President Clinton and congressional Republicans have offered competing proposals for K-12 spending.
The administration plan would:
Provide federal money to help states reduce the size of K-3 classes. The plan would cost $1.1 billion in fiscal 1999 and almost $11 billion over the next six years. Funding for the program relies on anticipated revenues from a settlement with tobacco companies.
Status: President Clinton has endorsed a Senate tobacco bill that would not fund class-size reduction. The House has not written a tobacco bill.
Offer federal money to pay $10 billion in interest on school construction bonds to spur an estimated $20 billion in renovation and building over the next 10 years.
Status: No progress so far, but may be included in a tax bill this year.
Establish “educational opportunity zones.” Grants would go to high-poverty urban and rural districts to help them revitalize schools.
Status: No progress so far
- Expand after-school learning programs by raising spending from $40 million this year to $200 million in fiscal 1999 and for the next four years.
Status: Awaiting action from the House and Senate appropriations committees.
The Republican plan would:
Create savings accounts for K-12 educational expenses. Interest and capital gains would accumulate tax-free. Parents would be allowed to spend the proceeds on costs such as private school tuition and supplies for public schools.
Status: The accounts language is in bills that have passed the Senate and the House. President Clinton has said he would veto any compromise.
Significantly increase funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. New money would move the federal government closer to meeting its promise of paying 40 percent of the excess costs of teaching special education students and free up local money for districts to spend elsewhere
Status: Awaiting action from the House and Senate appropriations committees.
Streamline federal K-12 programs into block grants. Republicans want to merge K-12 programs into a single grant with few rules and requirements.
Status: The Senate added a block grant that would consolidate almost all federal K-12 programs to its bill for educational savings accounts. The House is considering a separate plan to merge 35 programs, with total funding of $3.4 billion, into a block grant.
