In a letter to the top federal lawmakers responsible for funding the U.S. Department of Education, the National Governors Association is urging Congress to “prioritize investments” in programs related to the Every Student Succeeds Act, career and technical education, and certain other areas of emphasis.
The letter does not mention President Donald Trump’s budget plan for fiscal 2018 directly. But it was sent late last month—two days after the release of the spending blueprint, which proposes a 13.5 percent cut, or about $9.2 billion, to the Education Department.
The governors write that “states’ transition from the federal overreach of No Child Left Behind cannot proceed without the investments Congress promised states for programs under ESSA,” including Title II and after-school programs, as well as the block grant under Title IV, all losers in the administration’s budget. They also call on lawmakers to “prioritize investments” in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, Preschool Development Grants, and state grants under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
