Bush to Seek Increase for Jobs Corps and WIC
President Bush has begun to unveil some tidbits from his upcoming budget plan, including proposed increases for job-training and nutrition programs.
Mr. Bush said he would ask for an additional $73 million for the $1.5 billion Job Corps program—about a 5 percent increase—and an additional $364 million for the $4.3 billion Women, Infants, and Children nutrition program. That would be a nearly 8.5 percent increase.
“My budget focuses on the pressing needs of our country and on the basic needs of our citizens,” the president said in disclosing the proposals during his Jan. 12 radio address.
The Job Corps seeks to help disadvantaged 16- to 24-year-olds improve their academic and vocational skills and find employment. The WIC program aims to safeguard the health of low-income women and their infants and children under age 5 by providing nutritious foods to supplement diets, information on healthy eating, and referrals to health care.
Mr. Bush made no mention during the radio address about his plans for K-12 spending, though he is widely expected to propose an increase to the Department of Education’s budget for fiscal 2003.
His budget plan is expected to be released Feb. 4.
—Erik W. Robelen
Agency Puts ESEA Information on Web
The Department of Education has created a new Web link to provide information on the recently signed “No Child Left Behind” legislation reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
The agency’s Web site now outlines the new law’s provisions, including a summary of the measure; gives the full text of the congressional conference report; and lists figures for potential federal funding increases for individual states. The ESEA provisions are available from the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Signed by President Bush on Jan. 8, the measure, among many other provisions, includes new testing and accountability mandates for states. (“States Gear Up for New Federal Law,” Jan. 16, 2002.)
Secretary of Education Rod Paige used his monthly Satellite Town Meeting last week to discuss the testing and accountability requirements.
—Joetta L. Sack
