President's Proposed Budget 2013-14

The Proposed 2013 Budget

On the news front, of primary importance is the White House release of the proposed 2013 Budget this morning.  For adult education, the news is mixed.   They propose cutting funding for adult education $1.1M from the current $596.1 million to $595 million.  This may not seem like much but when you consider inflation, increased demands for services, etc. adult education is one program deserving of a funding increase.

As in previous years, funding is taken off the top for the English Literacy/Civics education program.  The proposed amount for this year is for $74.7 million.

Even though these numbers seem to represent almost level funding, the bad news is that the Administration proposes to take $15 million off of the top of the state grant funds for a Workforce Innovation Fund (WIF).  Thus, the proposed funds available for state grants for 2013-2014 would be reduced by $15M.

According to the Administration, this Workforce Innovation Fund "would be jointly administered and funded by the Departments of Education and Labor. From the $125 million available for the WIF from all sources, the two agencies will work together to award competitive grants that encourage innovation and identify and validate effective strategies for improving the delivery of services and outcomes for all beneficiaries under the programs authorized by the Workforce Investment Act. This investment would create strong incentives for change that, if scaled up, could improve the effectiveness of the workforce preparation and training system."

Funding for National Programs is kept level at $11.3 million.

This Administration proposal, of course, is only the first step in the process of setting funding levels for programs for 2013.  The next step will be for the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to hold hearings this spring and summer and consider their own bills setting funding levels for the next fiscal year.  The final step will be for the House and Senate to meet in conference hopefully in the fall to iron out the differences between the two versions of this legislation.

However, as you have no doubt noticed in recent years, the process seems to drag out well passed that projected timetable.  As a result, this process may not conclude until the end of 2012 or in the first few months of 2013.  While appropriations bills are to be enacted prior the end of the fiscal year, such has been a rare occurrence in recent years.

Other Items:

There is also a new "disconnected youth" provision for 14-24 year olds who a disconnected from family, school, and work.  We are awaiting details on this possible funding source.

There is also an $8B item for community colleges to work with employers to training workers.  We are awaiting details here too.

More details are to follow as the full budget documents are released.  We will keep you posted as them emerge.

NCSDAE Washington Views are archived at:

http://www.ncsdae.org/myweb/Washington_News/Washington_News.htm