The federal budget process is something of a kabuki drama, with affected special interests acting out their ritualized poor-mouthing on cue. This is especially the case for Fiscal 2005, in which the White House gave the Department of Education a $1.7 billion increase in a very tight fiscal environment. That includes new money for NCLB, $1.1 billion for Reading First, and an extra $823 million for Pell Grants. Cause for rejoicing in education land? Don't be silly. The budget, you see, eliminates 38 small programs under the department's aegis, penny-ante programs like $5 million for dropout prevention - a ludicrously small amount for a federal program that has shown little in the way of tangible results - or Comprehensive School Reform programs that are generally superseded by NCLB. "Star Schools." Senator Kennedy's pet "Whaling Program." Critics can be counted upon to term this a "budgetary shell game." No doubt Congress will restore some of the cuts (while keeping the increases). And the drama continues.
"Budget shuffle: Schools both gain and lose," by April Austin, Christian Science Monitor, February 9, 2004
"Domestic spending: Gains for education but not much else," by Diana Jean Schemo and Lynette Clemetson, New York Times, February 3, 2004 (registration required)