Van Hollen: Trump’s Budget Leaves Maryland’s Children Behind

U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committees,released the following analysis of some of the impacts that the Trump budget would have on education in Maryland:

"President Trump's budget leaves Maryland's children behind," said Senator Van Hollen. "These proposals aren't just numbers, they are a statement of values - and it is clear that Donald Trump does not value public education. From afterschool programs to quality teachers to affordable higher education for low-income students, Trump's plan ignores the needs of Marylanders."

MARYLAND IMPACTS:

Slashes Department of Education funding by more than $9 billion:

·Eliminates the 21st Century Community Learning Program, which provided $15.5 million for Maryland afterschool programs in FY16. Students across the state - from Baltimore to Western Maryland to the Eastern Shore - would lose afterschool programs that are vital to developing academic and social skills.

·Eliminates the Supporting Effective Instruction Program, which is a new program in the Every Student Succeeds Act that updated the Teacher Quality State Grants program to recruit, support, and train high-quality teachers for high-need schools in Maryland. In FY14, the Maryland Department of Education received $32.4 million in funding for teacher training.

·Eliminates Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant program, which is used by colleges and universities across Maryland to help low-income students afford a college education.

Private schools over public schools:

·Diverts $250 million in federal taxpayer dollars away from public education to boost private schools.