Federal Budget Proposals Could Hit Rural School Funding
Representatives of CTA and the National Education Association are urging U.S. Senators and Congresspersons to support full funding for a federal program that provides appropriations to schools near or surrounded by national forest land.
Should California schools not receive their fair share of the federal funding, services to students in these schools and the jobs of more than 1700 school and county employees could be affected.
The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act has provided about $70 million in appropriations to California schools in areas hit by reduced forest land revenues. That act expired in 2006 and has not yet been renewed.
President George W. Bush’s proposed federal budget would provide some funding for the program, but would phase the program out over the next few years.
Rural schools have been receiving funding from the program for more than 100 years.
At press time, NEA representatives in Washington, D.C. were seeking support from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers for the programs, and members of the CTA NEA Board were working with CTA Contact Teams to mobilize members to contact their congressional representatives.