Federal Teacher Subsidies Plan Stalls

A proposal to spend $23 billion nationally to avert teacher layoffs stalled on May 27, according to news reports. David Obey, the Wisconsin congressman who is chair of the House Appropriations Committee, cancelled a meeting to insert the proposal into a war spending bill. Meanwhile, Sen. Tom Harkin, the chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, noted that he lacked the necessary votes.

It was estimated that the bill could have prevented the layoffs of some 300,000 teachers, support staff members and others. The bill would have directed funds to each state, which would then distribute the money to school districts based on state formulas or the federal formula for Title I aid to disadvantaged students. The local districts could then use the funds in pre-K to 12 schools to restore jobs, hire new staff or for compensation and training.

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