Obama Releases FY16 Budget – Focus on Education

This week President Obama released his FY16 budget.  The budget includes several key investments to support the education continuum by investing in the expansion of high-quality early learning programs, increasing equity and opportunity for all students; supporting teachers and school leaders; and improving access, affordability and student outcomes in college.

The proposed budget includes several investments in higher education:

  • America’s College Promise Initiative, which would partner with state’s to offer free tuition for the first two years of community college ($1.36 billion).
  • Full support for the Pell Grant program, including tying the maximum award to inflation beyond 2017 ($29.7 billion)
  • Simplification of the FAFSA
  • Expansion of job opportunities through the American Technical Training Fund, a joint effort with the Department of Labor ($200 million)
  • Simplification of Income-Driven student loan repayment plans
  • An increase in support for federal TRIO programs by $20 million ($860 million)
  • An increase in support for the First in the World program by $140 million ($200 million)

In addition to higher education, the budget makes several investments in early learning and K-12 education.  Among the highlights is funding to support the Preschool for All program to provide universal high-quality preschool programs for all four year-old from low- and moderate-income families and the Teaching for Tomorrow program to support changes in how states and districts recruit and prepare new teachers and strengthen professional support for teachers throughout their career.

The President’s proposed budget now goes to The Hill for consideration.

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