In May, President Donald Trump released his full budget plan for the 2018 fiscal year, which can be read in full here. Although the budget is not official until it is approved by Congress, several departments are wary of some of the changes being offered, including the Department of Education. As a part of a plan to decrease the country’s spending, as well as national debt, President Trump has proposed to education budget cuts by 13.5%, or approximately $9.2 billion. Below are some key changes the budget proposes to make in education, and how they could affect you or those you know.
Education Budget Cuts: Teacher Training and Supplementary Programs
The budget plans to cut $2.3 billion from teacher training programs and workshops that prepare new teachers for the road ahead and perfect the skills of seasoned educators. $1.2 billion would also be cut from providing after-school programs for children with parents who work later into the day. A $190 million literacy program is also expected to be completely defunded.
Education Budget Cuts: School Choice and Distribution of Federal Funding
Title I, the largest K-12 federal education program that also supports the poorest school districts in areas that boost reading comprehension, would be completely defunded. The budget proposes to instead offer $1 billion towards a program that allows students to move from poor school districts to wealthier ones, and take that money along with them. Another $250 million would create vouchers for private schools, and $167 for charter schools.
Education Budget Cuts: Student Loans and Loan Forgiveness
The budget plans to cut $1 billion from subsidizing interest on student loans, which could leave students paying thousands more out of pocket for college. Public service loan forgiveness is also expected to be cut, a program that allows graduates working in government and non-profit organizations to erase portions of their student debt. Almost 500 million teachers, doctors, lawyers, and non-profit employees currently benefit from this program. So it pays to measure the tuition costs of colleges you would consider going to.
Education Budget Cuts: Medicaid
The budget offers a cut of $4 billion for Medicaid services in public schools, which students with disabilities rely on. Services like vision screening, speech therapy, and mobility aids could disappear, or only be obtained by paying the out of pocket costs.