U.S. Department of Education: Promoting Educational Excellence for all Americans

Fiscal Year 2011 Budget Summary — February 1, 2010

 

Section III. A.  Elementary and Secondary Education

 

Overview

The 2011 request for Department of Education elementary and secondary education programs supports a comprehensive plan for reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). The budget request aligns Federal education resources with key priorities and principles that are guiding the development of the Administration's ESEA reauthorization proposal. The overall request would provide significant new resources for the reauthorized ESEA, including a $3 billion increase for the key priorities discussed in more detail below. The Administration also would seek up to $1 billion in additional funding for ESEA programs if Congress completes a reauthorization that is consistent with the President's proposed reforms. The potential total of $4 billion in new discretionary funding would be the largest increase ever requested for ESEA programs.

The Administration's reauthorization plan reflects a fundamental rethinking of the appropriate Federal role in elementary and secondary education. A key priority in the Administration's ESEA plan is an emphasis on positive incentives and recognition of and rewards for success. This is why the request includes nearly $1.9 billion in new funding for the Race to the Top and Investing in Innovation (i3) programs. The Race to the Top program, in particular, already has motivated States to reform their laws and make new plans to better support educational improvement and innovation, and the request includes $1.35 billion for awards to additional States and for a district-level Race to the Top. In addition, the College- and Career-Ready Students program, which would replace Title I Grants to LEAs, would reward schools or LEAs that are making significant progress in improving student outcomes and closing achievement gaps. Additional competitive funding streams will allow more funds to be focused on programs that are achieving successful results. Safeguards will be put in place to ensure that geographic location does not dictate results. In particular, programs will be structured to ensure that rural communities have a fair chance to successfully compete.

The $14.5 billion regular request for the reauthorized College- and Career-Ready Students program would drive another key priority: graduating every student college- and career-ready (CCR). States would adopt standards that build toward college- and career-readiness and implement high-quality assessments that are aligned with CCR standards and that measure individual student growth toward those standards. The request would provide $450 million for a reauthorized Assessing Achievement program (currently State Assessments) to support implementation of these new assessments. States would measure school and LEA performance on the basis of progress in getting all students, including minority, low-income, English learners, and students with disabilities subgroups, on track to CCR; improvement in graduation rates (for high schools); and other measures as appropriate. States would use this information to differentiate schools and LEAs, with appropriate rewards and interventions, including recognition and rewards for those showing progress and required interventions in the lowest-performing schools and LEAs. The request includes $900 million for a reauthorized School Turnaround Grants (currently School Improvement Grants) program that would help LEAs carry out rigorous school intervention models in their lowest-performing schools. Other programs that would support the goal of graduating every student college- and career-ready include $1.0 billion for the new Effective Teaching and Learning for a Complete Education programs to improve instruction aligned with new higher standards, $3.9 billion for the new Excellent Instructional Teams Initiative to improve the effectiveness of teachers and leaders in preparing students to be college- and career-ready, and $210 million for Promise Neighborhoods, which would fund school reform and comprehensive social services for children in distressed communities from birth through college and career.

At the heart of the effort to graduate all students college- and career-ready is putting more effective teachers and leaders in every school. The request would continue the Administration's record of significantly increasing funding for programs that support teachers and leaders by providing $3.9 billion for the Excellent Instructional Teams initiative. Longstanding achievement gaps closely track the talent gap found in classrooms and schools attended by poor and minority students, and fragmented and unfocused ESEA programs have failed to make significant progress to close this gap. The reauthorization proposal supported by the 2011 request would ask States and LEAs to set clear standards for effective teaching and to design evaluation systems that fairly and rigorously differentiate between teachers on the basis of effectiveness. The request also supports a restructuring of the ESEA to more effectively recruit, prepare, support, reward, and retain effective teachers and school leaders, including $950 million for a new Teacher and Leader Innovation Fund and $405 million for a new Teacher and Leader Pathways program. The request also provides a total of $1 billion for new Effective Teaching and Learning authorities under which the Department would make competitive awards focused on high-need districts to improve instruction in the areas of literacy, science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and other subjects.

Finally, the plan includes a restructuring of ESEA program authorities to fundamentally change how the Department operates by increasing the role of competition in awarding Federal education funds, focusing more on programs achieving specific desired outcomes, allowing for expanded State and local flexibility to achieve those outcomes, and reducing the number of programs administered by the Department of Education. For example, the reauthorization proposal would consolidate 38 existing authorities into 11 new programs that give communities more choices in carrying out activities that focus on local needs and that are achieving results. The new programs would emphasize competition, or an increased performance focus in formula programs, while ensuring that geographic location will not dictate results. These expanded funding streams will eliminate inefficiencies at the Federal, State and local levels, allowing grantees to focus on improving outcomes for students and allowing the Department to focus on providing strong support and directing funding to proven or promising practices.

 

College- and Career-Ready Students

  2009 2010 2011
Request
 
B.A. in millions $14,492.4 $14,492.4 $14,492.4

The request supports the Administration's reauthorization plan for Title I, Part A of the ESEA (currently Title I Grants to LEAs), which would include changes in the areas of standards and assessments, accountability and support for schools and LEAs, and teacher quality. States would be asked to adopt statewide standards that build toward college- and career-readiness (CCR) and to implement high-quality assessments aligned with these CCR standards and capable of measuring individual student growth toward CCR. States also would be required to develop a definition of "effective teacher" that is based in significant part on student learning, and to put in place a system that links the academic achievement and growth of students to their teachers and school leaders.

The reauthorization plan would replace "adequate yearly progress" with a broader picture of school performance that looks at student growth and school progress. States would measure school performance and differentiate schools on the basis of progress in getting all subgroups of students on track to CCR, the growth of individual students toward CCR, progress toward closing subgroup achievement gaps, graduation rates (at the high school level), and other measures as appropriate. Schools that are showing significant improvement or showing progress towards the CCR goal for all groups of students in the school would be eligible for recognition and rewards. Persistently low-performing schools would be required to implement significant change. States would measure progress and differentiate rewards and interventions for LEAs in a manner similar to the requirements for schools.

States and LEAs would be asked to continue to pursue the four assurances embedded in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA): stronger standards and assessments, effective teachers and leaders, using data systems to improve instruction, and turning around the lowest-performing schools.

The 2011 request also includes $9.2 million for a reauthorized Title I Evaluation authority, which would continue to require high-quality evaluations of the impact and implementation of Title I programs, including the College- and Career-Ready Students program and the School Turnaround Grants program.

School Turnaround Grants
(BA in millions)

  2009 2010 2011
Request
 
B.A. in millions $545.6 $545.6 $900.0

The $354.4 million increase requested for the reauthorized School Turnaround Grants (currently School Improvement Grants) program would help provide the significant resources LEAs need to turn around their lowest-performing schools by implementing a rigorous school intervention model. While States and LEAs would have new flexibility under the reauthorized ESEA to develop their own improvement strategies and interventions for most schools, they would be required to implement specific, meaningful intervention models in their very lowest-performing schools and would receive school turnaround funding for this purpose.

Assessing Achievement
(B.A. in millions)

  2009 2010 2011
Request
 
State Grants $400.0 $400.0 $400.0
Enhanced Assessment Instruments 10.7 10.7 50.0
Total
410.7

410.7

450.0

The request for Assessing Achievement (currently State Assessments) would provide funding to assist States in developing and implementing assessments aligned with college- and career- ready (CCR) standards. Formula and competitive funds would support continued implementation of the assessments currently required by the ESEA, as well as the transition to CCR-based standards and assessments that would capture a fuller picture of what students know and are able to do.

Race to the Top

  2009   2010   2011
Request
 
 
BA in millions $4,000.0 1   $1,350.0  

   1Funds were provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

This program, modeled after the Race to the Top program authorized by the ARRA, would be included in the reauthorized ESEA. The purpose of the program would be to create incentives for State and local reforms and innovations designed to support comprehensive reforms that lead to significant improvements in student achievement, high school graduation rates, and college enrollment rates, and to significant reductions in achievement gaps. The program also would encourage the broad identification, dissemination, adoption, and use of effective policies and practices and the cessation of ineffective ones. Under the reauthorized program, the Department would conduct both State- and district-level Race to the Top competitions.

Investing in Innovation Fund (i3)

  2009   2010   2011
Request
 
 
BA in millions $650.0 1   $500.0  

   1Funds were provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

The request would support a newly authorized ESEA program, modeled after the i3 program authorized by the ARRA, that would make grants to develop and validate promising practices, strategies, or programs for which there is potential but for which efficacy has not yet been systematically studied. Grants also would support expansion of innovative practices, strategies, or programs that have been proven effective in improving student outcomes, as well as awards to States or other entities to undertake special projects.

Excellent Instructional Teams
(B.A. in millions)

  2009 2010 2011
Request
 
Effective Teachers and Leaders State grants $2,500.0
Improving Teacher Quality State Grants $2,947.7 $2,947.7
Ready to Teach 10.7 10.7
Teacher and Leader Innovation Fund 950.0
Teacher Incentive Fund 97.3 400.0
Advanced Credentialing 10.6 10.6
Teacher and Leader Pathways 405.0
Transition to Teaching 43.7 43.7
Teacher Quality Partnership 50.0 43.0
Teachers for a Competitive Tomorrow      
   Baccalaureate STEM and Foreign Languages 1.1 1.1
   Masters STEM and Foreign Languages 1.1 1.1
Teach for America 18.0
School Leadership 19.2 29.2
Total
3,181.5

3,505.2

3,855.0

The proposed Excellent Instructional Teams authority would have 3 components: the Effective Teachers and Leaders State grants program, the Teacher and Leader Innovation Fund, and the Teacher and Leader Pathways program.

Effective Teachers and Leaders State grants would make formula grants to States and LEAs to promote and enhance the teaching profession; recruit, prepare, support, reward, and retain effective teachers, principals, and other school leaders, especially in high-need LEAs, schools, fields, and subjects; design and implement strong teacher evaluation systems; ensure the equitable distribution of effective teachers and principals; increase the effectiveness of teachers and principals; improve the preparation of teachers and principals by developing, supporting, and expanding effective pathways to the education profession; improve instruction and help ensure that teachers have the knowledge, skills, data, and support needed to be effective in the classroom; promote collaboration and the development of instructional teams that use data to improve practice; and improve the management of human capital in States and LEAs.

The Teacher and Leader Innovation Fund would make competitive awards to States and LEAs willing to implement bold approaches to improving the effectiveness of the education workforce in high-need schools by creating the conditions needed to identify, reward, retain, and advance effective teachers, principals, and school leadership teams in those schools, and enabling schools to build the strongest teams possible.

The Teacher and Leader Pathways is a new program with a focus on student outcomes that would support the creation or expansion of high-quality pathways, including university- and LEA-based routes as well as alternative routes, into the teaching profession, and the recruitment, preparation, and retention of effective principals and school leadership teams who are able to turn around low-performing schools. The request would almost triple funding for the antecedent programs in order to increase the number of effective teachers serving in high-needand low-performing schools and high-need fields and subjects.

Effective Teaching and Learning: Literacy
(B.A. in millions)

  2009 2010 2011
Request
 
Effective Teaching and Learning: Literacy $450.0
Early Reading First $112.5
Striving Readers 35.4 $250.0
Even Start 66.5 66.5
Literacy Through School Libraries 19.1 19.1
National Writing Project 24.3 25.6
Reading Is Fundamental 24.8 24.8
Ready-To-Learn Television 25.4 27.3
Total
308.0

413.3

450.0

This proposed new program would provide competitive State literacy grants to State educational agencies (SEAs), or SEAs in partnership with outside entities (such as nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher education), in order to support comprehensive State and local efforts aimed at improving literacy instruction, especially in high-need schools. The program would build on the progress the Department seeks to achieve in fiscal year 2010 through the revised Striving Readers program, which replaces reading programs segmented by grade level with a more comprehensive pre-K through grade 12 authorization. The reauthorization would add to these reforms by ensuring that all the elements of a comprehensive literacy program are embedded in State and local strategies, by strengthening performance expectations, and by supporting the identification and scaling-up of innovative methods of teaching reading, writing, and language arts. The national activities authority for Effective Teaching and Learning for a Complete Education, which includes the Literacy, STEM, and Well-Rounded Education components, would include a competition to create high-quality, digital educational content for children. National activities funds also could be used to provide assistance to public telecommunications agencies such as the Public Broadcasting Service.

Effective Teaching and Learning: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
(B.A. in millions)

  2009 2010 2011
Request
 
Effective Teaching and Learning: STEM $300.0
Mathematics and Science Partnerships $179.0 $180.5
Total
179.0

180.5

300.0

This proposed new program would provide competitive grants to SEAs, and SEAs in partnership with outside entities (such as non-profit organizations and institutions of higher education), to improve the teaching and learning of STEM subjects, especially in high-need schools. Funds could be used to provide professional development for STEM teachers, to implement high-quality curriculum, assessments, and instructional materials, and to create or improve systems for linking student data on assessments with instructional supports such as lesson plans and intervention strategies. The reauthorization would support the identification and scaling-up of innovative methods of teaching science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Effective Teaching and Learning for a Well-Rounded Education
(B.A. in millions)

  2009 2010 2011
Request
 
Effective Teaching and Learning for a
   Well-Rounded Education
$265.0
Excellence in Economic Education $1.4 $1.4
Teaching American History 119.0 119.0
Arts in Education 38.2 40.0
Foreign Language Assistance 26.3 26.9
Academics for American History and Civics 1.9 1.8
Close Up Fellowships 1.9 1.9
Civic Education      
   We the People 20.1 21.6
   Cooperative Education Exchange 13.4 13.4
Total
222.2

226.1

265.0

The proposed Effective Teaching and Learning for a Well-Rounded Education program would support competitive grants to high-need local educational agencies, State educational agencies in partnership with one or more high-need local educational agencies, and other entities in partnership with one or more high-need local educational agencies, to develop and expand innovative practices to improve teaching and learning in the arts, foreign languages, civics and government, history, geography, economics and financial literacy, and other subjects.

The three programs within the Effective Teaching and Learning for a Complete Education authority would be supported by a national activities authority that would promote interdisciplinary strategies. The Department would reserve funds under this authority to support research, technical assistance, and dissemination; grants to strengthen the use of technology in the core academic subjects; and a competitive grant program to encourage the development of systems of instructional supports and high-quality digital educational content for children.

Troops-to-Teachers

  2009 2010 2011
Request
 
B.A. in millions $14.4 $14.4

The Troops-to-Teachers program helps to improve public school education by recruiting, preparing, and supporting members of the military service as teachers in high-poverty schools. By statute, the Department transfers the appropriation for the program to the Department of Defense (DOD), which provides financial assistance to participants and helps them to assess training, become certified, and obtain teaching positions. For 2011, the program would be funded directly from the DOD appropriation, which will simplify and streamline program management. The Department of Education will continue to work closely with DOD in the transition. In addition, the new Excellent Instructional Teams programs will promote the adoption of alternative routes to teacher certification, including alternative routes that reach out to nontraditional teaching candidates, such as current and former service members.

College Pathways and Accelerated Learning
(B.A. in millions)

  2009 2010 2011
Request
 
College Pathways and Accelerated Learning $100.0
High School Graduation Initiative $50.0
Advanced Placement $43.5 45.8
Javits Gifted and Talented Education 7.5 7.5
Total
51.0

103.3

100.0

The proposed College Pathways and Accelerated Learning program would be designed to increase graduation rates and preparation for college matriculation and success by providing college-level and other accelerated courses and instruction, including gifted and talented programs, in high-poverty schools. Grantees would implement such strategies as expanding the availability of Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate (AP/IB) courses, dual-enrollment programs that allow students to take college-level courses and earn college credit while in high school, and "early college high schools" that allow students to earn a high school degree and an Associate's degree or two years of college credit simultaneously.

The program also would fund accelerated learning opportunities for students across the performance spectrum, including those who exceed proficiency standards in high-poverty elementary schools.

Promise Neighborhoods

  2009 2010 2011
Request
 
B.A. in millions $10.0 $210.0

This initiative would support a second cohort of competitive 1-year planning grants and the first cohort of 5-year implementation grants to community-based organizations for the development and implementation of plans for comprehensive neighborhood programs modeled after the Harlem Children's Zone. These programs would be designed to combat the effects of poverty and improve education and life outcomes, from birth through college and career, for children and youth within a distressed geographic area. The core belief behind the initiative is that providing both effective, achievement-oriented schools and strong systems of support to children and youth in poverty will offer them the best hope for overcoming poverty and building a better life. Applicants would demonstrate their ability to sustain the Promise Neighborhood and build effective partnerships with schools, nonprofit organizations, foundations, and local and State agencies. The Department also will encourage grantees to coordinate their efforts with programs and services provided by other Federal agencies, including the Departments of Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human Services, and Justice.

Successful, Safe, and Healthy Students
(B.A. in millions)

  2009 2010 2011
Request
 
Successful, Safe, and Healthy Students $410.0
Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities
    National Activities
$139.9 $191.3
Elementary and Secondary School Counseling 52.0 55.0
Physical Education Program 78.0 79.0
Foundations for Learning 1.0 1.0
Mental Health Integration in Schools 5.9 5.9
Alcohol Abuse Reduction 33.3 32.7
Total
310.2

365.0

410.0

Under this proposed program, which results from a consolidation of several existing, narrowly targeted programs that seek to provide services or ensure that schools provide the environment that students need to succeed, the Department would award grants to increase the capacity of States, districts, and schools to create safe, healthy, and drug-free environments in a comprehensive manner, so that students are able to focus on learning and teachers on teaching. Further, it would provide increased flexibility for States and local educational agencies to design strategies that best reflect the needs of their students and communities, including programs to (1) improve school climate by reducing drug use, violence, or harassment, or improving school safety; (2) improve students' physical health and well-being through the use of, or provision of access to, comprehensive services that improve student nutrition, physical activity, and fitness; and (3) improve students' mental health and well-being through the use of or provision of access to comprehensive services, such as counseling, health and mental health services, and social services.

The new program would also include a national activities authority, under which the Department would reserve funds for school emergency preparedness initiatives for elementary and secondary schools and institutions of higher education; comprehensive, community-wide "Safe Schools/Healthy Students" drug and violence prevention projects; a national clearinghouse of best practices; drug prevention and campus safety programs at institutions of higher education, and emergency response services to LEAs and IHEs under Project SERV (School Emergency Response to Violence).

21st Century Community Learning Centers

  2009 2010 2011
Request
 
B.A. in millions $1,131.2 $1,166.2 $1,166.2

The Administration's reauthorization proposal would focus the 21st CCLC program on (1) providing students with additional time to engage in activities that directly improve their knowledge of core academic subjects and improve their academic achievement; (2) providing students with additional time for enrichment activities and opportunities to experience a richer, fuller curriculum, (3) providing students with access to comprehensive supports that promote academic achievement as well as mental and physical health, and (4) providing families and caregivers opportunities for active and meaningful engagement in their children's education. In addition, the redesigned program would support efforts to implement full-service community schools that coordinate and provide access to comprehensive services at the school site that address the developmental, physical, and mental health needs of students, their families, and, as appropriate, their communities.

Expanding Educational Options
(B.A. in millions)

  2009 2010 2011
Request
 
Expanding Educational Options $490.0
Charter Schools Grants $216.0 $256.0
Voluntary Public School Choice 25.8 25.8
Parental Information and Resource Centers 39.3 39.3
Smaller Learning Communities 88.0 88.0
Total
369.1

409.1

490.0

The proposed Expanding Educational Options program would support two competitions to increase educational options for students, particularly students attending low-performing schools: (1) Supporting Effective Charter School Grants and (2) Promoting Public School Choice Grants. The first competition would support State educational agencies, charter school authorizers, charter management organizations, local educational agencies, and nonprofit organizations seeking to start or expand effective charter and other effective autonomous schools. The Promoting Public School Choice Grants competition would support State and LEA efforts to develop and implement public school choice programs. The new authorization also would include a national activities authority under which the Department would reserve funds to support innovative approaches to family and community engagement, research, data collection, technical assistance to grantees, and dissemination activities.

Magnet Schools Assistance

  2009 2010 2011
Request
 
B.A. in millions $104.8 $100.0 $110.0

The request would provide $110.0 million for new awards to approximately 42 local educational agencies to operate magnet schools that are part of a court-ordered or court-approved desegregation plan to eliminate, reduce, or prevent minority group isolation in elementary and secondary schools while strengthening students' knowledge of academic subjects. Magnet schools address their desegregation goals by providing a special curriculum that attracts a diverse student population and fosters education reform. The Administration's reauthorization proposal will expand and improve options for students and increase diversity by placing a greater emphasis on funding magnet school programs or models that have a record of effectiveness in raising student achievement and reducing racial isolation. The Department would reserve about $2.1 million for evaluation and dissemination activities.

English Learner Education
(B.A. in millions)

  2009 2010 2011
Request
 
B.A. in millions $730.0 $750.0 $800.0

Currently authorized under Title III of the ESEA, this program awards formula grants to States based on each State's share of the Nation's English learners (ELs) and recent immigrant student population. Grants help States design and implement statewide activities to meet the educational needs of their EL students. The Administration's reauthorization proposal will support strengthened professional development for educators, improved accountability, and the development and implementation of innovative and effective programs. The proposal also would strengthen the conditions governing States' receipt of formula funds and would shift more funds to competitive grants in order to support the development and implementation of high-quality programs for ELs, including dual-language and transitional bilingual programs.

Title I State Agency Programs
(B.A. in millions)

  2009 2010 2011
Request
 
Migrant Education $394.8 $394.8 $394.8
Neglected and Delinquent 50.4 50.4 50.4
Total
445.2

445.2

445.2

Migrant Education State Grants provide formula-based assistance in meeting the special educational needs of approximately 537,000 children of migrant agricultural workers by helping States identify and pay the higher costs often associated with serving those children. The Department also uses a portion of funding to improve inter- and intra-State coordination of migrant education activities, including State exchange of migrant student data records through the Migrant Student Record Exchange System. The Administration's reauthorization proposal would improve the State allocation formula so that it better reflects shifts in State counts of migrant students, improve the targeting of services to high-need migrant students, and require States to track and report on the academic achievement of migrant students.

The Title I Neglected and Delinquent program provides formula grants to States in order to support education services for neglected and delinquent children and youth in local and State-run institutions, attending community day programs, and in correctional facilities. The request would help an estimated 132,000 neglected and delinquent students return to and complete school and obtain employment after they are released from State institutions. In the Administration's reauthorization proposal, the Neglected and Delinquent program would continue to provide support to State-run institutions, and would ensure that locally operated institutions for neglected and delinquent students receive their share of funds.

Homeless Children and Youth Education

  2009 2010 2011
Request
 
B.A. in millions $65.4 $65.4 $65.4

This program provides formula grants to States, which subgrant most funds to local educational agencies for services that help homeless children to enroll in, attend, and succeed in school. In addition to academic instruction, the program helps ensure access for these children to preschool programs, special education, and gifted and talented programs. While nearly all States have eased residency requirements and improved transportation and immunization policies to ensure greater access for homeless students over the past decade, those students continue to be at significant risk of educational failure. The Administration's reauthorization proposal would improve the formula so it better reflects shifts in State counts of homeless students and targets funds where they are most needed. The proposal also would require States to track and report on the academic achievement of homeless students.

Rural Education

  2009 2010 2011
Request
 
B.A. in millions $173.4 $174.9 $174.9

The Rural Education Achievement Program (REAP) authorizes two programs to assist rural school districts in carrying out activities to help improve the quality of teaching and learning in their schools. The Small, Rural School Achievement program provides formula funds to rural school districts that serve small numbers of students, and the Rural and Low-Income School program provides funds to rural school districts that serve concentrations of poor students, regardless of the district's size. Funds appropriated for REAP are divided equally between these two programs. The request would maintain support for rural, often geographically isolated, districts that face significant challenges in meeting ESEA requirements. The Administration's reauthorization proposal will address technical problems with the current authority and align the authorized activities with priorities. The proposal would permit the Secretary to set aside funds for technical assistance, evaluation, and dissemination activities, as well as make competitive grants to support innovative programs that help rural districts overcome capacity constraints.

Indian Student Education
(B.A. in millions)

  2009 2010 2011
Request
 
Grants to Local Educational Agencies $99.3 $104.3 $104.3
Special Programs for Indian Children 19.1 19.1 19.1
National Activities 3.9 3.9 3.9
Total
122.3

127.3

127.3

Indian Student Education programs supplement the efforts of State and local educational agencies and Indian tribes to improve educational opportunities for Indian children. The programs link these efforts to broader educational reforms underway in States and localities in order to ensure that Indian students benefit from those reforms and achieve to the same challenging academic standards as other students. The Administration's reauthorization proposal would simplify the process of identifying eligible Indian students, and would give grantees additional flexibility to conduct programs that improve the achievement of Indian students, including language immersion and language restoration programs, and activities aligned with the Administration's broader ESEA reauthorization priorities.

Grants to Local Educational Agencies provide formula grants to public schools and schools supported by the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Education for activities to improve the educational achievement of Indian students. Special Programs for Indian Children includes $8.5 million in competitive grants for the American Indian Teacher Corps and the American Indian Administrator Corps, to support training of Indians to become teachers and administrators in schools that serve concentrations of Indian children, and $10.3 million for competitive demonstration grants to improve educational opportunities for Indian children in such areas as early childhood education and college preparation.

The request also provides $3.9 million for National Activities, which funds research, evaluation, and data collection designed to fill gaps in our understanding of the educational status and needs of Indians and to identify educational practices that are effective with Indian students.

Native Hawaiian Student Education

  2009 2010 2011
Request
 
B.A. in millions $33.3 $34.3 $34.3

This program supports the provision of supplemental education services to the Native Hawaiian population by awarding competitive grants to eligible applicants for a variety of authorized activities in such areas as teacher training, family-based education, gifted and talented education, special education, higher education, and community-based education learning centers. Through the reauthorization, the program also would fund activities that align with the Administration's wider ESEA reauthorization proposal. The program also supports the activities of the Native Hawaiian Education Council, which helps coordinate the educational and related services and programs available to Native Hawaiians. The request would discontinue earmarked support for the HEA Giugni Memorial Archives earmark, authorized under Title VIII, Part Z of the Higher Education Act, and other earmarks in the fiscal year 2010 appropriations act.

Alaska Native Student Education

  2009 2010 2011
Request
 
B.A. in millions $33.3 $33.3 $33.3

The Alaska Native Student Education program supports supplemental educational programs and services to Alaska Natives by awarding competitive grants to eligible applicants for a variety of authorized activities, including the development and implementation of curricula and educational programs, professional development activities for educators, the development and operation of home instruction programs that help ensure the active involvement of parents in their children's education, family literacy services, student enrichment programs in science and mathematics, and dropout prevention programs. The reauthorized program would also fund activities that align with the Administration's wider ESEA reauthorization proposal and would eliminate the program's statutory earmarks.

Women's Educational Equity

  2009 2010 2011
Request
 
B.A. in millions $2.4 $2.4 $2.3

This program makes competitive awards to a variety of public and private organizations, agencies, and institutions to promote gender equity in education through projects involving the design and implementation of gender-equity policies and practices, with a priority on projects aimed at improving the achievement of women and girls in science and mathematics. Research, development, and dissemination activities also may be funded.  The 2011 request of $2.3 million would cover the cost of continuing grants initially made in fiscal year 2009.

Educational Technology State Grants

  2009 2010 2011
Request
 
B.A. in millions $269.9 $100.0

The Administration's ESEA reauthorization proposal would consolidate this program into the Effective Teaching and Learning for a Complete Education authority. Each of the three programs under this new authority would include a focus on integrating technology into instruction and using technology to drive improvements in teaching and learning. In addition, using technology to improve student outcomes is a key priority in the Race to the Top and Investing in Innovation (i3) programs. The Administration's proposal for College- and Career- Ready Students also will promote the development of State capacity to support district efforts to use technology to improve instruction.

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

  2009 2010 2011
Request
 
B.A. in millions $116.0 $125.5 $25.0

The Fund for the Improvement of Education (FIE) supports nationally significant programs to improve the quality of elementary and secondary education at the State and local levels and help all students meet challenging State academic achievement standards. The request would provide $5 million to expand a Data Quality Initiative that is working to improve the quality of Department evaluations and program performance data submitted by grantees in order to help ensure that program management decisions are based on sound information as well as $20 million to support new initiatives. The decrease of $100.5 million reflects the elimination of one-time earmarks and directives.

Comprehensive Centers

  2009 2010 2011
Request
 
B.A. in millions $57.1 $56.3 $56.3

The Comprehensive Centers provide intensive technical assistance to increase the capacity of State educational agencies (SEAs) to help districts and schools implement ESEA programs and requirements and meet State targets for student achievement. The current system includes 16 regional centers that work with SEAs within specified geographic regions to help them implement ESEA school improvement measures and objectives. In addition, 5 content centers provide in-depth, specialized support in key areas, with separate centers focusing on (1) assessment and accountability; (2) instruction; (3) teacher quality; (4) innovation and improvement; and (5) high schools. Each content center pulls together resources and expertise to provide analyses, information, and materials in its focus area for use by the network of regional centers, SEAs, and other clients. In fiscal year 2010, the Department is providing the existing centers with a sixth year of funding in order to allow adequate time to plan a new competition that is aligned with the reauthorized ESEA. Fiscal year 2011 funds would support a competition and first-year awards to a new set of grantees.

Impact Aid
(B.A. in millions)

  2009 2010 2011
Request
 
Payments for Federally Connected Children:      
   Basic Support Payments $1,128.5 $1,138.0 $1,138.0
   Payments for Children with
    Disabilities
48.6 48.6 48.6
       
Facilities Maintenance 4.9 4.9 4.9
Construction 17.5 17.5 17.5
Payments for Federal Property 66.2 67.2 67.2
Total
1,265.7

1,276.2

1,276.2

The Impact Aid program provides financial support to school districts affected by Federal activities. The property on which certain children live is exempt from local property taxes, denying districts access to the primary source of revenue used by most communities to finance education. Impact Aid helps to replace the lost local revenue that would otherwise be available to districts to pay for the education of these children.

The $1.1 billion request for Basic Support Payments would provide formula grants for both regular Basic Support Payments and Basic Support Payments for Heavily Impacted LEAs. The $48.6 million request for Payments for Children with Disabilities would provide formula grants to help eligible districts meet their obligations under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to provide a free appropriate public education for federally connected children with disabilities.

The Department of Education owns and maintains 24 school facilities that serve large numbers of military dependents. The $4.9 million request for Facilities Maintenance would fund essential repair and maintenance of these facilities and allow the Department to continue to transfer schools to local school districts. The entire $17.5 million proposed for Construction would be used for competitive grants. Unlike the formula grants funded in fiscal year 2010, the competitive grants would be targeted to the LEAs with the greatest need and provide sufficient assistance to enable those LEAs to make major repairs and renovations. The $67.2 million request for Payments for Federal Property would provide formula-based payments to districts that generally have lost 10 percent or more of their taxable property to the Federal Government.

Training and Advisory Services (Title IV of the Civil Rights Act)

  2009 2010 2011
Request
 
B.A. in millions $9.5 $7.0 $7.0

This program supports 10 regional Equity Assistance Centers, selected competitively, that provide services to school districts on issues related to discrimination based on race, gender, and national origin. Typical activities include disseminating information on successful practices and legal requirements related to nondiscrimination, providing training to educators to develop their skills in specific areas, such as in the identification of bias in instructional materials, and technical assistance on selection of instructional materials. The fiscal year 2009 appropriation included an additional $2.5 million to support school districts affected by the 2007 Supreme Court decision prohibiting student assignment plans that use race as a factor. The Department made one-time awards to enable school districts to obtain assistance in developing and implementing student assignment plans that comply with the Supreme Court decision while maintaining integrated and diverse schools. The request would support the first year of funding for a new cohort of Evaluation Assistance Center grantees, as well as the annual administration of a customer satisfaction survey and an analysis of its results.

Supplemental Education Grants (Compact of Free Association Amendments Act)

  2009 2010 2011
Request
 
B.A. in millions $17.7 $17.7 $17.7

The request would maintain support for Supplemental Education Grants to the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) and the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), as authorized by the Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2003 (P.L. 108-188). Under this program, the Department transfers funds and provides recommendations on the uses of those funds to the Department of the Interior, which makes grants to the FSM and RMI for educational services that augment the general operations of the educational systems of the two entities.

P.L. 108-188 eliminated RMI and FSM participation in most domestic formula grant programs funded by the Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, and Labor, and created this program to supplement separate education support programs under the Compact. The request would allow the RMI and FSM to support programs that focus on improving the educational achievement of students in the two Freely Associated States.

Delay of ESEA Reauthorization

The Administration will work closely with the Congress to enact a reauthorization proposal that fundamentally restructures Federal support for most elementary and secondary education programs currently authorized by the ESEA. The request for programs in the ESEA portion of the 2011 request assumes enactment of this proposal. If ESEA is not reauthorized prior to the 2011 appropriation, the Administration strongly believes the current programs and activities best positioned to reform K-12 education should receive additional funding, including the following:

Program 2010 Enacted Request Increase
Race to the Top 0 $1.35 billion $1.35 billion
Investing in Innovation (i3) 0 $500.0 million $500.0 million
School Improvement Grants $545.6 million $900.0 million $354.4 million
Teacher Incentive Fund $400.0 million $800.0 million $400.0 million
Teacher Recruitment 0 $50.0 million $50.0 million
School Leadership $29.2 million $79.2 million $50.0 million
Charter Schools $256.0 million $310.0 million $54.0 million
Promise Neighborhoods $10.0 million $210.0 million $200.0 million

In particular, the increases shown above for Race to the Top, Investing in Innovation, School Improvement Grants, and the Teacher Incentive Fund would build on the unprecedented investment made by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which provided nearly $7.9 billion for these four programs. Additional information on the proposed increases if the ESEA is not reauthorized may be found in the congressional justifications for these programs.

Recovery Act  Table of contents  Special Education and Rehabilitative Services

 

For further information contact the ED Budget Service.

This page last modified—February 1, 2010 (mjj).