Funding: Looking Closer At The FY11 Request

A couple of things you should keep in mind about the proposed education increases that are being bandied about:

The proposed $4B funding increase is 6.2 percent from FY2010 levels, not current ARRA levels. If it was 6.2 percent above ARRA (base plus ARRA) would be more like a $10 billion increase.

The billion dollar NCLB reauthorization bonus is merely proposed, not a reality. Such language has been used past budget resolutions as a contingency provision, but it's not typical for education and "does seem a bit gimmicky," says Joel Packer of CEF and the Raben Group, who calls it a "competitive grant for Congress."

The appropriators (Obey, etc.) don't have to do any of what the White House and USDE propose if they don't want to, and often do their own thing. They've been grumbling all week about being put into a box by the President.

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