News from the
Committee on Education and the Workforce
John Boehner, Chairman

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 8, 2003

 CONTACTS: Alexa Marrero or 
Dave Schnittger 
Telephone: (202) 225-4527

House Republicans Vote to Provide Third Major Increase in Education Funding Since No Child Left Behind, Linked to Reform
House Democrats Vote Against $720 Million Increase in Funding for No Child Left Behind, Large Increases for Special Education, Higher Education, Minority-Serving Schools

          WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. House Education & the Workforce Committee Chairman John Boehner (R-OH) today issued the following statement on House passage of the FY2004 Omnibus Appropriations measure, which includes the third consecutive major education funding increase since the No Child Left Behind Act was signed into law by President Bush less than two years ago.

          “When President Bush signed the historic bipartisan No Child Left Behind Act into law nearly two years ago, we made a promise. That promise was to significantly increase spending on education, and to provide those resources in exchange for accountability and results for the first time ever. We took that commitment seriously, and it’s exactly what we’ve delivered.

          “The spending measure approved on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives today provides yet another boost in education funding, bringing spending on our education priorities such as special education, higher education, teachers, and funding for disadvantaged students and schools to their highest levels in history.

          “It was disappointing to see my Democrat colleagues vote in lock-step against this measure. By opposing the bill, they voted against nearly $3 billion in additional funding for the Department of Education, more money to close the achievement gap between disadvantaged students and their peers, a much-needed increase of more than $1 billion in funding for special education, and numerous other spending increases that will assist students and schools across America. However, by approving the measure, House Republicans have ensured that these important funding increases will reach the nation’s classrooms and continue to improve student achievement and success through accountability and reform.”

          Among the highlights of the final FY2004 spending measure approved today by the House:

  • Overall funding for the U.S. Department of Education is increased by $2.9 billion.  The $56 billion in total discretionary funding for federal education is an all-time high.  Under President Bush, in just three years the Education Department’s overall funding will have increased by $13.8 billion.

  • Title I aid to needy and disadvantaged students is increased to $12.41 billion.  The $720 million increase in FY2004 would be the third significant increase in Title I funding as a result of the No Child Left Behind Act.  In FY2003, Title I funding was increased by $1.3 billion, which was on top of the $1.6 billion increase provided in FY 2002. That means Title I spending has increased more during the first two years of President George W. Bush’s Administration than it did during the previous eight years combined under President Clinton – and the FY2004 appropriation will increase funding further still.

  • Special Education grants (IDEA) are increased by $1.26 billion for FY2004. The $10.13 billion funding level builds on two previous significant increases in funding under President Bush, totaling $2.5 billion.  The FY2004 funding for IDEA is three times higher than in 1995, the final fiscal year of the Democrat-controlled Congress.

  • Reading First and Early Reading First grants to states are increased to $1.98 billion to help states ensure every child reads by the third grade.  Under No Child Left Behind, federal funding has more than tripled for reading programs based on proven reading instruction methods rooted in scientifically-based research.

  • Teacher Quality Grants are funded at the historically-high level of $2.95 billion.  The bill also provides $45.6 million for Transition to Teaching and $150 million for Math and Science Partnerships, an increase of nearly $50 million over FY2003.

  • Charter school funding is increased by a total of $34 million.  The bill provides $220 million for start-up and planning grants for charter schools and $37.5 million for charter school facility financing.

  • Federal funding to help states develop and implement state assessments is increased to $391.6 million.  With the FY2004 increase, states will have received more than $1.16 billion to develop and implement state assessments in math and reading, as required by NCLB.  The FY2004 funding level means that in just three years states will have already received 72% of the total collective funding needed by FY2008 to develop and implement the basic tests, according to the General Accounting Office.

  • Pell Grants maintain their historically high maximum award of $4,050 to help disadvantaged students achieve the dream of a college education.  In addition, the final FY2004 spending measure includes overall funding of $12.1 billion, an increase of more than $700 million over FY2003.

  • After School Centers are funded at more than $1 billion.  This represents a $400 million increase over President Bush’s request and a $6.5 million increase over last year.

  • Impact Aid is increased by $49 million over last year.  The $1.237 billion in Impact Aid funding is $222 million above President Bush’s request.

  • Head Start funding to help prepare disadvantaged young children to learn and succeed in school is boosted by $148 million.  The FY2004 increase will bring total Head Start funding to $6.8 billion, providing significant resources to ensure that we are closing the readiness gap between Head Start graduates and their more affluent peers.