Dennis Kucinich: “the vast education cuts brought before us today in this conference agreement and additionally in the budget…”

“the vast education cuts brought before us today in this conference agreement and additionally in the budget reconciliation package that we may see today, are telling signs of the priorities of this Congress. These cuts demonstrate, far better than words ever could, that education is not a priority for this House. This conference agreement provides a mere $11 million increase for Head Start, a pivotal program for preschool-aged children in low-income families across the Nation. At current funding levels, Head Start serves approximately half of the children eligible for its services, a wholly inadequate proportion. This program, which has repeatedly been found to dramatically improve the academic performance of students deserves much more than an $11 million increase. The conference agreement cuts school improvement funding by 6 percent and flat funds teacher quality grants. These grants, which are used to recruit qualified teachers and support teacher development, are critically important to efforts to improve student achievement. Rather than strengthening the Pell Grant Program and increasing access to higher education for low-income students, the conference agreement maintains the current maximum Pell Grant of $4,050. At this level, the maximum Pell Grant only covers 39 percent of tuition at the average four-year public college, making a mockery of its status as the foundation of student aid for the poorest students. What are our priorities?…”