President Biden released his fiscal year 2024 budget request last week, outlining the Administration’s plan for overcoming the inequities brought to light by the pandemic and exacerbated by historic inflation and economic uncertainty. IEL celebrates this proposed budget for fiscal year 2024 as it makes critical investments in programmatic support for children, families, and communities.
Specifically, we are pleased to see the following proposed increases or level funding aligned with our Policy by the People agenda:
Education:
- $368 million for Full-Service Community Schools, a $218 million increase over the FY 2023 enacted level.
- $20.5 billion for Title I, a $2.2 billion increase in funding from the previous fiscal year.
- $578 million investment to increase the number of counselors, nurses, school psychologists, social workers, and other health professionals in schools. This investment is in addition to the $1 billion in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act to expand access to mental health care in schools.
- $16.8 billion for Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) grants to States, an increase of $2.1 billion above the FY 2023 enacted level.
- $1.2 billion for the English Language Acquisition (ELA) program, an increase of $305 million over the 2022 enacted level.
- $1.3 billion for the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers.
- $3 billion for improving educator preparation, development, and leadership, including $303 million to increase the number of special education teachers—an increase of $13 million above the FY 2023 level, and $132 million for Teacher Quality Partnerships to build a diverse and well-prepared teacher pipeline—an increase of $62 million in funding from the previous fiscal year.
- A proposed $500 increase to the Pell Grant for the 2024-2025 award year, bringing the maximum grant award to $8,215 and expanding access to higher education for over 6.8 million students.
- $500 million to establish a discretionary grant program to provide up to two years of free community college for students enrolled in high-quality programs that lead to a four-year degree or a well-paying job.
- An increase of $429 million in funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs), and Community Colleges.
- $178 million for the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, a 27-percent increase compared to the fiscal year 2023 enacted level.
Workforce Development:
- $120 million for the Youth Mentoring Program grant, an increase of $13 million over the fiscal year 2023 enacted level.
- $1.4 billion for Career and Technical Education state grants—an increase of $43 million above the fiscal year 2023 level—and includes $200 million for the Career-Connected High Schools Initiative.
- $335 million to expand access to Registered Apprenticeships, a $50 million increase above the fiscal year 2023 enacted level. This additional funding will expand opportunities in high-growth fields while increasing the number of workers from historically underrepresented groups participating in Registered Apprenticeships.
Foundational Supports:
- $1.8 billion for the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME), an increase of $300 million over the fiscal year 2023 enacted level, to construct and rehabilitate affordable rental housing and provide homeownership opportunities.
- $3.7 billion for Homeless Assistance Grants to expand assistance to approximately 25,000 additional households, including homeless youth.
- $7.1 billion for critical nutrition programs, including $15 billion over ten years to increase the number of states and schools participating in the Community Eligibility Provisions to provide healthy and free school meals to an additional nine million children.
“In light of current economic uncertainty, we are excited to see the proposed 2024 federal budget makes investments that will advance equity and opportunity in communities across the country,” says IEL President Eddie Koen.
We look forward to working with the Administration, Congress, relevant federal agencies, and our national, state, and local partners to advocate for these funding proposals for FY 2024. Please help us advocate by contacting your members of Congress and urging them to support these funding increases.