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Proposed Budget Cuts for Disadvantaged Students Would Hit These States Hardest

By Andrew Ujifusa — May 24, 2017 2 min read
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President Donald Trump’s proposed education budget would cut close to 4 percent from traditional, formula-based Title I aid, the U.S. Department of Education program designated for disadvantaged students. And as part of that $578 million cut, big states (not surprisingly) would take the biggest overall dollar hit. For example, California would see a $61 million cut from its $1.83 billion in Title I aid in fiscal 2017. But which states would lose the biggest share of their previous Title I aid?

First, remember that Trump’s budget does include a $1 billion boost in overall Title I aid, which would bring it up to $15.9 billion. However, that $1 billion boost is earmarked for a new public school choice grant program for districts, not the regular formulas. It’s part of the Trump administration’s big push to expand public and private school choice.

And here’s a standard disclaimer: Trump’s budget plan is just a proposal and won’t be passed by Congress as written. In fact, even though the GOP controls Capitol Hill, lawmakers might disregard much of the administration’s blueprint.

But put aside the politics, as well as that $1 billion increase for public school choice. That $578 million cut in formula Title I aid would bring total Title I funding for districts down to just below $14.9 billion. Which states would have the biggest percentage loss from that pot of Title I? See our chart below, which includes whether a state voted for Trump or Democrat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential race:

The States Most Impacted by Proposed Trump Cuts to Formula Title I Aid
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(One set of electoral college votes in Maine went to Clinton, while another went to Trump.)

For the chart, we selected the 11 states whose regular Title I money would be cut by 4 percent or more in Trump’s proposed budget. We drew on this budget table from the Education Department for the chart.

Title I is the single largest federal budget program for K-12. Overall, Trump’s budget would cut $9.2 billion, or 13.5 percent, from the Education Department. Trump administration officials said the budget cuts at the Education Department and elsewhere at domestic agencies are designed to shift budget priorities in Washington and put more of a focus on defense and border security.

For a detailed list of changes to key programs in the Trump budget proposal for education, check out the interactive chart below:

Photo: Copies of President Donald Trump’s fiscal 2018 federal budget are laid out ready for distribution on Capitol Hill on May 23, 2017. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais).