HIGHLIGHTS

President Makes Education the Top Priority in FY13 Budget

President Obama has released his budget proposal for fiscal year 2013.  Building on his top priority to boost the middle class and promote economic fairness, President Obama made clear in his budget that high-quality education is absolutely critical to rebuilding our economy, and that a strengthened American workforce requires that we continue to invest in education.  The President’s emphasis on education is evidenced by the fact that education is targeted for the single largest percentage increase of any discretionary item in the entire federal budget.   

Highlights of the President’s budget include:

• Considerable focus on ensuring greater college and career access for all students
  
• Targeting of significant resources toward job creation, including $30 billion for school modernization projects that will create jobs and $25 billion to help states and localities retain and hire teachers, education support professionals, and first responders.
  
• Emphasis on increasing the quality of teacher preparation and making sure that all educators are prepared when they step into the classroom. 

NEA praised the President’s budget as clearly showing “the president’s commitment to keeping teachers in classrooms, which will help address growing class sizes, and to providing assistance to states and locals facing tough economic times.”  Read NEA’s press release. 

Congress will begin work soon on the congressional budget resolution for fiscal year 2013.  Members of Congress need to hear strong support for the President’s proposals to make education a top priority.

Take Action Today:  Urge Congress to pass a budget resolution that reflects the President’s emphasis on education as a top priority. 

DO YOUR STUDENTS HAVE THE SAFE, MODERN SCHOOLS AND CAMPUSES THEY DESERVE?

 Across the nation, far too many students are learning in schools and on campuses with leaky roofs and peeling paint in overcrowded classrooms with out-of-date or no technology.  Senator Brown (D-OH) and Representative DeLauro (D-CT) have introduced the Fix America’s Schools Today Act (S. 1597/H.R.2948), which would provide needed funds to ensure students the learning environments so essential to their success.  And, the bill will also help create good jobs to put Americans back to work, as construction and building repair generally create 9,000-10,000 jobs per billion dollars spent.

Take Action Today: 

• Tell your Members of Congress to put Americans back to work and ensure our children the education they deserve by supporting school and campus modernization.
• Share your story -- Keep the stories coming.  We are using your stories to help put pressure on Members of Congress to do the right thing and focus on creating a great public school for every student.