Dr. Sieu Looks at the Impact of Sequestration on Education

To the ABC Community:

As many of us are aware, without Congressional intervention, automatic budget cuts from sequestration will take effect on March 1. California has just begun a recovery from state level cuts of over $20 billion to education spending over the past five years. With the passage of Proposition 30 last November, our District was spared from cutting an additional $16 million for 2013-2014. Under the Governor’s proposed budget, State funds will allow us to stabilize our budget for the next several years. However, the proposed budget will not be fully realized until the Legislature passes the budget by the end of June.

So how will the federal sequestration affect ABCUSD? According to the State Superintendent, Tom Torlakson, sequestration cuts could represent a $262 million funding reduction to California’s federal education program. These include estimated cuts of $91 million for Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act intended to improve education for socio-economically disadvantaged students; $72 million in special education funding for programs that serve the needs of students with disabilities; $6.9 million for Career and Technical Education and $9.6 million in funding for English learners.

Should the sequestration cuts occur, the District’s federal funds to support these programs will need to be reduced immediately. Ten percent of the District’s total budget is supported by federal revenue. Even if the cuts represent a reduction of 5% of these federal funds, they come at a crucial time in our District. We are held to greater accountability measures for every student including those who are socio-economically disadvantaged, English language learners and students with disabilities. We expect to have all our students college and career ready. The continuous reduction of federal funds to support these programs will have an impact on them in the long term.

- Dr. Mary Sieu

Superintendent, ABC Unified School District