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On February 13, 2012, President Obama released his FY2013 budget proposal. The administration recognized education as a priority, calling for a $1.7 billion (2.5 percent) increase in education spending over FY2012.

Highlights from the budget that impact K-12 education include:

• $30 billion to modernize schools
• $30 billion to help states and localities retain and hire first responders and educators, as well as support the teaching profession
• An emphasis on competitive grant programs, including $850 million for Race to the Top; $150 million for Investing in Innovation (i3); a new $5 billion competitive program aimed at attracting, preparing, and rewarding great teachers; and a new $1 billion Race to the Top program for higher education
• Flat-funding of formula programs, including Title I (which directs money to low-income students), the Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA, which directs money to special education students), and the Rural Education Achievement Program (which helps districts overcome the additional costs associated with geographic isolation, smaller number of students, higher transportation and employee benefit costs, and increased poverty)
• New resources to improve child care quality and prepare children for success in school
• Efforts to make college more affordable, including sustaining the maximum Pell Grant award through the 2014-2015 award year

See Education Week's coverage for more details on the education budget.

Member Organization Responses

American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education. AACTE is encouraged by the budget's increased funding for education, particularly in the areas of preparing teachers (including a focus on strengthening educator preparation programs in the nation's minority serving institutions) and increasing and improving STEM education teachers. However, there is concern among AACTE members about the proposed consolidation of proven programs, such as the Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP) grants (Title II HEA) and TEACH grants (Title IV HEA).

Rather than being consolidated, the TQP and TEACH grants should be viewed by the Administration as an integral component in the strategy to raise the status of the teaching profession and improve student achievement in our nation's most high-need schools. Read the complete statement...

American Association of School Administrators. Executive Director Daniel Domenech applauds the administration for maintaining its commitment to education funding; however, he expresses concern that most of the new K-12 dollars go to competitive grants, rather than the "federal flagship programs like Title I and IDEA, programs that help level the educational playing field and serve all of the nation’s students and the schools they attend."

We are concerned that the proposed level funding for Title I and IDEA could actually translate into reduced per-pupil funding levels, as state and local education agencies face both increased demand and increasing costs for both Title I and IDEA. Read the complete statement...

American Federation of Teachers. President Randi Weingarten supports the president's focus on improving and strengthening the teaching profession, keeping educators off the unemployment lines and in the classroom, efforts to make higher education affordable for children of working families, and training millions of workers for 21st-century jobs. She is concerned that the budget flat-funds programs that go directly to support low-income children in the classroom while increasing funding for competitive programs.

The New York Times recently made clear what frontline educators have long known—poverty has a tremendous impact on a child's ability to learn and grow in the classroom. According to a Stanford University study cited by the New York Times, the achievement gap between poor and wealthy children grew by 40 percent between 1960 and 2007. 

With 3 million more children in poverty since the start of our economic crisis, we can't afford to freeze funding to Title I, while competitive grant programs that serve some, but not all, receive increases. Read the complete statement...

International Society for Technology in Education. CEO Don Knezek supports the strong focus on education jobs and the opportunities for learning and teaching presented in the new broadband iniatiive. However, he is disappointed that the FY2013 budget does not reflect the administration's rhetoric on digital learning - there is no direct program funding for it.

The Obama Administration has embraced the notion that schools are transitioning from print to digital, and that students need digital skills to succeed in college and career. But this budget doesn't help them get there. The Federal government must lead by providing financial supports so that students have access to digital tools and resources and teachers have the professional development to effectively integrate them into classroom learning. Read the complete statement...

National Association of State Boards of Education. Executive Director Jim Kohlmoos is pleased to see such the emphasis on public education in the budget, but remains concerned about its emphasis on competitive grant programs.

We continue to have overriding concerns about equity issues. Our greatest priority as a nation should be given to funding that supports schools, students, and the communities that need them the most via formula grants such as IDEA and Title I.

As detailed in the Education Department’s report from earlier this year, states face capacity challenges as they implement programs under Race to the Top. We recommend the Department takes into consideration how it can help states surmount these challenges before dramatically expanding competitive grant programs. Read the complete statement...

National Education Association. President Dennis Van Roekel praises the President Obama's continued commitment to students, particularly proposals that will improve access to higher education, modernize classrooms and keep teachers in the classroom.

The president wants what every parent, student and the NEA want -- qualified, caring and committed adults in every school in America to provide the support and programs needed for students of all ages to succeed. One of the Administration’s goals is to work with educators, school and district leaders, associations and unions, and state and national education organizations to spark a dialogue to transform the teaching profession and to establish teaching as a respected profession on a par with medicine, law and engineering. Read the complete statement...

National PTA. President Betsy Landers is pleased with the administration's continued focus on education and proposed increases to vital education supports, including funds to modernize schools and retain teachers. However, she is alarmed by the lack of recognition of the vital role family engagement in education plays in student success and meaningful education reform.

The President’s budget fails to include family engagement in education as a stated priority, either through funding of the Parental Information and Resource Center (PIRC) program or inclusion of PIRC program goals within the Administration’s priority education reform programs. ...

Without dedication to promoting the role of parents and families and equipping educators and school districts with the tools to partner with families to improve student outcomes, PTA fears that the implementation of key reforms will not be sustainable. Read the complete statement...

National School Boards Association. Executive Director Anne Bryant is hopeful by President Obama’s support for education in the proposed budget, particularly given that state and local budgets continue to be slashed while schools are being challenged with more students living in poverty. She shares concerns with the focus on competitive funding at the expense of formula programs.

Schools are struggling to maintain key federal mandates of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and No Child Left Behind within Title I. More funding is needed to prevent school districts from cutting other important programs to meet these federal requirements.

Additionally, Obama’s emphasis on competitive grants will hurt school districts that do not have the resources to hire grant writers when they are being forced to lay off teachers and eliminating successful academic programs. Read the complete statement...