Appropriations Bill Moves in Senate, Stalls in House

Last week the House and Senate full Appropriations Committees met to finalize their respective Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations bills.

During the House Committee’s “mark-up” of its bill, Chairman David Obey (D-WI) proposed a “manager’s amendment” which would have provided a $20 million increase to Perkins Basic State Grants, a number that Chairman Obey and Rep. John Peterson (R-PA) had agreed to the night before. However, the bill, including the amendment, did not receive a vote because as additional amendments were being brought before the committee, Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA) proposed an unusual “substitute amendment” which would have replaced the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations bill with the Interior and Environment Appropriations bill. The Democrats on the committee responded by moving to adjourn and the Appropriations Committee “mark-up” ended abruptly.

Although the complete bill, including the $20 million Perkins amendment, did not receive a vote, ACTE is hopeful that the increase will be included when the bill is next addressed. As of now, the House Appropriations Committee has allocated level funding at last year’s FY 2008 level for Perkins Basic State Grants ($1.160 billion) and National Programs ($7 million), however Tech Prep has received a $2 million increase ($105 million). The next step in the appropriations process is unclear. ACTE is still encouraging members to contact their Representative and ask for his/her support for an increase in Perkins funds through the amendment sponsored by Rep. Peterson. It is speculated that the appropriations process will not continue until after the election.

In comparison to the House, the Senate full Appropriations Committee was able to pass the FY 2009 Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations bill. In the Senate bill, the Perkins program (including Basic State Grants, National Programs, and Tech Prep) has been level funded at FY 2008 levels. It is unlikely that the bill will leave the committee to go to the Senate floor.

For more information on the budget/appropriations please see ACTE’s Web site.

MDRC Releases Report on Career Academies

At a briefing on Capitol Hill, MDRC, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization, released the report, Career Academies: Long-Term Impacts on Labor Market Outcomes, Educational Attainment, and Transitions to Adulthood, which is the culmination of a 15-year random assignment study of Career Academies in nine urban high schools around the country. The study followed the students from when they entered high school until eight years after their scheduled graduation. The main findings of the new report:

• Career Academies produced sustained earnings gains that averaged 11 percent (or $2,088) more per year for program participants — a $16,704 boost in total earnings over the eight years of follow-up.
• These impacts on earnings are concentrated among young men and students at risk of academic failure. Young men saw an annual earnings gain of 17 percent (or $3,731) — or nearly $30,000 over eight years.
• Students in the Career Academies transitioned to postsecondary education at the same rate as students in the traditional secondary courses. 
• Participants in Career Academies were more likely to be living independently with children and a spouse or a partner, compared to those in the study’s control group. Young men were more likely to be married and to be custodial parents.

A representative from Congressman George Miller's (D-CA), chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, office spoke at the briefing and said that research studies like this paper were vital to policymakers to make informed decisions on education reform.