On Friday, the Trump Administration released additional materials as part of the proposed “skinny budget” for the Fiscal Year 2026, which, according to The School Superintendents Association, potentially blocks more than $6 billion for crucial K12 programs.
According to the new details sent to Congress, the 1,224-page appendix outlines the administration’s spending plans in detail, further elaborating on the abbreviated “skinny budget” proposed last month, which, overall, called for $163 billion in cuts to federal spending, including K12 programs.
The administration’s most recent proposal offers 10-year estimates of federal spending, revenue and deficits, as well as projections of economic growth, interest rates and other important indexes, The Washington Post reports. It would result in a nearly 15% reduction to the U.S. Department of Education’s budget.
AASA’s response to ‘skinny budget’
Shortly after the Trump Administration announced the budget details, AASA published a blog covering the good, the bad and the ugly implications projected for K12 if the budget were to pass.
The good news, “where ‘good’ is relative,” writes AASA, is that Title I, Part A, a formula grant that improves basic programs operated by local education agencies, would receive level funding. Trump also proposed an increase of $677 million for IDEA, totaling $14.9 billion.
However, AASA writes that these increases are “more performative than functional, given consideration or cuts to various special education programs that were previously funded at roughly $676 million.”
Overall, the Trump Administration only proposes increased funding for the Charter School grant program and proposes level funding for three programs: Impact Aid, Indian Education and the Perkins CTE program.
Furthermore, the proposal calls for a K12 Simplified Funding Program, which would “consolidate most currently funded formula and competitive grant programs for elementary and secondary education into a single State formula grant program.” The intent is to provide flexibility to districts and mitigate administrative burdens, the administration says.
AASA warns that the total for this block grant would be $2 billion and cut programs that total more than $6 billion, which is “a significant reduction in resources and investments for K12 education,” AASA writes.
“Most notable, Title II, REAP, Title IV, Parts A and B, and McKinney-Vento are all proposed to be part of the consolidation block grant—and do not receive any specified funding for FY26.”
According to AASA, the following programs were not included in the K12 Simplified Funding Program and would be eliminated:
- Title I, Part C
- Title III
- Teachers and School Leader Incentive Grants
- Supporting Effective Educator Development Grants
- Full-Service Community Schools
“We anticipate an FY26 budget process that focuses on deep cuts the president and Congress were unable to realize in FY25, and today’s budget details affirm that hunch,” AASA writes. “However, it is important to note that any final spending package will need bipartisan support to pass the Senate, making these drastic cuts unlikely to be finalized in the current Congress.”
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