Sequestration
Sequestration is defined as a procedure by which automatic spending cuts are triggered. Sequestration is set to be applied to federal discretionary funds, which include education, starting in January 2013. This has occurred due to the failure of the Congressional Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to develop a plan for budgetary savings. They were tasked with reducing the debt ceiling by at least $1.2 trillion over the next ten years. Since the Joint Committee was unable to come to a consensus on which programs to cut, sequestration will be executed. While there is little guidance and few answers coming from Washington DC on when, where, and how this will affect education funding, it has been said that reductions could be as high as 9.1% per year over the next ten years.
Although there are many factors that could still impact the implementation of sequestration (moratoriums, new reduction agreements, later implementation dates, etc), the Department wanted to share the following resources for staying current on this topic. More information and guidance will be posted as it becomes available.
Related Articles:
- M-13-06, Issuance of the Sequestration Order Pursuant To Section 251A ofthe Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as Amended (March 1, 2013) (1 page, 527 kb)
- OMB Report to the Congress on the Joint Committee Sequestration for Fiscal Year 2013 (March 1, 2013) (83 pages, 1.25 mb)
- OMB Bulletin No. 12-02, Supplement 1, Apportionment of the Continuing Resolution(s) for Fiscal Year 2013 (March 1, 2013) (2 pages, 1.05 mb)
- Alliance for Excellent Education Webinar
- American Association of School Administrators - Impact Aid
- Letter from Deputy Secretary Anthony Miller with Clarification on Impact of Sequestration
- National Title I Association Webinar on Funding
- ED Week Historical Funding by Program and Sequestration Impact
- US Department of Education Stakeholder Forum Transcript
- CBPP – How Across the Board Cuts Will Work
- NASTID – Member Newsletter on Sequestration
- NEA – Impact of Sequestration Including State Tables
Related Links: (search sequestration on each site for detailed information)
- American Association of School Administrators www.aasa.org
- Center on Budget & Policy Priorities www.cbpp.org
- Committee for Education Funding www.cef.org
- Council of Chief State School Officers www.ccsso.org
- Department of Defense www.defense.gov
- Education Week www.edweek.org/ew/index.html
- Federal Education Budget Project http://febp.newamerica.net/
- IDEA Money Watch www.ideamoneywatch.com
- National Education Association www.nea.org
- National School Boards Association www.nsba.org
- National Title I Association www.nationaltitleiassociation.org