More money for schools contemplating layoffs furloughs & other cuts? It could happen if a bill set to be introduced by Sen. Tom Harkin D-Iowa gains traction. The measures $23 billion Education Jobs Fund would be based on the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund in the economic-stimulus package according to Harkins office.
Harkin who is the chairman of both the Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions Committee and the Senate Appropriations subcommittee that oversees education spending is set to release a bill that would provide $23 billion to help schools keep teachers and other staff on the payroll once funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act dry up (the
so-called funding cliff youve heard so much about).
The money could be used for compensation and benefits to hold onto existing employees and to hire new staff to provide early childhood K-12 or post-secondary services.
It could also be used for on-the-job training for education-related careers. This bill matters because the Senate has been the hold-up when it comes to edu-job aid.
The
House of Representatives approved legislation late last year that would also include $23 billion in new education aid.
That bill passed by a surprisingly slim margin possibly because some lawmakers are antsy about spending more on economic stimulus as the mid-term elections get closer.
The Senate has passed other jobs legislation but so far no major money for education
budgets.
To help get momentum on the issue Rep. George Miller D-Calif. the chairman of the
House Education & Labor Committee introduced yet
another bill to help stave off education job losses. Like the bill already passed by the House it includes the $23 billion for edu-jobs plus support for local governments.
Harkin could have an uphill task in getting his Senate colleagues to support more money for schools. Hes holding a hearing later this week that will serve as an infomercial for his bill highlighting major layoffs and programmatic cuts that could ensue in schools without more federal aid.
The witnesses include Ray Cortines the schools chief in Los Angeles whose district is in famously terrible fiscal shape.
It will be interesting to see if Republicans seem persuaded to support more money for
schools.
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will also be at the hearing to talk about the administrations fiscal year 2011 budget proposal.
Watch to see if Harkin tries to pin him down on whether more education aid is needed.
So far the administration hasnt officially asked for the second round of aid.
