Funding for Title I low-income schools would see a 25% cut in spending, or a $4.7 billion reduction, under a Republican-led House Appropriations Committee proposal for fiscal year 2025 approved Wednesday in a 31-25 party line vote.
That cut, Democratic lawmakers said, would result in 72,000 fewer teaching positions. House Republicans, however, attributed the recommendation to a continual decline in student test scores despite annual increases to Title I and the one-time historical aid for COVID-19 recovery.
Last year, House Republicans had proposed an 80% cut to Title I, sparking pushback from school administrators and others. Ultimately, Title I funding got a slight increase of $20 million over FY 2023 spending.
Overall, the fiscal 2025 plan calls for $72 billion, 11% below the FY 24 spending level, for the U.S. Department of Education. That amount falls $10 billion below President Joe Biden's proposed budget for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1.
"Valuable taxpayer dollars are directed to maximize results and benefits for the nation," said House Appropriations Committee Chair Tom Cole, R-Okla., in a statement Wednesday.
The committee's plan for the Education Department remains largely unchanged from one approved by the House Appropriations education subcommittee last month.
Some key spending proposals for early education through college include:
- Increases for special education ($30 million), charter schools ($10 million), and career and technical education ($10 million).
- An additional $25 million for Child Care and Development Block Grants, for a total of $8.7 billion.
- Maintains funding for Pell Grants at the maximum award of $7,395 per student.
Democrats lambasted the Republican bill, calling it an "assault on education."
“For the second year in a row, House Republicans are trying to pass a funding bill that furthers their goal of the complete destruction of public education, fully obstructing the path for children to achieve the American dream," said Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., in a statement.
Senate appropriators have not released their FY 2025 plan for the Education Department.
In a June 27 statement, Phillip Lovell, associate executive director of equitable education advocacy group All4Ed, urged House Republicans to reconsider proposed cuts to education.
"These drastic reductions will have severe consequences for our nation’s students and educators," Lovell said. "Title I funding supports our most vulnerable students, ensuring they have access to quality education and resources necessary for success."
In a joint statement from the Association for Career and Technical Education and Advance CTE, the groups said they appreciated the legislation's investments in CTE but were concerned about funding reductions in other areas.
"These proposed federal spending cuts for major education and workforce development programs will likely cause significant disruptions in connecting learners, particularly our nation’s most vulnerable populations, to CTE programs and the broader postsecondary and career opportunities they provide," the organizations said.
Jodi Grant, executive director of Afterschool Alliance, which supports after-school programs, said in a statement the organization was disappointed with the proposed $1.3 billion level funding recommended for the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers.
“The country’s afterschool and summer learning programs are hurting, as costs skyrocket and pandemic relief winds down," Grant said. "Without additional support, programs will be forced to cut back on hours and activities, and some will have to close their doors."
House GOP leaders, however, said budget reductions and cuts, in general, are necessary to save taxpayers money.
"With today’s approval by the full Committee, we are one step closer to delivering on our continued commitment to restoring trust with the American people by laying a foundation for transparency and fiscal responsibility in the appropriations process," said Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Ala., chair of the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Subcommittee, in a statement issued Wednesday.
