By Della Cronin

Just before leaving Washington, DC for a two-week recess, Congress passed a 2,232-page spending bill that covers every federal agency and program for FY 2018. That $1.3 trillion bill, which has been the subject of intense negotiations, and a last-minute veto threat, will finally resolve federal spending—almost six months into the fiscal year that began October 1, 2017.  While the process has been full of ups and downs and two government shutdowns, the final result is a good one for NCTM, mathematics teachers and educators and the STEM education community.

The final deal rejects most of President Donald Trump’s proposed cuts at the Department of Education and across the federal research agencies.   The programs authorized by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) fared well—Title I saw a modest 1.9% increase over last year.  Title II, the Supporting Effective Instruction State grants that states use to invest in professional development and other activities, were slated for no funding in the White House spending plan, but saw level funding at just over $2 billion.  

The Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grant program, which was created by ESSA and received only $400 million last year, will see a $700 million increase in FY 2018. The program is available to districts for multiple uses, including school safety and mental health services, as well as STEM education programs and education technology. The ability to use these funds for school safety motivated lawmakers to grow the program substantially in its second year.  (NCTM is a member of the Title IV, Part A Coalition (named for the section of law that created the program), which strongly advocates for the program.)  Career and technical education state grants, IDEA grants to states and charter schools will also see increases in FY 2018. The afterschool community is also pleased since the largest investment in afterschool programs, which was slated for elimination by the White House, saw a $20 million increase. The 21st Century Community Learning Centers program will receive just over $1.2 billion in FY 2018. 

Regarding higher education programs, the spending plan invests in Teacher Quality Partnerships at the same level as last year--$43 million.  NCTM recently collaborated with other supporters of the program to host a very well-attended Capitol Hill briefing explaining the importance of the program to staff, and the organization signed on to multiple letters to lawmakers calling for sufficient investment in colleges of education and programs that prepare teachers.  

The bill also sets aside $350 million to provide public student loan forgiveness to teachers, firefighters and police.  While details will need to be shared by the Department of Education, it seems the intent is to provide public service loan forgiveness for borrowers who would qualify but did not make all their required payments within the designated repayment plan. 

There are several major funding increases for federal science and technology programs in FY 2018, with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Department of Energy (DOE) faring particularly well. According to estimates from the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), total federal R&D spending would reach its highest point ever in inflation-adjusted dollars. Basic and applied research funding would receive its largest year-over-year increase since the FY 2009 stimulus bill.  The National Science Foundation would receive $7.7 billion, which is a 3.9% increase compared to last year.  The Education and Human Resources directorate would see growth of 2.5%. 

Of course, there is not resting on laurels in the education advocacy community, and efforts will turn to the FY 2019 appropriations process right away. In fact, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos furthered next year’s process when she appeared before the House Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Subcommittee last month. Saying, “President Trump is committed to reducing the federal footprint in education,” she defended proposed cuts and her Department’s approach to civil rights, school choice and other issues.    She faced strong and heated opposition from Democratic members of the panel, and while Subcommittee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) was respectful and at times protective of the secretary, even he said, “I am concerned about the administration continuing to request cuts that Congress has rejected.” 

The FY 2019 spending process and various oversight and other legislative hearings will take up the rest of the year, and NCTM hopes to build on this year’s successes in that endeavor.  The organization is excited about the Advocacy Day it is organizing in conjunction with the upcoming annual conference in Washington, DC.