Although Congress left the reauthorizations of Head Start and the Higher Education Act for next year, lawmakers approved a few education-related measures before leaving town for the year.
One sweeping tax measure would extend for two years a $250 tax deduction for teachers for what they spend on classroom supplies and extend a deduction for college-tuition costs. It would also extend a program that permits states to borrow money for school repairs, with the interest paid by the federal government through a tax credit to bond holders.
Congress authorized $800 million in federal fiscal years 2006 and 2007 for that program, called the Qualified Zone Academy Bonds. The House originally approved the tax bill on a voice vote; the Senate accepted changes to the measure on a 79-9 roll-call vote. The House passed the Senate’s final version on a 367-45 roll-call vote this month.
