Education Cuts from Stimulus Bill

The latest U.S. stimulus bill has felt like the greatest and possibly last hope for economic recovery. Education, it appears, will not be a major beneficiary. CNN reports that the following are being fully eliminated from the bill:

• $2 billion for Health Information Technology Grants

• $200 million for National Science Foundation

• $600 million for Title I (No Child Left Behind)

• $16 billion for school construction

• $3.5 billion for higher education construction

I don't know about you, but my state has eliminated cost of living increases this year and the colleges are experiencing 7-10% budget cuts from the general fund two years in a row. Without some assistance, I fear that we are going to continue to experience no wage increases, cuts in travel/professional development money, and decreases in services for faculty and staff. Ouch!