The Obama Administration delivered its FY 2016 budget request to Congress today, providing its recommendations for program funding levels across the federal government. Overall, the budget includes a total of $70.7 billion in discretionary spending for the Department of Education, an increase of $3.6 billion, or 5.4 percent, over FY 2015 enacted levels. For the Department of Labor, $13.2 billion in discretionary funding is proposed, an increase of $1.2 billion, or 10.3 percent. The Administration was able to provide these increases by proposing to replace sequestration, effectively increasing the overall discretionary budget cap by about $37 billion.
For the Perkins Act, the Administration proposes the addition of $200 million for a CTE Innovation Fund within the Basic State Grant, which would support the recently released American Technical Training Fund by providing competitive grants to “support the development and operation of innovative, evidence-based job training programs in high-demand fields that provide a path to the middle class for low-income individuals.” An additional $1 million to evaluate the program was included in the National Programs line item for Perkins as well, however, the formula portion of the Basic State Grant was unfortunately still level funded at a few million short of pre-sequestration levels.
The budget also included several additional proposals that would have relevance for CTE if enacted:
- $100 million for apprenticeship grants to States, industry, and community based organizations to build capacity to develop or expand registered apprenticeship programs
- $500 million (proposed as mandatory funding) for competitive Industry Credentialing and Career Pathways Grants, including $300 million specifically targeted at in-demand information technology jobs across multiple industries
- a $15 million increase for grants to States and partnerships of States for the purpose of identifying, exploring and addressing areas where occupational licensing requirements create an unnecessary barrier to labor market entry
- $37 million for the Workforce Data Quality Initiative, a $33 million increase
- a new $125 million competitive-grant program to promote high school redesign, focusing on STEM programs
- $1.36 billion in mandatory funding for 2016 for America’s College Promise, a $60.3 billion investment over 10 years, which would provide free tuition and fees for the first two years of college
ACTE and the National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium released a statement expressing appreciation for the budget release’s focus on CTE here.
It is important to note, however, that the Administration’s budget request is not binding and merely serves as a statement of priorities for Congress to consider during its consideration of FY 2016 appropriations bills. We will be providing more resources on the congressional budget and appropriations process soon!
We will be providing more resources on the congressional budget and appropriations process soon.
Posted by: Keziah | 07/24/2016 at 05:21 AM
As long as it is not binding. As the last statement said it is a statement of priorities for consideration.
Posted by: Esther | 12/20/2016 at 04:53 AM
great information. thank you.
Posted by: maryjane | 05/16/2017 at 05:02 AM