A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

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FY 2008 Budget Summary
Summary of the 2008 Budget
Elementary and Secondary Education
Special Education and Rehabilitative Services
Career, Technical, and Adult Education
Student Financial Assistance
Current Page Higher Education Programs
Institute of Education Sciences
Programs Proposed for Elimination
Departmental Management
Appendices

Fiscal Year 2008 Budget Summary — February 5, 2007

Section II. E.  Higher Education Programs

Overview

The Administration's request for fiscal year 2008 includes $1.8 billion for Higher Education Programs. This request complements the Administration's proposals for elementary and secondary education by helping to ensure the availability of quality postsecondary educational opportunities.

The request includes $402.8 million for the Aid for Institutional Development programs, which strengthen institutions of higher education that serve high proportions of minority and disadvantaged students, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Historically Black Graduate Institutions (HBGIs). The budget also provides $94.9 million for the Developing Hispanic-serving Institutions program.

In his 2007 budget request, President Bush proposed a National Security Language Initiative (NSLI) to address the need for skilled professionals with competency in languages critical to U.S. national security. Under the NSLI, the Departments of Education, Defense, and State and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence have proposed to implement a comprehensive national plan to expand foreign language education beginning in early childhood and continuing throughout formal schooling and into the workforce. The 2008 request provided renewed support for this initiative, including $24 million for a new Advancing America Through Foreign Language Partnerships program to establish fully articulated language programs of study in languages critical to U.S. national security. The new program would make grants to institutions of higher education for partnerships with school districts for language learning from kindergarten through high school and into advanced language learning at the postsecondary level.

The budget also provides $105.8 million for the International Education and Foreign Language Studies (IEFLS) programs to help meet the Nation's security and economic needs through the development of expertise in foreign languages and area and international studies. This request includes $1 million to establish a nationwide e-Learning Clearinghouse to deliver foreign language education resources to teachers and students across the country. The increased complexity of the post-Cold War world, the events surrounding the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States, and the war on terrorism underscore the importance of maintaining and expanding American understanding of other peoples and their languages.

In addition, the request for Higher Education Programs would provide $828.2 million for the Federal TRIO Programs and $303.4 million for the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP), the same as the 2007 level for these programs. The request for the TRIO programs includes funding for Student Support Services, Upward Bound, Upward Bound Math and Science, Talent Search, Educational Opportunity Centers, and McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement. Under the 2008 request, TRIO would serve approximately 830,000 middle school, high school, and college students and adults, and GEAR UP would serve approximately 740,000 middle and high school students.

Finally, the budget would provide $39.9 million for need-based scholarships and fellowships to postsecondary students under the Javits Fellowships and Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) programs, as well as $22 million for the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) to support a wide-range of projects to reform and improve postsecondary education, and $15.8 million for campus-based childcare services under the Child Care Access Means Parents in School program.

Title III: Aid for Institutional Development
(B.A. in millions)

  2006 2007 2008
Request
 
Strengthening Institutions (Part A) $79.5 $79.5 $79.5
Strengthening Tribally Controlled
  Colleges and Universities (Part A)
23.6 23.6 18.6
Strengthening Alaska Native and
  Native Hawaiian-serving
  Institutions (Part A)
11.8 11.8
Strengthening Historically Black
  Colleges and Universities (Part B)
238.1 238.1 238.1
Strengthening Historically Black
  Graduate Institutions (Part B)
57.9 57.9 57.9
Minority Science and Engineering
  Improvement (Part E)
8.7 8.7 8.7
Total
419.6

419.6

402.8

The request for Title III demonstrates the Administration's strong commitment to ensuring access to high quality postsecondary education for the Nation's minority and disadvantaged students. Title III funding, which is awarded both competitively and by a formula that directs aid to specified institutions, would help provide equal educational opportunity and strong academic programs for these students and help achieve greater financial stability for the institutions that serve them. The 2008 request would maintain current funding levels for all Title III programs except the Strengthening Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities program and the Strengthening Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving Institutions program. The $18.6 million request for the Strengthening Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities program would provide sufficient funding for new development and construction awards, while the request does not provide separate funding for Strengthening Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving Institutions because the types of activities supported by this program may be carried out under the Title III Strengthening Institutions program. Institutions whose projects would be discontinued would be eligible to seek funds under the Strengthening Institutions program.

Separate PART analyses for the Strengthening Institutions, Strengthening HBCUs, and Strengthening HBGIs programs produced ratings of Results Not Demonstrated due to insufficient data demonstrating program effectiveness against newly established performance targets.

Developing Hispanic-serving Institutions

  2006 2007 2008
Request
 
B.A. in millions $94.9 $94.9 $94.9

This program funds competitive grants to expand and enhance the academic quality, institutional management, fiscal stability, and self-sufficiency of colleges and universities that enroll large percentages of Hispanic students. Hispanic-Americans are the Nation's largest minority population, yet they lag behind their non-Hispanic peers in overall educational achievement. This request demonstrates the Administration's commitment to ensuring that Hispanic students have access to high quality postsecondary education and to closing the gaps between Hispanic and majority students in academic achievement, high school graduation, postsecondary enrollment, and life-long learning.

A 2005 PART analysis of the Developing Hispanic-serving Institutions program resulted in a Results Not Demonstrated rating because of insufficient data demonstrating program effectiveness against newly established performance targets.

International Education and Foreign Language Studies
(B.A. in millions)

  2006 2007 2008
Request
 
Domestic Programs $91.5 $91.5 $91.5
Overseas Programs 12.6 12.6 12.6
Institute for International Public Policy 1.6 1.6 1.6
Total
105.8

105.8

105.8

The 14 International Education and Foreign Language Studies programs strengthen the American education system in the area of foreign languages and international studies. These programs support comprehensive language and area study centers within the United States, research and curriculum development, opportunities for American scholars to study abroad, and activities to increase the number of underrepresented minorities in international service. In addition to promoting general understanding of the peoples of other countries, the Department's international programs also serve important economic, diplomatic, defense, and other national security interests. The 2008 request would fund approximately 458 grants to institutions of higher education, directly support over 994 individuals through fellowships and projects, and support the international service programs of more than 100 underrepresented minorities. In addition, the request for Domestic Programs includes $1 million to develop the National Security Language Initiative's nationwide e-Learning Clearinghouse of online materials and resources to be carried out under the Language Resource Centers program.

In 2004, the Domestic programs were rated Results Not Demonstrated by the PART due to insufficient data demonstrating program effectiveness against newly established performance targets.

Advancing America Through Foreign Language Partnerships

  2006 2007 2008
Request
 
B.A. in millions $24.0

This proposal would help establish fully articulated language programs of study in languages critical to U.S. national security. The new program would make competitive grants to institutions of higher education for partnerships with school districts for language learning from kindergarten through high school and into advanced language learning at the postsecondary level. These language programs, coupled with directed and targeted fellowships for individual students, would produce significant numbers of graduates with advanced levels of proficiency in languages critical to national security, many of whom would be candidates for employment with agencies and offices of the Federal Government across a broad range of disciplines. The 2008 request would support 24 awards focusing on critical languages such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Russian, as well as the Indic, Iranian, and Turkic language families.

Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE)
(B.A. in millions)

  2006 2007 2008
Request
 
Comprehensive Program $16.4 $19.8 $15.2
International Consortia 5.3 5.4 6.4
Other 0.3 0.9 0.4
Total
22.0

26.1

22.0

FIPSE awards competitive grants to support exemplary, locally developed projects that are models for innovative reform and improvement in postsecondary education. The 2008 request represents a $4.1 million decrease from the 2007 level due to the completion of one-time activities funded in 2007. The 2008 request maintains program funding at the amount appropriated in 2006 and does not include the one-time increase in funding provided to FIPSE under the 2007 CR.

Funding for the Comprehensive Program would support projects that target areas of higher education deemed to be a top priority, such as improving the preparation of science and math teachers and aligning curricula between high schools and postsecondary institutions to help students prepare for and succeed in higher education. Funding for the International Consortia programs would support partnerships between U.S. institutions of higher education and institutions in Canada, Mexico, the European Community, and Brazil to provide students with increased opportunities to study abroad and increase cooperation and collaboration between institutions in these countries.

Federal TRIO Programs
(B.A. in millions)

  2006 2007 2008
Request
 
Talent Search $149.6 $144.4 $142.8
Upward Bound 310.4 313.6 313.6
Educational Opportunity Centers 47.7 47.1 47.1
Student Support Services 271.4 272.0 272.0
McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement 41.7 44.2 44.2
Staff Training 3.3 3.3 4.0
Evaluation 1.3 1.8 1.5
Administration/Peer Review 2.8 1.8 3.0
Total
828.2

828.2

828.2

The request for 2008 would provide continued support for the TRIO programs, which are the Department's oldest college preparation and student support programs, which would serve an estimated 830,000 middle school, high school, and college students and adults. Four of the TRIO programs have received PART reviews, and, overall, results have been positive: Student Support Services, Talent Search, and McNair received Moderately Effective ratings. The Upward Bound program received an Ineffective rating, but has implemented changes that address program deficiencies by better targeting funds to higher-risk students. The request also includes funding for Staff Training grants, evaluation, and administrative support for the TRIO programs.

Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate
    Programs(GEAR UP)

(B.A. in millions)

  2006 2007 2008
Request
 
State Grants $115.0 $117.4 $122.1
Partnership Grants 186.0 184.9 179.2
21st Century Scholar Certificates 0.1 0.0 0.1
Other 2.3 1.1 2.0
Total
303.4

303.4

303.4

GEAR UP provides funds to States and partnerships for early college preparation and awareness activities to help low-income elementary and secondary school students prepare for and pursue postsecondary education. The request maintains funding at the 2007 level and would serve approximately 740,000 middle and high school students in fiscal year 2008.

The GEAR UP program received a PART rating of Adequate in 2003 based on evidence that the program employs a number of strategies that hold significant promise for success in college preparation. An evaluation on the early effects of the GEAR UP program, which is due to be released this year, highlights the positive impact of the program on participants attending middle schools, their parents, and middle schools housing GEAR UP programs.

Scholarships and Fellowships
(B.A. in millions)

  2006 2007 2008
Request
 
Javits Fellowships $9.7 $9.8 $9.8
Graduate Assistance in Areas
  of National Need (GAANN)
30.1 30.1 30.1

Javits Fellowships provide up to 4 years of competitively awarded support to students of superior ability and high financial need who are pursuing doctoral degrees, or the highest terminal degree, in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. The 2008 request would support 226 fellowships in academic year 2009-2010, including 72 new fellows. The program received a PART rating of Adequate in 2004 based on data showing that its performance exceeded targets and that the program is on track to achieve program goals related to time-to-degree completion and graduation rates.

GAANN provides fellowships, through competitive grants to postsecondary institutions, to graduate students with superior ability and financial need studying in areas of national need. Participating graduate schools must provide assurances that they will seek talented students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds. The 2008 request would support 702 fellowships. The GAANN program was assessed using the PART in 2004 and received an initial rating of Results Not Demonstrated, based on the inconclusive data that was available at the time. A 2006 reassessment highlighted improvements in program management and performance and upgraded GAANN's PART rating to Adequate.

Child Care Access Means Parents in School

  2006 2007 2008
Request
 
B.A. in millions $15.8 $15.8 $15.8

This competitive grant program supports the participation of low-income parents in postsecondary education through campus-based childcare services. Grants made to institutions of higher education must be used to supplement childcare services or start a new program, not to supplant funds for current childcare services. The program gives priority to institutions that leverage local or institutional resources and employ a sliding fee scale. The 2008 request would fund 175 existing projects.

A 2004 PART analysis of this program produced a Results Not Demonstrated rating due to lack of performance data and evaluation information. The Department has established long-term goals and is taking steps to collect needed data.

GPRA Data/HEA Program Evaluation

  2006 2007 2008
Request
 
B.A. in millions $1.0 $1.0 $1.0

The request would fund the continuation of contracts for program evaluations, data collections to measure the performance of Higher Education Act programs, and data collection for the State teacher quality accountability reports. Data and information from these activities are used to comply with the reporting requirements of GPRA and the PART process, assess program effectiveness, make program improvements, and inform budgetary decisions.

Academic Facilities
(B.A. in millions)

  2006 2007 2008
Request
 
CHAFL Federal Administration $0.6 $0.6 $0.5
HBCU Capital Financing Federal
  Administration
0.2 0.2 0.2

These programs support the construction, reconstruction, and renovation of academic facilities at institutions of higher education. Funding for CHAFL Federal Administration is used solely to manage and service existing portfolios of facilities loans and grants made in prior years. The request for HBCU Capital Financing Federal Administration would support the management and servicing of loan guarantees on previously issued loans. The Administration does not expect to make any new loans under this program in fiscal year 2008.

Howard University
(B.A. in millions)

  2006 2007 2008
Request
 
Howard University Hospital $29.5 $29.5 $29.5
General Support 207.9 204.4 204.4
Total
237.4

233.9

233.9

The 2008 request would maintain support for Howard University's academic programs, research programs, construction activities, and the Howard University Hospital. The request reflects the importance of maintaining and improving the quality and financial strength of an institution that has played a historic role in providing access to postsecondary educational opportunities for students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds, especially African-Americans. The request does not include additional funding for Howard University's endowment, as the University has not yet drawn down funds set aside for the endowment in fiscal years 2004, 2005, and 2006. The direct Federal appropriation accounts for approximately 49 percent of Howard University's operating costs.

The program received an Adequate PART rating in 2005 based on data showing that Howard's performance exceeded targets and that the program is on track to achieve program goals related to graduation rates, persistence, and enrollment.

Student Financial Assistance  Table of contents  Institute of Education Sciences

For further information contact the ED Budget Service.

This page last modified—February 5, 2007 (mjj).