Last week, congressional Republicans released A Pledge to America, which is their policy agenda for running the country should one or both bodies of Congress switch to a Republican-led majority. While education policy is not specifically included in the broad agenda, the policy does include pledges for spending that would impact federal education aid.

Specifically, A Pledge to America stipulates the need to reduce the size of the federal government by cutting all nondefense-related discretionary spending. Congressional Republicans would cut the federal budget to pre-stimulus levels, saving at least $100 billion in the first year, and institute annual spending caps and other spending restrictions. A report by the nonpartisan Center on Budget and Policy Priorities indicates this would result in a 21 percent cut from current (FY10) funding levels for all nondefense discretionary programs, which includes most programs at the Department of Education (e.g., Title I, IDEA, etc.).  

Cuts of this magnitude would have sharp effects on basic services. For example, a 21 percent cut in K-12 education funding would take more than $8 billion out of this area in fiscal year 2011, on top of the deep education cuts that many state and local governments across the country are being forced to make.

Republicans are not the only ones calling for reductions in discretionary spending. The Office of Management and Budget, the budgeting authority at the White House, called on all federal agencies to prepare budgets for the next fiscal year (FY12) with a 5 percent cut to nondefense discretionary programs.

We can all agree that economic times are tight, but should Congress continue to cut spending on federal education funding? Or will it exacerbate an already precarious funding situation at state and local district levels?