Education advocates to Congress: Pass a real budget

11-30-2010

Blog by Alyson Klein/Education Week

It looks like states and school districts wondering whether they'll see an increase in federal funding this year may have to wait a bit longer. The lame-duck Congress may give itself a little extra time to figure out just what it wants to do about the fiscal year 2011 budget, lobbyists have told me. As you might remember, Congress didn't get its act together to pass the fiscal 2011 appropriations bill before the midterm elections. That fiscal year started on Oct. 1, and the federal government has been operating under a bill extending all programs at fiscal year 2010 levels since then. The bill expires Dec. 3—this Friday. Congress may pass another, short-term extension later this week, giving itself another week or two to figure out what to do next, advocates say. Lawmakers essentially have a choice between a) trying to put together a giant spending bill or b) extending funding for key education programs, and the rest of the budget, at fiscal 2010 levels until the end of fiscal 2011, which ends on Sept. 30. They could also go with option c) pass a shorter term extension, just until the new, more conservative Congress is in place. (more…)

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Education advocates to Congress: Pass a real budget

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