Facts

Facts

While K-12 public education is primarily the responsibility of the states, the federal government chips in over $90 billion in assistance a year (about 8% of all funding). Through that power of the purse, the federal government can shape educational policy by offering or withholding funding. Its strongest influence on K-12 general education is through President Bush's signature No Child Left Behind Act. The Act stresses standardized testing and requires that schools make progress toward getting all students on grade level. Where the federal government has had an even more direct role is in pre-K and higher education. The federal government funds pre-school for poor children through Head Start and offers a majority of the financial aid higher education students receive. Here is a general overview of education in America.

How many Students?

Students enrolled in pre-school:

The Skinny

see also background & facts, pro & con, links

What's Up

Head Start, the federal act that funds education, health and social services for low-income pre-schoolers, was up for a revote and possible revamp in '04. In most re-authorization cycles this famously bi-partisan bill sails through Congress, but it hit rough waters when initial proposed changes to strengthen testing and faith-based groups got Democrats and early childhood advocates up in arms.

The debate eventually simmered down, allowing the House and Senate to pass, HR 1429, in November '07.

Rather than follow the president's recommendation to strengthen testing (discussed below), Congress voted to remove national testing requirements. They also nixed a provision that would have allowed faith-based Head Start programs to hire based on religious belief.