In a landmark move, the Biden-Harris Administration officially unveiled the President’s Budget for the Fiscal Year 2025. This budget represents a pivotal step forward in the wake of significant achievements during the President’s tenure, including the creation of nearly 15 million jobs and a two-thirds reduction in inflation. The Budget is designed to sustain and enhance this progress by reducing costs for working families, fortifying Social Security and Medicare, investing in the nation and its people, and lowering the deficit through measures such as combatting fraud, trimming wasteful expenditure, and ensuring equitable contributions from affluent individuals and corporations.
“President Biden’s Budget marks a new era of educational excellence by prioritizing evidence-based strategies and partnerships that will transform outcomes across all stages of education,” emphasized U.S. Secretary of Education, Miguel Cardona. “Through these investments, we aim to deliver exceptional education to every student, create conducive learning environments, pave pathways to higher education and careers, and enhance affordability and accessibility for postsecondary education. By responding to the President’s directives, Congress has the opportunity to empower states and communities with invaluable resources to bolster a skilled and diverse teaching workforce, expand multilingual programs, bolster school-based mental health services, and address the needs of children and youth with disabilities. This budget underscores fiscal prudence while taking decisive steps to narrow the opportunity and achievement gaps. I eagerly anticipate collaborating with states, schools, and communities as they leverage these resources to advance access, opportunity, and excellence for all students.”
The Budget for Fiscal Year 2025 seeks $82.4 billion in discretionary Budget Authority, reflecting a $3.1 billion or a 4.0 percent increase from the fiscal year 2024 annualized Continuing Resolution (CR) level. This funding will enable targeted investments in the American populace to foster long-term prosperity. Within the U.S. Department of Education, the Budget aims to:
- Enhance Academic Excellence:Continuing the trend of unprecedented investments in high-need schools, while sustaining the academic recovery of students.
- An innovative proposal requests $8 billion in mandatory funding to assist States and schools in meeting their students’ critical needs, including increasing student attendance and engagement, providing high-dosage tutoring, and expanding summer, extended, and afterschool learning opportunities.
- Allocate $18.6 billion for Title I programs to bridge opportunity and achievement disparities in the nation’s schools and maintain programs that aid students’ academic recovery following the pandemic’s impact, an uptick of $200 million from FY 2023 levels.
- Dedicate $14.4 billion to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B, representing a $200 million increase from FY 2023 levels. Furthermore, there is an additional $5 million for Part B grants for preschool children with disabilities, another $5 million for Part C grants supporting infants, toddlers, and families, and a $10 million increase in grants to recruit and retain special education personnel.
- A new allocation of $25 million for school readiness through the Preschool Incentive Demonstration Program aims to encourage school districts to establish or expand free, high-quality preschool programs within school and community-based settings, including Head Start, for children eligible to attend Title I schools.
- Enhance Learning Conditions: Addressing educator shortages and supporting student mental health and well-being across all schools.
- An investment of $2.9 billion in educator preparation, development, and leadership—nearly $100 million more than FY 2023 levels—includes $30 million in Hawkins and $95 million in Teacher Quality Partnerships to cultivate a diverse and skilled educator workforce. Additionally, $125 million will tackle shortages of special education teachers and providers.
- A $200 million allocation to expand Full-Service Community Schools will enhance integrated student support for students and their families, marking a $50 million increase over FY 2023 enacted levels, more than doubling funding for this initiative since 2021.
- A total of $216 million for School Safety National Activities, notably earmarking $40 million to address the mental health needs of students, school staff, and teachers. This builds upon the Administration’s monumental strides in bolstering the number of school counselors, psychologists, social workers, and health professionals serving students within educational institutions.
- A proposed $25 million investment to aid colleges and universities in crafting campus-wide strategies to address basic needs and student mental health requirements, including hiring additional providers on campuses.
- The allocation of $162 million to the Department’s Office for Civil Rights—a $22 million or 16 percent increase from FY 2023 enacted levels—ensures the Department’s steadfast commitment to safeguarding equal access to education through the enforcement of civil rights laws.
- A series of proposed efforts aims to expand the outreach and impact of school-based services through Medicaid, thereby delivering essential physical, mental, and behavioral health services to schools to cater to students’ varied needs through routine health screenings, preventive care, occupational therapies, and more.
- Charting Paths for Global Engagement: Establishing comprehensive pathways to multilingualism and ensuring all students have opportunities for higher education and careers.
- An allocation of $940 million, a $50 million increase from the FY 2023 enacted level, aims to support English learners through research-proven bilingual education and language instruction programs under Title III.
- The Budget includes $1.5 billion for Career and Technical Education state grants, a $40 million increase, and a $57 million investment in the Career Connected High Schools program to revamp high school programs tailored toward career and college paths, aligning with postsecondary education systems.
- Enhancing Higher Education Access, Lowering Student Costs, and Fostering Student Support:
- A proposition to elevate the maximum Pell Grant award to $8,145, a $750 increase from the current level, aims to broaden access and affordability for an estimated 7.2 million students. The maximum Pell Grant award for students at proprietary institutions will be $7,495.
- A mandatory proposal advocates for partnerships between the federal government and states, territories, and tribes to institute two years of free community college for first-time students and workers seeking reskilling opportunities.
- The Budget introduces a fresh mandatory proposal aimed at lowering college costs. This initiative entails expanding dual enrollment through the Classroom to Career program, recognizing excellence through awards for institutions delivering quality education affordably, and scaling evidence-based strategies to reduce college expenses.
- The proposition includes the removal of origination fees on Federal Direct student loans.
- An allocation of $262 million will advance strategies to enhance postsecondary attainment, degree completion, and student success. This includes $100 million for Postsecondary Student Success Grants, $100 million for Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Community Colleges and Universities, and Minority Serving Institutions Research & Development Infrastructure Grants, $15 million for a Statewide Reform Grants program, $25 million for a Comprehensive Postsecondary Student Supports Success Program, $12 million through the Open Textbooks Pilot, and $10 million to establish a technical assistance center supporting postsecondary education advancement and success.
- The program will bolster institutional capacity at HBCUs, TCCUs, MSIs, and community colleges, with a $93 million increase from the FY 2023 level.
- Significant investments in the Office of Federal Student Aid amount to $2.66 billion, crucial for supporting student loan borrowers during their repayment phase, enhancing student loan servicing, and ensuring effective administration of financial aid programs.
The Budget underscores the President’s enduring legacy while achieving substantial deficit reduction through judicious spending cuts and equitable financial contributions from the affluent population.
For more details on the President’s FY 2025 Budget, please visit: https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/.
