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A couple of weeks ago, to the delight of us here at the Learning First Alliance, the U.S House of Representatives included a $10 billion Education Jobs Fund as an amendment to the supplemental appropriations bill they sent to the Senate. Such funding—entirely paid for, through offsets to other programs—would help stave off massive educator layoffs that could have devastating effects on our nation’s children.

But on July 22, the Senate decided against the House’s version of the bill (see how your Senator voted). It sent its own bill back to the House with, among other changes, no money for education jobs. It is predicted the House will approve the stripped down bill, so if there are to be any federal funds for education jobs, they’ll have to be included in a different, as of now unidentified, bill.

Some are cheering this end, claiming that for too long teachers have avoided feeling their fair share of the economic pinch. But those arguments don’t always reflect reality—and are not always the wisest economic policy. Take for example Georgia, where (among other cost-saving measures) the state has eliminated a pay supplement for teachers who receive National Board certification and many districts have instituted furlough days resulting in a loss of pay to educators and support staff. The state is still expecting cuts of about 8,000 certified teachers.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution also points out that:

Because teachers don’t make extravagant salaries, they spend most of their paychecks each week, and the effect of their spending multiplies as it spreads through their communities.

But multipliers can also work in reverse, said Vitner: Every dollar cut from those salaries effectively subtracts about $1.30 from the overall economy. [emphasis added]

Perhaps a different outcome than cutting the salaries of those who live a little further from the edge.

But back to the education jobs funding…The question for schools and districts is, now what? The layoff picture has looked bleak for months. And Portland Public Schools, for one, had counted on federal money to mitigate the impact of budget cuts on teacher jobs. Mitigate—not eliminate. According to The Oregonian, because of the potential federal funds the district was planning to eliminate only 120 teaching jobs, not the 180 originally projected. High schools would lose only about 2% of their faculty, not the 10% initially threatened. Every elementary and middle school would have at least a half-time physical education teacher, not lose PE entirely.

Hopefully Portland will find another way to stave off the deep cuts it faces. But their situation makes clear how vital federal funds are—not only to save jobs, but to preserve the quality of education for students.