Workforce Development and Education Fiscal Year 06 Appropriations and Programs
Department of Labor
Community College Initiative: Both the House and the
Senate provide $125 million for the President’s Community
College Initiative, a training grant program established in FY 05.
This equals half the President’s request. The Labor Department
has restricted eligibility for this program to community colleges.
The House believes this is too restrictive, and has directed the
Labor Department to open eligibility specifically to One Stop
Career Centers (the Labor Department’s nationwide network
of employment and training centers established under the
Workforce Investment Act).
Department of Education
Educational Technologies: President Bush proposed to
terminate the Education Department’s education technology
program.The House and Senate do not agree with eliminating this
program,but eye a significant reduction in its budget. The House
allocates $300 million for education technology, $196 million
below FY 05, and the Senate provides $425 million, $71 million
below last year. In this formula grant program, states have
been required to direct 95 percent of funds they receive to
school districts for hardware and software purchases, teacher
training on integrating technology into curriculum, and other
technology-related purposes.
Pell Grants: A major source of assistance to pay tuition costs
for postsecondary education and vocational training, the Senate
provides $13 billion for Pell Grants, an increase of $812 million
over FY 05. This funding supports a maximum grant of $4,050,
the same as last year. The House provides a bit more than the
Senate, increasing funding by $1 billion, and increasing the
maximum Pell grant size to $4100—the highest level in
history. More than 5 million low- and middle-income undergraduate
students and their families receive aid through Pell Grants.
For more information on any of these Administration initiatives,
and how they may affect your organization, please contact
us at info@techvision21.com or
(202) 263-0168.
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