Home■Advocacy■Legislative Priorities in the 116th Congress■Advocacy on the Federal Budget■Funding Priorities

Advocacy

NAESP Funding Priorities

NAESP is a vocal advocate for elementary principals in the budget and appropriations process.  Outlined below are our priorities in advocating for more funding in the areas that matter to elementary principals the most.

Funding priorities for FY 2018 include:

  • Fully funding Title II, Part A at no less than $2.295 billion
  • Prioritizing Title I formula grants (targeted and schoolwide)
  • Holding Congress to its original commitment to fund at least 40% of the extra costs to education special needs students through IDEA
  • Funding streams for high-quality early childhood education programs
  • Set aside funds for the recruitment, training and development of effective principals
  • Setting aside dedicated funds for the recruitment, training and development of effective principals

 


ESEA Title I Grants to LEAs

Title I provides formula grants to states and, in turn, to districts to help disadvantaged children achieve proficiency on challenging academic standards and to improve the performance of low-achieving schools. Title I grants have been reduced since FY 2012 due to sequestration and discretionary spending caps. These reductions to Title I hurt the neediest students and school districts. NAESP urges the President and Congress to prioritize Title I formula grants for increases in FY 2018.

 

ESEA Title II, Part A

Title II, Part A provides formula grants to states to increase academic achievement by improving teacher and principal quality. There is a growing need for professional development for principals, assistant principals, and other school leaders to build their capacity to implement a wave of new federal, state, and local initiatives, such as the implementation of college and career ready standards, new teacher evaluation systems, school improvement models, and accountability requirements. NAESP urges the President and Congress to fund Title II, Part A at its pre-sequester level of $2.5 billion in FY 2018.

 

IDEA State Grants

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) State Grant program (Part B) was established to assist state and local educational agencies’ efforts to educate children with disabilities by implementing, expanding, and improving access to high-quality special education and related services. NAESP urges the President and Congress to make annual incremental increases to federal funding for special education so it can ultimately fulfill its promise to fund 40 percent of the national average per-pupil expenditure for students receiving IDEA services. NAESP also urges Congress to pass the IDEA Full Funding Act.

 

 

Preschool Development Grants

The Preschool Development Grants were first funded at $250 million in FY 2014 under Race to the Top.  The funds are used for competitive awards to States to develop, enhance, or expand high quality preschool programs and early childhood education programs for children from low- and moderate- coming families including children with disabilities.  In FY 2015 the grants were level funded but funding came from the Fund for Improvement of Education (FIE). Initially, Congress proposed to eliminate the program and appropriate no funding but strong advocacy efforts for the program resulted in level funding of $250 million. NAESP urges the President and Congress to prioritize early education funding by continuing to fund the Preschool Development Grants.  NAESP calls on Congress to officially authorize the program and to high quality early childhood education for all.