THE ROLE OF FEDERAL FUNDING IN

EDUCATION

Primarily, it is the States’ and Local Governments’ responsibility to fund and oversee Public Schooling.

They are usually responsible for developing curriculum, state testing, enrollment and graduation requirements.

An estimated $1.15 TRILLION is spent on Education. Approximately 87 percent of this money is at a non federal level.

This leaves about 13 percent of funds being provided by the Department of Education, and other Federal agencies.

The Federal Government views their role in education as more of an “Emergency Response” than an everyday responsibility.

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION?

Developed in 1867, to assist states in the formation of eff ective school systems.

Smith-Hughes Act (1917) and George-Barden Act (1946) used federal funds to establish training in agricultural, industrial, and home economics for high school students.

GI Bill (1944) authorized the use of federal funding to help over 8 million returning veterans from World War II attend college.

National Defense Education Act (1958) provided funds to improve foreign languages, mathematics and science education in high schools.

Elementary and Secondary Education Act (1965) provides Federal Aid to “Title I” schools who have rural, disadvantaged and impoverished populations.

HISTORY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Signed in 2001 by President George W. BushIntended to close achievement gaps,

particularly for minority childrenOffered parents options to remove their

children from low performing schools – voucher systems

Used to try and instill a system of “accountability” on schools

Critics cite lack of federal funding did not allow for proper implementation of NCLB

NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND (NCLB)

Signed in 2009 by President Barack ObamaAwards Federal money to states whose schools

implement new curriculum – Common CoreEmphasizes teacher and principal

effectiveness based on test scoresAlso emphasizes lifted the cap on the number

of charter schools each district/state can haveCurrently being rolled out in many states,

although has been criticized for implementation and grading of teacher effectiveness on test scores only.

RACE TO THE TOP & COMMON CORE