Budget Would Boost Funds For Computer Science, Early Learning, Teacher Retention, College

The Washington Post (2/9, Layton) reports President Obama’s budget “gives a big boost to computer science education,” with a proposal for $4 billion for “coding courses in K-8 and an effort to make sure every high school in the country offers computer classes.” The budget also contains a $1 billion request “for a new program to attract and retain quality teachers in high-needs schools.” In addition, there are requests for increases in federal spending for “early-childhood education...college for low-income students,” and making “community college free to eligible students.”

Education Week (2/9, Klein) reports the budget “would essentially flat-fund programs that nearly all school districts depend on to educate students in special education and disadvantaged students.” The budget has a “focus on integration”, with increases for Magnet Schools and charter schools, which are seen “as key vehicles for integrating schools.” Budget Would Promote Socioeconomic Diversity In Schools. The Huffington Post (2/10, Klein) reports the budget contains “new steps to help schools achieve socioeconomic diversity.” One of those is “a $120 million competitive grant program,” named Stronger Together for schools to develop “ways to foster socioeconomic diversity.” In support of the idea, acting secretary King wrote, “In today’s economy, diversity isn’t some vague ideal. It’s a path to better outcomes for all of America’s children. And the proposal we are announcing today will help show us the most effective ways [to] meet that goal.”

Budget Requests 29 Percent Increase For OCR. The Huffington Post (2/9, Kingkade) reports the budget contains a 29 percent increase in funding for the US Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, to $138 million from $107 million. The funding is intended to reduce the backlog of Title IX investigations, by adding 164 employees. The OCR “has 200 investigations open at 162 post-secondary institutions.”