Education

News in Brief: A Washington Roundup

October 05, 2004 2 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

NCES Studying Dropout Counts

The National Center for Education Statistics is seeking to devise a more precise method of counting high school dropouts. Many experts say that district, state, and federal estimates of the number of teenagers quitting school before graduation severely underestimate the scope of the problem.

Robert Lerner, the commissioner of education statistics, said in an interview last month that his agency was conducting a study of the ways in which data on high school completion could be collected and analyzed more effectively. He did not have a firm timetable for when the results of the study would be available.

The research by the NCES, an arm of the Department of Education, will examine some of the most common data-collection systems used to study dropout rates, Mr. Lerner said. They include the Common Core of Data survey system—used by the NCES in its dropout estimatesand information from the Census Bureau.

Mr. Lerner discussed the study following an appearance before the National Assessment Governing Board, the panel that sets policy for the National Assessment of Educational Progress, in Washington on Aug. 6.

—Sean Cavanagh

Study: Big Jump Since 1990 In Federal Education Support

Total federal support for education, excluding tax benefits, rose to $171 billion in fiscal 2003, an increase of 102 percent since 1990 when adjusted for inflation, according to a government report.

“Federal Support for Education: Fiscal Years 1980 to 2003,” is available online from the National Center for Education Statistics. (Full report requires Adobe’s Acrobat Reader.)

The August study by the National Center for Education Statistics offers a range of historical statistics on federal budgetary matters related to education. It draws together data from the Department of Education, which accounts for nearly half of “on budget” federal funding for education, but also from many other agencies, such as the departments of Agriculture, Health and Human Services, Labor, and Veterans Affairs.

The report notes substantial growth in federal aid for elementary and secondary education in recent years. While federal on-budget funds for that sector declined by 12 percent between fiscal 1980 and 1990, it grew by 101 percent from then until fiscal 2003, when adjusted for inflation.

At the same time, the federal share of spending on schools is apparently smaller than it was some two decades ago.

The report says that while the federal proportion of expenditures for elementary and secondary institutions grew from 7 percent in fiscal 1990 to 10 percent last fiscal year, it’s still less than the 12 percent back in fiscal 1980.

—Erik W. Robelen

A version of this article appeared in the September 01, 2004 edition of Education Week as News in Brief: A Washington Roundup

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Assessment Webinar
Reflections on Evidence-Based Grading Practices: What We Learned for Next Year
Get real insights on evidence-based grading from K-12 leaders.
Content provided by Otus
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Student Well-Being Webinar
Creating Resilient Schools with a Trauma-Responsive MTSS
Join us to learn how school leaders are building a trauma-responsive MTSS to support students & improve school outcomes.
School & District Management Live Online Discussion A Seat at the Table: We Can’t Engage Students If They Aren’t Here: Strategies to Address the Absenteeism Conundrum
Absenteeism rates are growing fast. Join Peter DeWitt and experts to learn how to re-engage students & families.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Education Quiz ICYMI: Trump Moves to Shift Special Ed Oversight And More
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
President Donald Trump signs an executive order on TikTok in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Washington.
President Donald Trump signs an executive order on TikTok in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Washington.
Evan Vucci/AP
Education Quiz ICYMI: Judge Orders Teacher-Prep Grants Restored And Other Trending News This Week
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
Image of the Supreme Court.
iStock/Getty
Education Briefly Stated: March 19, 2025
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read
Education Quiz How Much Do You Know: Ed. Dept.'s Mass Layoffs and More This Week
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
Illustration of 2 hands cutting paper dolls with scissors, representing staffing layoffs.
iStock/Getty