“We must never lose sight of our mission: providing each child with the chance to pursue a great education in a safe and nurturing environment.” – Secretary Betsy DeVos, March 20, 2017

President Trump believes that every student – regardless of background or circumstance – deserves to fulfill his or her potential. High-quality educational opportunities are critical when it comes to achieving that goal, especially for our most vulnerable students and communities.

That’s why the President prioritized protecting students from traditionally underserved groups in his 2018 Budget, especially by providing consistent, level funding of:

• $14.9 billion for the core Title I Grants to Local Education Agencies (LEAs), which will support state and local efforts to ensure students in high-poverty schools have access to rigorous coursework and teaching. Title I Grants impact more than 25 million students, as the Trump Administration works toward helping all students meet challenging state academic standards.

 

• $12.7 billion for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which will maintain funding for support services that help America’s 6.8 million children with disabilities. In addition to highlighting best practices in educating students with disabilities – like the MI Hidden Talent initiative – Secretary DeVos has highlighted the importance of empowering “families with the supports they need in the learning environments that best suit their children’s individual needs.” This funding will help states in their ongoing work to design and implement improvement efforts under the Department’s Results Driven Accountability Framework.

 

• $736 million for the English Language Acquisition program, which will implement effective language instruction educational programs that help students attain English Language proficiency.

The Budget also includes $492 million for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), Minority-Serving (MSI), and Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) through the Higher Education Act under Titles III and V. Secretary DeVos has recognized these institutions for their continued efforts to ensure all students have access to a world-class education. Through this investment, the Trump Administration hopes that more of tomorrow’s teachers, doctors, judges, engineers and other professionals will emerge from HBCUs, MSIs, and HSIs.

In today’s 21^st century economy, we can’t afford to waste even one day in building American’s talent and potential. The FY 2018 budget will protect the nation’s most valuable asset – its people – by making good on its commitment to all students, with additional help for the most vulnerable.

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