ECO POLICY WATCH: The future of education policy is uncertain and shifting fast—and according to Bill Porter of Education First Consulting, it couldn’t have come at a worse time.
The federal government provides about 8% of total K-12 funding (during good economic times—higher in recessions), while about 60% of the U.S. Department of Education’s (DOE) budget goes toward higher education loans and aid programs. While headlines focus on dismantling the DOE, Bill Porter points out that federal funding is largely locked in by law—meaning major programs like Title I and special education funding aren’t disappearing. However, funds for these programs, as well as for school nutrition and critical civil rights protections, could be reallocated or reduced, affecting student services.
So what is changing? Less federal focus on student achievement, more emphasis on school choice and “parental rights,” and increasingly contentious local education battles. With funding shifts and ideological debates shaping the future, state and local governments will have to take on more responsibility for addressing student achievement and equity challenges.
Why is this a terrible time for these changes?
“We have a huge problem — in Oregon and nationally — with student achievement… This focus on everything else except student learning comes at a really rotten time.
I think we’re going to have 4 years of wasted effort fighting over cultural issues at the expense of trying to figure out what we’re going to do about student achievement, absenteeism, low graduation rates.”
Bill shared his thoughts at ECO’s recent webinar; if you’d like to be included in future discussions, please sign up for our newsletter.
