President’s FY18 Budget Blueprint Includes Deep Cuts to Education

Today, President Trump issued a blueprint of his budget request for Fiscal Year 2018 that includes a 13% cut to education spending, eliminating or dramatically reducing funding for several programs of importance to educator preparation.

As with any new presidential administration, this request was issued late in the typical fiscal cycle and is more of a blueprint than a full budget request. This overview articulates priorities, but we will have to wait for details in the full request expected later this year. The blueprint conveys a clear focus on cutting programs, deregulating, and streamlining the federal government.

As expected, the U.S. Department of Education sees overall cuts and a shift toward “public and private school choice.” The president does increase Title I funding but seeks portability of the funds.

Requested cuts specifically mentioned in the blueprint:

  • Teacher Quality Partnership program (one of 20 programs cut, but not all are listed)
  • Title II – A of the Every Student Succeeds Act
  • 21st Century Community Learning Centers
  • Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant Program

Reductions specifically mentioned:

  • Work-study programs
  • TRIO
  • GEAR-UP
  • Pell surplus

Download the president’s full budget blueprint (PDF) here.

Supports for Your Advocacy

As always, remember that this budget is a request the president makes of the Congress, which then responds as it sees fit. It is critical that we maintain and augment our advocacy with Congress to articulate our views.

Using your constituent voice to engage your members of Congress will educate them (and their staff) on the importance of education funding overall, and for critical programs that support your work of training profession-ready educators for our nation’s classrooms. To help you be at the table, rather than on the menu, please consult AACTE’s Advocacy Center, where you’ll find downloadable guides, links to key policy contacts and information, and the link to sign up for our Action Alerts.

For further information on what is happening in Washington, DC, that affects educator preparation, join me for this month’s members-only Federal Update webinars, March 21 and 22 – free of charge, but registration is required.


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Deborah Koolbeck

Senior Director of Government Relations, AACTE