The Senate Appropriations Committee last month approved a spending bill for the Department of Education. Overall, it would provide $53.2 billion in discretionary money for the agency in fiscal 2003. That’s nearly $3 billion above President Bush’s request. Below are some highlights from the Senate version, compared with the president’s proposal and the current year’s funding. The House has yet to take any action on the department’s appropriation.
| Title I Senate committee: $11.85 billion Bush Plan: $11.35 billion Fiscal 2002: $10.35 billion | Special Education State Grants Senate committee: $8.53 billion Bush Plan: $8.53 billion Fiscal 2002: $7.53 billion |
| Teacher Quality Senate committee: $3.1 billion Bush Plan: $2.85 billion Fiscal 2002: $2.85 billion | Educational Technology Senate committee: $1.09 billion Bush Plan: $1 billion Fiscal 2002: $1 billion |
| Reading First Senate committee: $1 billion Bush Plan: $1 billion Fiscal 2002: $900 million | English-Language Acquisition Senate committee: $740 million Bush Plan: $665 million Fiscal 2002: $665 million |
