President Barack Obama'southward budget proposal for next year calls for funding increases for education, with early childhood programs, teacher development and preparation initiatives, and a push for free community college tuition among the highlights.

The president is asking for $71 billion in discretionary funding for the U.Southward. Department of Education – a 5.four pct increase over current funding, according to budget information released Monday. The package was part of Obama's overall $4 trillion budget proposal for 2016.

Amidst the highlights:

  • $750 meg – a $500 million increase – to expand the Preschool Development Grants plan, which helps increase preschool options for children from low- and moderate-income families. The president is also calling for $75 billion over the side by side 10 years for his Preschool for All proposal, to expand preschool offerings to four-year-olds.
  • $5 billion over the next 5 years for a "Teaching for Tomorrow" plan to support preparation and recruitment of new teachers, and professional development for electric current teachers.
  • $60.3 billion to offer two years of free community higher to students making steady progress toward a degree.
  • $200 million for a new "American Technical Preparation Fund" to promote job preparation programs in high-demand fields.
  • $125 million for a new competitive grant programme to "redesign" high school, especially for programs that focus on scientific discipline, engineering and math instruction.

Additional information on the budget proposal is available from the White Firm here. Read Educational activity Week'due south analysis here.

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