The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee advanced a bipartisan $80 billion funding plan for the U.S. Department of Education for fiscal year 2025. This proposal, which passed with a 25-3 vote, is a significant increase from the House’s $72 billion proposal and slightly below the White House’s request of $82 billion. [K-12 Dive, Inside Higher Ed]
Why It matters: The Senate’s plan prioritizes funding for early childhood education, K-12 schools, and higher education, setting the stage for a budget showdown with the House. [Politico Pro, subscription model]
What’s in the budget?
- Title I Funding: The bill allocates $18.69 billion for schools serving low-income families, a $280 million increase over the previous year, countering the House’s proposed 25% cut to these funds.
- Support for Disabilities: It proposes a $295 million boost for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), enhancing support for students with disabilities.
- Early Childhood: Head Start receives a $700 million increase, and the Child Care and Development Block Grant sees a $2.3 billion boost.
- Higher Education: The maximum Pell Grant award would rise by $100 to $7,495, alongside a $100 million increase for Federal Student Aid.
What’s next: Congress has until September 30 to pass a budget to avoid a government shutdown. A short-term funding measure is expected to keep the government running while negotiations continue.
Read more about the House’s education budget here.
