The statement that federal funding for education has gone up is not significant. Our population is increasing, as well. Bush has proposed massive cuts in education funding--Congress just overrode some of them last week, I believe.
If I had more time and energy I could discuss this in more detail, but I don't right now. Bush is full of rhetoric, and a bad education plan (No Child Left Behind). I wouldn't be surprised if money for repetitively and pointlessly administering standardized tests to children has gone up, but personally I don't belive that is productive (and neither do most educators).
Here's a little blurb on Bush's rhetoric re education. This is just for Nevada, but it's hard not to get the bigger picture:
nevada.actforvictory.org
Job Training and Education Threatened
RHETORIC: “We oughta be providing training at community colleges for people who want to work and fill the jobs of the 21st century.”
REALITY: Bush’s 2005 budget eliminates the Perkins Loan Program for education and training. [Source: New York Times, 2/3/04; Orlando Sentinel, 2/3/04]
REALITY: Bush Administration’s 2005 budget shortchanges Pell Grants by $9.4 billion – Pell Grants in Nevada underfunded by $33.4 million. During the 2000 campaign, Bush promised to raise the maximum Pell Grant to $5,100. In his 2005 budget proposal, however, Pell Grants are underfunded by $9.4 billion – Bush’s budget underfunds Nevada Pell Grants by $33.4 million. [Source: National Association of College and University Business Officers, 2/01; National Education Association, 5/2003]
REALITY: Bush broke his campaign promise to maximize Pell Grants – shortchanging 9,434 Nevada students. Bush has frozen Pell Grant funding levels for the past three years. [Source: National Education Association, 12/03]
REALITY: Bush cut funding for job training by nearly $1 billion. Since taking office, Bush has cut job training by almost $1 billion. The Department of Labor has also proposed drastic changes to job training and re-education programs, greatly diminishing the federal role in these programs. [source: BushWatch, www.afl-cio.org]
REALITY: Bush cuts dislocated worker funding by $500 million. In real dollars, dislocated worker funding has been cut by half-a-billion dollars since FY 2001. [Source: BushWatch, www.afl-cio.org]
REALITY: Bush cuts adult, vocational and technical education funding. The 2005 Bush budget eliminates all special programs funded under the Perkins Act such as Tech Prep, the Tech Prep Demonstration project, Occupational and Employment Information and national programs. [Source: BushWatch, www.afl-cio.org]
Risking Our Children’s Futures
RHETORIC: “Education is the best way to make sure we keep jobs right here in America.”
REALITY: Bush Administration has shortchanged its own No Child Left Behind education package every year – by more than $32 billion. In January 2002, as Bush signed the sweeping education reform into law, he announced, “Today begins a new era, a new time in public education in our country…. Our schools will have greater resources to meet those goals.” Over successive budgets, Bush has underfunded the program by more than $32 billion. [Source: White House, 1/8/02; Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 5/12/04]
REALITY: Bush Administration has shortchanged its own No Child Left Behind education package for Nevada by $187 million. The Bush Administration has underfunded its No Child Left Behind program by $187 million in Nevada, leaving taxpayers to make up the difference. Bush underfunds the program again in his proposed 2005 budget. [Source: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 5/12/04]
REALITY: Bush Administration 2005 budget shortchanges special education by $11.3 billion – special education grants to Nevada shortchanged by $66.3 million. Bush’s FY 2005 budget proposal underfunds the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) grants by $11.3 billion. IDEA grants are supposed to help states provide special education – Bush underfunded Nevada’s IDEA grants by $66.3 million in his FY 2005 budget proposal. [Source: National Education Association, 5/2003]
REALITY: Bush Administration’s 2005 budget shortchanges Head Start by $22.3 billion – Head Start programs in Nevada are shortchanged by $144.9 million. In 2000, Bush claimed he wanted to expand Head Start; instead, his FY 2005 budget proposal underfunds Head Start by $22.3 billion nationwide – Bush’s budget underfunds Head Start in Nevada by $144.9 million. [Source: Bush Remarks at Campaign Stop at ColonialHigh School, Orlando, 3/23/00; National Education Association, 5/03]
REALITY: Bush Administration 2005 budget shortchanges Nevada disadvantaged students by $35.3 million – leaving behind 11,800 Nevada children. Bush promised to provide schools with the resources they need as part of the No Child Left Behind legislation, but in its proposed 2005 budget, the Bush Administration underfunds NCLB Title I in Nevada by $35.3 million, which means 11,800 children will be left behind. [Source; White House, 1/8/02; Children’s Defense Fund, 2/4/04; American Federation of Teachers, 1/12/04; Congressional Research Service]
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