[NLA] re: community colleges

[Debbie Yoho]

Mev, you know the answer to that.  But in case your question wasn't
rhetorical, the Bush adminstration wants A. to appear to support public
K-12 education, thereby co-opting the Democrats  and B. wants to show this
without spending any money.  So, if they take from adults, and give to
kids, both A and B will come true.    

Deborah W. Yoho
Co-moderator, NIFL-Health Listserv
President, SC Adult Literacy Educators
Executive Director, Greater Columbia Literacy Council
2728 Devine Street,  Columbia, SC  29205
803-765-2555   Fax  803-779-8417   dwyoho at earthlink.net


> [Original Message]
> From: mev at litwomen.org <mev at litwomen.org>
> To: NLA Literacy tent <nla at lists.literacytent.org>
> Cc: NIFL Povracelit <nifl-povracelit at literacy.nifl.gov>; NIFL Workplace
<nifl-workplace at literacy.nifl.gov>; NIFL Womenlit
<nifl-womenlit at literacy.nifl.gov>
> Date: 12/10/2002 4:02:02 PM
> Subject: [NLA] re: community colleges
>
> (cross-posted)
>
> For those of you with students who may be planning on community=20
> college, here's something else to worry about. Why is it that the Bush=20=
>
> administration seems so hell bent on taking away educational programs=20
> for adult learners -- directly or indirectly??!
> Mev
> ________________________
>
> Tuesday, December 10, 2002
>
> http://chronicle.com/daily/2002/12/2002121001n.htm
>
> Community Colleges Oppose Reported Plan to Eliminate $1.2-Billion=20
> Vocational-Education Program
> By JAMILAH EVELYN
>
> Washington
>
> Community-college officials are worried about reports that President=20
> Bush may soon propose eliminating the entire budget -- $1.2-billion --=20=
>
> for spending under the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical=20
> Education Act. The money would reportedly be used to deal with a=20
> growing deficit in the Pell Grant Program.
>
> Officials in both the White House's Office of Management and Budget
and=20=
>
> the U.S. Education Department's Office of Vocational and Adult=20
> Education, which administers the Perkins funds, declined to comment on=20=
>
> whether the administration was considering any cuts to the program.=20
> December is frequently a month in which administrations float ideas on=20=
>
> ways to deal with budget problems, and while some of those ideas find=20
> their way into the president's budget plan the next year, many others=20
> disappear.
>
> But many higher-education lobbyists cite "reliable sources" who say=20
> that when President Bush makes his budget proposal to Congress early=20
> next year, he may recommend entirely eliminating support for the=20
> program, which doles out some $1.2-billion annually to community=20
> colleges and secondary schools for skills-based training.
>
> In a speech last week at Borough of Manhattan Community College, Sen.=20
> Hillary Rodham Clinton, a Democrat from New York, said she had written=20=
>
> to the president, urging him not to rob "Perkins to pay for Pell."
>
> "Any threat to Perkins, even if it's only being considered, is=20
> extremely bothersome," said Ellynne Bannon, a legislative associate at=20=
>
> the American Association of Community Colleges, which is urging its=20
> members to write to members of Congress, particularly Republicans. "At=20=
>
> a time when most states are in a tough financial situation, the idea
of=20=
>
> cutting this critical funding source for community colleges is=20
> unimaginable."
>
> Officials at the community-college association note that the Bush=20
> administration has put in place new accountability measures that rate=20
> federal programs according to their effectiveness. Because Perkins=20
> money is spent by states in a variety of ways, the program generally=20
> does not fare well under performance indicators.
>
> Still, when word of the possible cut first spread, it caught officials=20=
>
> at many higher-education associations by surprise because they say the=20=
>
> Bush administration has been aggressive in planning for
reauthorization=20=
>
> of the Perkins Act, which Congress is scheduled to take up sometime=20
> next year.
>
> Christopher Simmons, assistant director of government relations at the=20=
>
> American Council on Education, said that he was shocked. "I find it=20
> really surprising that the administration that claims to be so=20
> dedicated to education would consider cutting one of the most
important=20=
>
> programs for community colleges," he said.
>
> It was not immediately clear how an elimination of funds would affect=20
> reauthorization of the act, but one higher-education lobbyist, who=20
> asked not to be named, said that it would make things "awkward at best."
>
> Higher-education institutions receive roughly 40 percent of Perkins=20
> funds, with the majority going to two-year colleges to help pay for=20
> equipment, staff development, remedial classes, and curriculum=20
> development, among other things. The remaining 60 percent goes to high=20=
>
> schools that focus on career education.
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Copyright =A9 2002 by The Chronicle of Higher Education
>
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