FY 2017, that program receives a $25 million increase.  The deal is expected to be voted on this week.

State procurement opportunities that are dependent on this funding may be affected by the outcome of this deal. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction's Statewide Afterschool Programs Data System for 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21CCLC) may be one opportunity that could be affected by this. The state has a pilot program they are trying to build now for this project, and funding could affect the subsequent statewide program launch.

Source: Education Week