Congressional debt deal foreshadows K-12 ed cuts

The 10-year caps on federal spending imposed in return for GOP support in the House of Representatives for raising the debt ceiling will be ruinous for schools, a coalition of 85 education groups said. The Committee for Education Funding, which includes the AFT, put the cost of those automatic cuts at some $3 billion annually should the projected 6.7 percent cut to federal agencies be applied to the U.S. Education Department.

Any specific cuts are up to Congress. These, the group says, will be on top of $1.25 billion in federal cuts imposed last spring.

AFT President Randi Weingarten said the deal “will likely lead to huge cuts in programs for children, seniors and those who can least afford it.”

Education Week, Aug. 10