By Della B. Cronin

In recent weeks, NCTM and education advocates have been chasing down rumors regarding timing for debate of the House and Senate proposals to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). In the Senate, the Every Child Achieves Act (S. 1177) was approved by the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee weeks ago. The proposal is a comprehensive one that includes a revised Math and Science Partnership (MSP) program—supported by NCTM and the STEM Education Coalition—that would have resources for STEM educators. Advocates have been poised for floor debate ever since. Staff have called in various stakeholders to see what amendments they might be pursuing during a would-be floor debate, and tense meetings between civil rights groups, business interests, teacher unions, and others have taken place. While there seems to be agreement on quite a bit in the 700-page bill, there are still major disagreements around testing and accountability that are reportedly holding up a floor debate. The latest speculation suggests that S. 1177 won’t be on the Senate floor until after the July 4 holiday. 

Over in the House, Education and the Workforce Committee Chairman John Kline (R-Minn.) has been working hard to get the votes needed to pass the Student Success Act (HR 5). That bill would essentially turn most federal K–12 education programs into block grants to be administered by states and includes no math- or science-educator focused professional development program. While the education community generally dislikes the bill, its passage would be a step toward a negotiation with the more palatable Senate proposal and the eventual revision of the 13-year-old No Child Left Behind Act. Apparently Chairman Kline has the votes he needs—or is really close—since the education policy rumor mill says that bill could be on the House floor “any day,” and will probably come up without much warning. 

While rampant ESEA speculation is keeping the community on its toes, the federal appropriations season is also in full swing. Most recently, the House Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee marked up its spending proposal for FY 2016, which starts on October 1, 2015. The bill would cut discretionary spending by $3.7 billion compared to the current fiscal year and includes $14.6 billion less than the president’s budget request. According to a news release from the subcommittee’s Republican leadership, “Funding within the bill is targeted to proven programs with the most national benefit…while the bill reduces funding in lower-priority areas, and cuts ineffective or wasteful programs and agencies.” At the Department of Education, that means $2.8 billion less than FY 2015 for programs and a proposal not to provide any funding for more than 20 programs, including the Math and Science Partnerships and other high-profile Obama administration priorities, such as School Improvement State Grants, Investing in Innovation (i3), and Preschool Development Grants. The House Appropriations Committee is expected to approve the proposal shortly. The Senate will develop a competing spending plan that will hopefully be more generous to education investments. It’s worth noting that the White House has also issued a veto threat for any spending bill that adheres to the spending caps required by sequestration—like this one. The spending debates will undoubtedly be contentious, particularly since members of Congress are already blaming each other for potential government shutdowns. Regardless, NCTM and others in the education community will be weighing in with lawmakers to argue for adequate support for Title I, Title II, and continued support for the MSP program, as well as the Teacher Quality Partnership program which supports colleges of education. 

With the summer months upon us and the 2016 presidential campaign already creeping into day-to-day business on Capitol Hill, July will be a crucial month for doing the people’s business. NCTM is hoping that revising ESEA and investing in mathematics educators is on the to-do list for the month.

Della B. Cronin is a principal at Washington Partners, LLC.