Statement on Administration’s Budget; Duncan to Speak

Anne L. Bryant, executive director of the National School Boards Association, issued the following statement on President Obama’sFY 2011 budget proposal: 

“We are heartened by the priority the Obama administration is putting on K-12 education, and there is some true innovation and creative thinking in the budget plan released today. Given the economic realities our nation is facing this is a good start. 

“However, some of the recommendations to shift money away from the poorest districts in the nation could pose a downside. 

“The focus on competitive grants and decision to provide no increase to Title I means rural districts and children in the poorest parts of the country will be left behind. Those districts do not have the capacity to compete for grants–unless you want to shift money from teachers to grant writers. 

“Since these proposals are tied to changes in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, we hope this will spur Congress to take action on the ESEA reauthorization this year.” 

Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will speak at NSBA’s annual Federal Relations Network conference at 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 1, 2010. This statement will be updated to reflect the Secretary’s remarks. Media are welcome to attend. 

Founded in 1940, the National School Boards Association (www.nsba.org) is a not-for-profit federation of state associations of school boards representing 95,000 local school board members throughout the United States. Its mission is to foster excellence and equity in public elementary and secondary education through local school board leadership. NSBA represents the school board perspective in working with federal government agencies and national organizations that impact education, and provides vital information and services to state associations of school boards throughout the nation.