This bill, historically one of the most difficult and contentious appropriations bills that Congress is responsible for, took an interesting path to the White House this year. The House first considered the conference report on November 17, 2005 and it failed by a vote of 209 to 224. After some reworking, it was again considered by the House and this time passed by a razor thin margin of 215 to 213 (December 14th). The Senate took up and passed the bill by unanimous consent on the 21st of December. Much of the concern related to the bill centered on cuts to programs in health and education.
Below are education programs of interest to the members of the American Psychological Association.
Program |
FY'04 |
FY'05 |
FY'06 |
Program Descriptions* |
Work Study |
$998.5 million |
$990.3 million |
$990.3 million |
Campus based program that provides grants to institutions of higher education to pay wages for needy undergraduate and graduate students working part-time to help pay for college costs. |
Teacher Quality |
$88.9 million |
$68.3 million |
$60.5 million |
Competitive grant program to institutions of higher education and states for pre-service teacher education. |
Pell Grant Program/
Maximum Grant Amount |
$12 billion/
$4,050 |
$12.4 billion/
$4,050 |
$13.2 billion/
$4,050 |
Need-based financial grant program designed to provide access to postsecondary education by providing aid to low and middle income undergraduate students . |
Perkins Loans
(capital contributions and loan cancellations) |
$98.7/ $66.7 million |
0/$66.1 million |
0/$66.1 million |
Program which provides long-term, low-interest loans to undergraduate and graduate students with demonstrated financial need. The cancellations component reimburses the institution's revolving account for borrowers whose loans are canceled in exchange for certain public services. |
GAANN/ Javits |
$30.6/ $9.9 million |
$30.4/ $9.8 million |
$30.4/$9.8 million |
The Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need program provides fellowships in areas of national need to academic departments of institions of higher education to assist graduate students with excellent academic records who demonstrate financial need and plan to pursue the highest degree available in their course of study. The Javits program provides financial assistance to students who have demonstrated superior academic ability and achievement, exceptional promise, and financial need to undertake graduate study leading to a doctoral degree or a master's degree in which the master's degree is the terminal highest degree in the selected field of study of the arts, humanities and social sciences. |
TRIO/GEAR UP |
$832.6/$298.2 million |
$836.5 /$306.5 million |
$836.5/$306.5 million |
TRIO and GEAR UP provide student support services to low-income, first-generation, disadvantaged individuals to help them enter and complete post secondary study. |
IES |
$496.7 million |
$523.2 million |
$522.7million |
The Institute of Education Sciences to address gaps in our scientific know |
Regional Labs |
$66.7 million |
$66.1 million |
$66.1 million |
These funds provide support for 5-year contracts with qualified entities to establish a networked system of ten Regional Educational Laboratories to carry out applied research, development, dissemination, and technical assistance activities to serve the needs of each region of the United States. Eligible applicants include research organizations, institutions, agencies, institutions of higher education, or partnerships among such entities, or individuals, with the demonstrated ability or capacity to carry out the activities authorized under the statute. |
Research |
$165.5 million |
$164.2 million |
$164.2 million |
This program supports rigorous research that contributes to the solution of significant education problems in the United States . |
Research in Special Ed |
$78.1 million |
$83.1 million |
$72.6 million |
This program supports a comprehensive research program to promote the highest quality and rigor in research on special education and related services, and to address the full range of issues facing children with disabilities, parents of children with disabilities, school personnel, and others. |
Elementary and Secondary School Counseling |
$33.8 million |
$34.7 million |
$35 million |
Provides competitive grants to local educational agencies (LEAs) to help develop promising and innovative approaches for initiating or expanding elementary and secondary school counseling programs. |
Gifted and Talented |
$11.1 million |
$11 million |
$9.7 million |
The purpose of the this program is to carry out a coordinated program of scientifically based research, demonstration projects, innovative strategies, and similar activities designed to build and enhance the ability of elementary and secondary schools to meet the special educational needs of gifted and talented students. |
Safe and Drug Free State/National |
$440.9/$233.3 million |
$437.4/$234.6 million |
$350/$142.5
million |
Provide financial assistance for drug and violence prevention activities and activities that promote the health and well being of students in elementary and secondary schools, and institutions of higher education. Activities may be carried out by State and LEAs and by other public or nonprofit organizations. |
…Alcohol Abuse Reduction Program |
$29.8 million |
$32.7 million |
$32.7 million |
This program enables LEAs to develop and implement innovative and effective programs to reduce alcohol abuse in secondary schools. Up to 25 percent of funding may be reserved for grants to low-income and rural LEAs.
|
Title I |
$12.3 billion |
$12.7 billion |
$12.8 billion |
Formula based supplemental funds for educationally disadvantaged students particularly those attending schools in high poverty areas . |
IDEA |
$11.2 billion |
$11.7 billion |
$11.8 billion |
Formula program that supports educational and early interventions for children with disabilities – paying for the excess cost of providing special education and related services to children with disabilities . |
….Personnel Prep |
$91.4 million |
$90.6 million |
$90.6 million |
Program provides support to train personal with skills and knowledge necessary to help children with disabilities succeed educationally. |
Reading First/ Early Reading First Program |
$1 billion /$94.4 million |
$1 billion/$104.2 million |
$1 billion/$104.2 million
|
Formula program designed to implement high quality scientifically based reading research on school reading instruction to states and school districts though professional development. Early reading first supports enhancing early reading skills in preschool programs. |
21st Century
Community Learning Centers |
$999.1 million |
$991.1 million |
$991.1 million |
Helps communities establish or expand community learning centers that provide extended learning opportunities for students and related services for their families. |
Even Start |
$246.9 million |
$225.1 million |
$100 million |
Improving educational opportunities by integrating early childhood education, adult education, and parenting education into “family literacy” programs. |
*Program descriptions taken primarily from the Department of education website.