Sequestration and Native Education Clint J Bowers Sequestration
Sequestration and Native Education Clint J. Bowers
Sequestration and Native Education • The Fiscal Year 2013 sequester cut over $2 billion from federal education programs resulting in major impacts on schools and programs serving Native children. • Tribal Leaders must convey the importance of investing in the education of Native youth. • Tell Congress and the Administration to work together to prioritize funding cuts and programs so education programs and schools serving Native children are held harmless from sequestration. • Deficit reduction must be implemented in a balanced method that does not place the harmful burden of spending cuts on the most vulnerable populations.
Head Start and Early Education • Early education funding through Head Start provides comprehensive services for underprivileged children, which includes Native children. • Nationally, sequestration has reduced funding by over $400 million, which equates to nearly 60, 000 fewer children served in Head Start and Early Head Start. • If sequestration continues into 2014, thousands more families will be not be served by Head Start as one-time budget remedies possible in 2013 will be exhausted by 2014.
Impact Aid • Impact Aid makes up the majority of funding for the top 25 school districts most reliant on federal funding. • $67 million in cuts to Impact Aid have affected the operation of 710 schools and the services provided to approximately 115, 000 Native students. • Some schools and tribes have the capacity to provide supplemental resources for any budget shortfalls, but this is not universal. • The federal government must uphold the federal trust responsibility to fully fund Native education.
Sequestration Effects on Schools • Shannon County Independent School District • Heart Butte School District • Harlem Elementary School District • Gallup Mc. Kinley County Public School System
Sequestration and Higher Education • Higher education institutions also face budget problems related to sequestration. • Some Tribal Colleges and Universities will shift costs to employees, freeze salaries, and reduce services during the summer sessions. • Cancellation of Native language programs
Talk to Congress • With senators and representatives returning to Congress, now is the perfect opportunity to make Native education a priority. • Tribes can utilize the Political Districting system at NIEA. org for contact information for congressional members and their field office staff. Tell congress that: – Federal funding often makes up the majority of a Native-serving school's budget and is needed for basic school operations. – Native education should be held harmless from sequestration cuts as part of the federal trust responsibility.
For More Information Clint J. Bowers cbowers@niea. org Learn More About NIEA www. NIEA. org Facebook. com/NIEAFan. Page @Were. NIEA on Twitter
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