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FY 2006 Budget Summary
Summary of the 2006 Budget
Elementary and Secondary Education
Special Education and Rehabilitative Services
Vocational and Adult Education
Student Financial Assistance
Higher Education Programs
Institute of Education Sciences
Current Page Programs Proposed for Elimination
Departmental Management
Appendices

Fiscal Year 2006 Budget Summary — February 7, 2005

Archived  Information

Section III.  Programs Proposed for Elimination

Overview

The 2006 request continues the practice of the Bush Administration—also consistent with previous administrations over the past 25 years—of proposing to eliminate or consolidate funding for programs that have achieved their original purpose, that duplicate other programs, that may be carried out with flexible State formula grant funds, or that involve activities that are better or more appropriately supported through State, local, or private resources. In addition, the government-wide Program Assessment Rating Tool, or PART, helps focus funding on Department of Education programs that generate positive results for students and that meet strong accountability standards. For 2006, PART findings were used to redirect funds from ineffective programs to more effective activities, as well as to identify reforms to help address program weaknesses.

The following table shows the programs proposed for elimination in the President's 2006 budget request. Termination of these 48 programs frees up almost $4.3 billion—based on 2005 levels—for reallocation to more effective, higher-priority activities. Following the table is a brief summary of each program and the rationale for its elimination.

Program Terminations

Program (2005 BA in millions)
   
Alcohol Abuse Reduction $32.7
Arts in Education 35.6
B.J. Stupak Olympic Scholarships 1.0
Byrd Honors Scholarships 40.7
Civic Education 29.4
Close Up Fellowships 1.5
Community Technology Centers 5.0
Comprehensive School Reform 205.3
Demonstration Projects for Students with Disabilities 6.9
Educational Technology State Grants 496.0
Elementary and Secondary School Counseling 34.7
Even Start 225.1
Excellence in Economic Education 1.5
Exchanges with Historic Whaling and Trading Partners 8.6
Federal Perkins Loans Cancellations 66.1
Foreign Language Assistance 17.9
Foundations for Learning 1.0
Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs 306.5
Interest Subsidy Grants 1.5
Javits Gifted and Talented Education 11.0
Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnerships 65.6
Literacy Programs for Prisoners 5.0
Mental Health Integration in Schools 5.0
Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers 2.3
National Writing Project 20.3
Occupational and Employment Information 9.3
Parental Information and Resource Centers 41.9
Projects With Industry 21.6
Ready to Teach 14.3
Recreational Programs 2.5
Regional Educational Laboratories 66.1
Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities State Grants 437.4
School Dropout Prevention 4.9
School Leadership 14.9
Smaller Learning Communities 94.5
Star Schools 20.8
State Grants for Incarcerated Youth Offenders 21.8
Supported Employment State Grants 37.4
Teacher Quality Enhancement 68.3
Tech-Prep Demonstration 4.9
Tech-Prep Education State Grants 105.8
Thurgood Marshall Legal Educational Opportunity Program 3.0
TRIO Talent Search 144.9
TRIO Upward Bound 312.6
Underground Railroad Program 2.2
Vocational Education National Programs 11.8
Vocational Education State Grants 1,194.3
Women's Educational Equity 3.0
   Total
$4,264.4

Program Descriptions
(figures reflect 2005 BA in millions)

Alcohol Abuse Reduction $32.7  

Supports programs to reduce alcohol abuse in secondary schools. These programs may be funded through other Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities National Programs and State Grants for Innovative Programs.

Arts in Education $35.6  

Makes non-competitive awards to VSA arts and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as well as competitive awards for national demonstrations and Federal leadership activities to encourage the integration of the arts into the school curriculum. Eliminating funding for the program is consistent with Administration policy of terminating small categorical programs with limited impact in order to fund higher priorities. Arts education programs may be funded under other authorities.

B.J. Stupak Olympic Scholarships $1.0  

Provides financial assistance to athletes who are training at the United States Olympic Education Center or one of the United States Olympic Training centers and who are pursuing a postsecondary education. Athletes can receive grant, work-study, and loan assistance through the Department's postsecondary student aid programs. Rated Results Not Demonstrated by the PART due to lack of performance data and program design deficiencies, including its duplication of other Federal student aid programs.

Byrd Honors Scholarships $40.7  

Promotes academic excellence and achievement by awarding merit-based scholarships to high school students, through formula grants to State educational agencies, who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement and who show promise of continued academic excellence. This program duplicates existing Federal student financial assistance programs, as well as State, local and private efforts that provide merit-based resources for postsecondary education. Rated Results Not Demonstrated by the PART due to lack of performance data and program design deficiencies.

Civic Education $29.4  

Provides a single non-competitive award to the Center for Civic Education to conduct We the People, a program to improve the quality of civics and government education. Also makes non-competitive and competitive awards for the Cooperative Education Exchange, a program to improve civic and economic education through exchange programs. Request is consistent with the Administration's policy of terminating small categorical programs that have limited impact, and for which there is little or no evidence of effectiveness, to fund higher priority programs.

Close Up Fellowships $1.5  

Non-competitive award to Close Up Foundation supports fellowships to low-income students and teachers participating in Close Up visits to Washington, DC and other activities. Peer organizations provide scholarships to some of their participants without Federal assistance, and the organization's successful private fundraising eliminates the need for the program.

Community Technology Centers $5.0  

Supports centers that offer disadvantaged residents of economically distressed areas access to computers and training. Program has limited impact and funding for similar activities is available through other Federal agencies.

Comprehensive School Reform $205.3  

This program largely duplicates activities that are readily carried out under the Title I Grants to LEAs program. In the 2000-01 school year, about 30,000 Title I schools (62 percent) were implementing research-based reform models and, beginning with 2002, the NCLB Act made statutory changes to further encourage schools to carry out the types of whole-school reforms supported by the Comprehensive School Reform program. For example, comprehensive reform is encouraged as part of school improvement efforts undertaken by Title I schools that do not make adequate yearly progress toward State standards for at least 2 consecutive years. Also, the Act lowered the poverty threshold for Title I schoolwide projects to 40 percent, thus expanding the number of Title I schools that are eligible to use Title I funds to carry out comprehensive school reform.

Demonstration Projects to Ensure Quality Higher Education
  for Students with Disabilities
$6.9  

Funds technical assistance and professional development activities for faculty and administrators in institutions of higher education in order to improve the quality of education for students with disabilities. This program has achieved its primary goal of funding model demonstration projects. New projects can and do receive funding under FIPSE.

Educational Technology State Grants $496.0  

This program provides funding to States and school districts to support the integration of educational technology into classroom instruction, technology deployment, and a host of other activities designed to utilize technology to improve instruction and student learning. Schools today offer a greater level of technology infrastructure than just a few years ago, and there is no longer a significant need for a State formula grant program targeted specifically on (and limited to) the effective integration of technology into schools and classrooms. Districts seeking funds to integrate technology into teaching and learning can use other Federal program funds such as Improving Teacher Quality State Grants and Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies.

Elementary and Secondary School Counseling $34.7  

Elementary school and secondary school counseling may be funded through other larger and more flexible Federal programs, such as ESEA Title V-A State Grants for Innovative Programs.

Even Start $225.1  

This program aims to improve educational opportunities for children and their parents in low-income areas by integrating early childhood education, adult education, and parenting education into "family literacy" programs. However, three separate national evaluations of the program reached the same conclusion: children and adults participating in Even Start generally made gains in literacy skills, but these gains were not significantly greater than those of non-participants. Also, the Administration rated the program as Ineffective in the 2004 PART process. Other high priority programs such as Reading First and Early Reading First are better structured to implement proven research and to achieve the President's literacy goals.

Excellence in Economic Education $1.5  

Supports a grant to a single national non-profit educational organization to promote economic and financial literacy for K-12 students. Elimination is consistent with Administration policy of terminating small categorical programs with limited impact in order to fund higher priorities.

Exchanges with Historic Whaling and Trading Partners $8.6  

Supports culturally based educational activities, internships, apprenticeship programs and exchanges for Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and children and families of Massachusetts. Elimination is consistent with Administration policy of terminating small categorical programs with limited impact in order to fund higher priorities.

Federal Perkins Loans Cancellations $66.1  

Reimburses institutional revolving funds for borrowers whose loan repayments are canceled in exchange for undertaking public service employment, such as teaching in Head Start programs, full-time law enforcement, or nursing. These reimbursements are no longer needed as the Administration is proposing to eliminate the Perkins Loan program, which duplicates other student loan programs and serves a limited number of institutions.

Foreign Language Assistance $17.9  

Activities to promote improvement and expansion of foreign language instruction may be supported by larger, more flexible ESEA programs, such as Improving Teacher Quality State Grants and State Grants for Innovative Programs.

Foundations for Learning $1.0  

Competitive grants provide services to children and their families to enhance young children's development so that they become ready for school. The request is consistent with the Administration's effort to increase resources for high-priority programs by eliminating small, narrow categorical programs that duplicate other programs, have limited impact, or for which there is little or no evidence of effect. The budget request includes funding for other, larger programs that support early childhood education and development.

Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness
  for Undergraduate Programs
$306.5  

Provides grants to States and partnerships to support early college preparation and awareness activities at the State and local levels to ensure low-income elementary and secondary school students are prepared for and pursue postsecondary education. GEAR UP received an Adequate PART rating because it employs a number of strategies that other studies have found to be effective, but no data are available to measure progress toward long-term program goals. The proposed new High School Intervention initiative would provide a more comprehensive approach to improving high school education and increasing student achievement, especially the achievement of those most at-risk of educational failure and dropping out.

Interest Subsidy Grants $1.5  

Program finances interest subsidy costs of a portfolio of higher education facilities loans guaranteed under Federal agreements with participating institutions of higher education. Balances from prior year appropriations are sufficient to cover all remaining obligations.

Javits Gifted and Talented Education $11.0  

Primarily supports research and demonstration grants, but these grants are not structured to assess program effectiveness and identify successful intervention strategies that could have broad national impact. Only research programs that can be held accountable to rigorous standards warrant further investment.

Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnerships $65.6  

Program has accomplished its objective of stimulating all States to establish need-based postsecondary student grant programs, and Federal incentives for such aid are no longer required. State grant levels have expanded greatly over the years, and most States significantly exceed the statutory matching requirements. State matching funds in academic year 1999-2000, for example, totaled nearly $1 billion or more than $950 million over the level generated by a dollar-for-dollar match.

Literacy Programs for Prisoners $5.0  

Provides competitive grants to State and local correctional agencies and correctional education agencies to support programs that reduce recidivism through the improvement of "life skills." Request is consistent with the Administration's effort to eliminate small programs that have only indirect or limited effect.

Mental Health Integration in Schools $5.0  

Makes competitive grants to increase student access to mental health care by linking school systems with the mental health system. The request is consistent with the Administration's effort to increase resources for high-priority programs by eliminating small, narrow categorical programs that duplicate other programs, have limited impact, or for which there is little or no evidence of effect.

Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers $2.3  

Supports rehabilitation services to migratory workers with disabilities, but such activities may be funded through the VR State Grants program.

National Writing Project $20.3  

Supports a nationwide nonprofit educational organization that promotes K-16 teacher training programs in the effective teaching of writing. States may support such activities through flexible programs like Improving Teacher Quality State Grants. Rated Results Not Demonstrated by the PART review due to lack of reliable performance or evaluation data on the effectiveness of supported interventions.

Occupational and Employment Information $9.3  

This career guidance and counseling program has a narrow purpose and no demonstrated results. The PART review of this program rated it Results Not Demonstrated, largely due to a lack of data on program outcomes.

Parental Information and Resource Centers $41.9  

Parent education and family involvement activities are required and funded under other ESEA programs, such as Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies, and are a specifically authorized use of funds under ESEA Title V-A State Grants for Innovative Programs. The PART review of this program rated it Results Not Demonstrated, partly because of its unclear statutory purposes.

Projects With Industry $21.6  

PWI projects help individuals with disabilities obtain employment in the competitive labor market. VR State Grants serves the same target populations and may provide the same services. Rated Adequate by the PART process but also determined to be duplicative of the much larger VR State Grants program. In addition, data reliability problems undermine accurate assessment of program performance.

Ready to Teach $14.3  

This program supports competitive grants to nonprofit telecommunications entities to carry out programs to improve teaching in core curriculum areas, and to develop, produce, and distribute innovative educational and instructional video programming. State Grants for Innovative Programs and Improving Teacher Quality State grants provide ample resources for the types of activities supported by this program.

Recreational Programs $2.5  

Supports projects that provide recreation and related activities for individuals with disabilities to aid in their employment, mobility, independence, socialization, and community integration. The program has limited impact, and such activities are more appropriately financed by State and local agencies and the private sector.

Regional Educational Laboratories $66.1  

Recent reauthorization did not make needed improvement in structure and function of the Regional Educational Laboratories, which have not consistently provided high quality research and development products or evidence-based training and technical assistance.

Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities State Grants $437.4  

Provides formula grants to States to help create and maintain drug-free, safe, and orderly environments for learning in and around schools. The program has not demonstrated effectiveness and grant funds are spread too thinly to support quality interventions. The Administration proposes to redirect some of the program's funds to provide an increase for Safe and Drug-Free Schools National Programs, which is better structured to support quality interventions, and to permit grantees and independent evaluators to measure progress, hold projects accountable, and determine which interventions are most effective. The Administration's Performance Assessment Rating Tool (PART) rated this program as Ineffective in 2004.

School Dropout Prevention $4.9  

Significantly higher funding for dropout prevention and re-entry programs available through Title I Grants to LEAs, Title I Migrant State Grants, and State Grants for Innovative Programs makes this program unnecessary. Also, at the 2006 request level, States are required to reserve approximately $110 million from their Title I allocation for purposes of helping students stay in school and make the transition to public schools from local corrections facilities and community day programs.

School Leadership $14.9  

Program supports recruiting, training, and retaining principals and assistant principals—activities that are specifically authorized under other, much larger programs such as Improving Teacher Quality State Grants and State Grants for Innovative Programs.

Smaller Learning Communities $94.5  

A separate program is not needed for the purpose of creating smaller learning communities. The number of fundable applications for grants under the 2004 competitions dropped significantly and the Department lapsed more than $26.4 million from the fiscal year 2003 program appropriation. One likely reason for the low level of interest in the program is the lack of compelling evidence on the effectiveness of the smaller learning communities strategy in strengthening high school education and raising achievement. The creation or expansion of smaller learning communities in large high schools may be supported by Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies or State Grants for Innovative Programs—the latter of which specifically authorizes the creation of smaller learning communities. Also, the President's proposed new High School Initiative will give educators greater flexibility to design and implement approaches for improving the achievement of high-school students.

Star Schools $20.8  

Supports distance education projects to improve instruction in a variety of curricular areas. Programs such as State Grants for Innovative Programs and Improving Teacher Quality State grants provide ample resources for these activities.

State Grants for Incarcerated Youth Offenders $21.8  

Formula grants to State correctional agencies assist and encourage incarcerated youth to acquire functional literacy skills and life and job skills. Request is consistent with the Administration's effort to eliminate small programs that have only indirect or limited effect on improving student outcomes.

Supported Employment State Grants $37.4  

Program has accomplished its goal of developing collaborative programs with appropriate public and private nonprofit organizations to provide supported employment services for individuals with the most significant disabilities. Supported employment services are also provided by the VR State Grants program

Teacher Quality Enhancement $68.3  

Program provides funds to improve recruitment, preparation, licensure, and support for teachers by providing incentives, encouraging reforms, and leveraging local and State resources to ensure that current and future teachers have the necessary teaching skills and academic content knowledge to teach effectively. All of the activities allowable under the Teacher Quality Enhancement program can be carried out under other existing Federal programs. Rated Results Not Demonstrated by the PART process due to lack of performance data and program design deficiencies.

Tech-Prep Demonstration $4.9  

This program to establish secondary technical education programs on community college campuses has narrow and limited impact. The Administration's proposed $1.2 billion High School Initiative will give educators greater flexibility to design and implement programs that best meet the needs of their students, including Tech-Prep programs. States could use funds to support vocational education, mentoring and counseling programs, partnerships between high schools and colleges, or other approaches.

Tech-Prep Education State Grants $105.8  

A separate State grant program to support State efforts to develop structural links between secondary and postsecondary institutions that integrate academic and vocational education is unnecessary. The Administration's proposed $1.2 billion High School Initiative will give educators greater flexibility to design and implement programs that best meet the needs to their students. States could use funds to support vocational education, mentoring and counseling programs, partnerships between high schools and colleges, or other approaches.

Thurgood Marshall Legal Educational Opportunity Program $3.0  

Program provides minority, low-income or disadvantaged college students with the information, preparation, and financial assistance needed to gain access to and complete law school study. Disadvantaged individuals can receive assistance through the Department's student financial assistance programs.

TRIO Talent Search $144.9  

Provides grants to colleges to encourage disadvantaged youth to graduate from high school and enroll in a postsecondary education program. The proposed new High School Intervention initiative would provide a more comprehensive approach to improving high school education and increasing student achievement, especially the achievement of those most at-risk of educational failure and dropping out. Talent Search received a Results Not Demonstrated PART rating due to a lack of data on key performance measures and no evaluation findings.

TRIO Upward Bound $312.6  

Provides grants to colleges to support intensive academic instruction for disadvantaged high school students and veterans to generate the skills and motivation needed to pursue and complete a postsecondary education. The proposed new High School Intervention initiative would provide a more comprehensive approach to improving high school education and increasing student achievement, especially the achievement of those most at-risk of educational failure and dropping out. Upward Bound received an Ineffective PART rating due to a lack of data on key performance measures and evaluation results that found the program has limited overall impact because services are not sufficiently well targeted to higher-risk students.

Underground Railroad Program $2.2  

Provides grants to non-profit educational organizations to establish facilities that house, display, and interpret artifacts relating to the history of the Underground Railroad, as well as to make the interpretive efforts available to institutions of higher education. The program has largely achieved its original purpose.

Vocational Education National Programs $11.8  

The program's activities, which include research, assessment, evaluation, dissemination, and technical assistance, would be addressed as part of the Administration's proposed High School Initiative for ensuring that secondary students improve their academic achievement and graduation rates.

Vocational Education State Grants $1,194.3  

Funds would be redirected to support a new comprehensive strategy for improving the effectiveness of Federal investments at the high school level and for a community college access initiative. The High School Initiative will give educators greater flexibility (coupled with enhanced accountability) to design and implement programs that best meet the needs of their students. States could use funds to support vocational education, mentoring and counseling programs, partnerships between high schools and colleges, or other approaches.

Women's Educational Equity $3.0  

Activities promoting educational equity for girls and women may be supported through larger, more flexible programs like ESEA Title V-A State Grants for Innovative Programs.

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This page last modified—February 7, 2005 (mjj).