Calls Congressional Conference Report Grossly Inadequate for Public Education

SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today called on members of Congress to reject the conference report for fiscal year 2006 Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations bill.

"The funding allocated in this bill for schools serving needy students and students with disabilities is grossly inadequate," O'Connell said. "We are at a major turning point in public education. Schools in California and across the nation are under pressure like never before to rise the challenge of higher expectations for all students. In large part, despite enormous odds, schools are meeting the challenge and student performance is improving. Now is the time to bolster our efforts to improve student achievement. It is wrong to siphon off much needed resources for public education at this critical time. I urge members of Congress to reject this proposal and invest in our future by adequately funding schools serving needy students and students with disabilities."

The Education Appropriations Bill in its current form is projected to reduce federal funding for schools in California in the following ways:

• Funding for Title I in California would be reduced by nearly $68 million, when compared to the President's proposed budget;
• IDEA funding for students with disabilities in California would be reduced in real dollars by $630 per student;
• The short-funding of NCLB would mean a loss of approximately $3 million in non-Title I grants in California;
• The Even Start program in California would be reduced by approximately $15 million;
• Career technical education in California would be reduced by approximately $3 million; and
• Safe and Drug Free school funding in California would be reduced by approximately $10.5 million.

Members of the House of Representatives are voting on the measure today. The bill will be presented on the floor of the U.S. Senate tomorrow.