Unless members of Congress act quickly and come to a budget agreement the country will once again face a government shutdown starting October 1. That would mean cuts of 1.4 percent to education and all other non-defense discretionary programs including public health, housing, and social services.
These cuts would hurt our neediest children the most. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has already instructed the Connecticut Department of Social Services and similar agencies in other states not to process food stamps for October—which means that, even if budget issues are resolved, recipients will receive their benefits late.
An article from NEA’s Education Votes website states,
There’s no question another shutdown would be terrible for students; but some preventative measures might be just as damaging.
Congress will likely enact a short-term continuing resolution to keep the government funded at FY 2015 levels through November or December, which would at least ward off unnecessary turmoil for public schools, students, and families.
But lawmakers could eventually pass a year-long continuing resolution that would lock in the current austerity measures that are hurting our public schools. It would mean an automatic cut of up to 1.4 percent to education (and all non-defense discretionary programs, which include public health, medical research, infrastructure, and housing and social services). Find out how a year-long continuing resolution could affect key education programs here.
