What will sequestration mean to education?

Sequestration is the process of cordoning off money that may have been authorized by Congress but is now prohibited from being spent. Literally, the money is being taken away from the federal agencies affected. In order to reduce the federal deficit, Congress asked the Super Committee to reach consensus on balanced cuts to the budget. Because the Super Committee failed to reach agreement on what programs to cut, automatic spending cuts (sequestration) will go into effect January 2013.

Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), who chairs the senate appropriations subcommittee that oversees nonmilitary spending, chose to center a hearing on these cuts to examine how the billions lost could affect America's schools.  Three federal programs critical to education across the country will be affected. 

Education Secretary urged Congress to find an alternative deficit-reduction plan that would not reduce the department's ability to serve students in high-poverty schools and improve schools with high dropout rates.

Full story is reported by the Associated Press.

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