Fiscal Year 2006 Education and Workforce Programs, Final Appropriations
Department of Labor:
Community College Initiative: $125 million was appropriated
for the President’s Community College Initiative, half the President’s
request. Eligibility for funding—which had been limited to
community colleges—will expand to include One-Stop Career
Centers (the Labor Department’s nationwide network of employment
and training centers established under the Workforce
Investment Act).
Department of Education:
Education Technology: The President had proposed eliminating
funding for education technology grants to the states. The Congress
did not go along with these plans. $272 million will be available for
grants in FY 06.
Pell Grants: $13 billion was appropriated for Pell Grants, a major
source of assistance to pay tuition costs for postsecondary education
and vocational training. This funding supports a maximum grant of
$4,050, the same as last year. The numbers requesting assistance
each year exceed the amounts allocated to fund the program, leaving
a deficit for the succeeding year. Advocates of the program maintain
that level funding is therefore tantamount to a cut. |
