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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 14, 1999

News Release

NEA President Urges Congress To Expand Education Spending

Washington, D.C. -- Bob Chase, president of the National Education Association (NEA), today urged Congress to provide education with a greater share of the federal budget in order to continue progress toward eliminating educational inequity in America. Radio sound from Chase's testimony will be posted on NEA's toll-free actuality line following the hearing (approximately 1:00 p.m.). To access the sound, call 1-877-279-0918.

Appearing before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on the subject of "Educational Readiness in the 21st Century," Chase said increased federal spending on education -- which has fallen from 11.9 percent of total education expenditures in 1980 to a current level of 7.6 percent -- was mandatory "if America is to remain competitive."

"The American public has made education a top priority," Chase told the Committee, chaired by Sen. James M. Jeffords (R-Vt). "Now, it is time for Congress to follow the will of the public and make funding public education a top priority for the 21st century."

Chase noted that while public school enrollments have risen by 19.2 percent since 1983, federal education spending has increased by only 15.5 percent since 1980.

"Current appropriations proposals and the pending tax cut agreement threaten dramatic cuts in federal education spending over the next decade," Chase added. "Adherence to spending caps could force cuts of 18 percent in education."

Chase warned the committee that projections of a $996 billion budget surplus over the next decade are based on those caps, and "assume reductions of about $600 billion in discretionary spending -- including virtually all federal education programs."

Chase pointed to two successful programs that are dramatically underfunded: Title I (which addresses the needs of disadvantaged children) and Special Education.

"Current funding allows Title I to serve only approximately one-third of eligible students," Chase said. "The Congressional Research Service estimates that fully funding Title I would cost $24 billion, an increase of $16 billion from its current funding level. And, although the federal government has committed to providing 40 percent of the cost of special education, current funding only pays 12 percent of these costs," Chase said. "Fully meeting the federal government's obligation would require a funding increase of approximately $13 billion a year."

If Congress expects states to pay more of the federal share of education spending, it should think twice, Chase said. He cited a recent NEA study finding that almost half of the 50 states will have "structural deficits" -- including 11 that will have severe structural deficits -- during the next decade.

"State revenues will be less than necessary for expenditures, even without improvements in public education," Chase warned. That leaves only one solution, he said.

"In the next century, education must receive a greater share of the federal budget, and a greater commitment for sustained federal support, if America is to remain competitive," he said.

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The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing more than 2.4 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support personnel, school administrators, retired educators, and students preparing to become teachers.