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To sustain our strong innovation economy, our country must have a deep, highly skilled, diverse talent pool. That means that all U.S. students need an outstanding K–12 education that fosters the key durable skills, STEM competencies, artificial intelligence (AI) literacy, and digital fluency they will need to meet employers' needs and thrive in workplaces. We can't put off instilling these skills in college—not every workforce-headed youth goes to college.
Instead, the House Appropriations Committee has approved billions of dollars in funding cuts to key education programs and the full House is expected to vote on the cuts soon.
With legislators poised to eliminate essential investments in K-12 education, how can we make sure our youth are ready for the future? How will we meet the demand for workers with high-tech skills? How will our country remain competitive?
We can't and we won't. These cuts stand to significantly shortchange our students, including those in rural areas where opportunity is already lacking. Federal support for K-12 education plays a pivotal role in growing a strong workforce. Bereft of a system of education that supports opportunity for all, the U.S. will lose its status as a world leader.
The cuts are ill-timed given the vital workforce development investments supported by both parties, most notably the CHIPS (Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors) and Science Act. While this Act seeks to reposition our nation as a leading semiconductor chip manufacturer, the U.S. manufacturing workforce and our workforce as a whole is rapidly aging and retiring. If we want to realize the potential of the CHIPS Act, we need to act quickly to create a robust pipeline of educated youth.
Here is a quick overview of some of the cuts that are underway.
Cutting Support for Youth in Low-Income Communities
On Wednesday 7/11, the House Appropriations Committee approved a proposal to cut $4.7 billion from the Title I program, the goal of which is to "provide all children significant opportunity to receive a fair, equitable, and high-quality education." This program is a lifeline for schools, teachers, and students in low-income communities. Without this funding, young people from low-income communities will not have the education they need to be successful in the workforce.
Defunding Education Research and Support for Data-Driven Decision-Making
In the week of July 29, the House is expected to vote on the Committee's proposed plan to defund the Regional Educational Laboratories (REL) program, which leads research to learn what strategies improve teaching and supports school and district leaders in using data and research findings to boost student outcomes. In the Committee's rationale, they note that states can use their (decreased) Title I funding to pay for the services currently provided by the REL program.
Weakening STEM Education and Workforce Development
Last week, the Committee approved a $172 million cut to the National Science Foundation's Directorate for STEM Education. The Directorate works to foster a future-ready innovation workforce of scientists, technicians, engineers, mathematicians, and educators by improving STEM education for learners of all ages. This cut will significantly hamper our country's ability to stand toe-to-toe and compete with the scientific and technological prowess of other nations.
While the Committee proposes to increase funding for career and technical education (CTE), leaders from the CTE field have expressed grave concerns about the cuts to other programs in a recent press release issued by ACTE and Advance CTE. In the release, they shared an impassioned call to action: "We urge lawmakers in the House to reconsider this funding proposal and, at minimum, maintain federal appropriations for the many education and workforce development programs that provide learners essential services and pathways into CTE."
This is a critical point. Everything in our system of education connects. As in domino toppling, when you knock one piece down there will be a chain reaction and more pieces will fall. For example, a child in an underfunded Title I school with poor access to high-quality STEM learning will not gain the skills and knowledge they need to pursue the exciting, expanded array of CTE opportunities that grow from increased funding.
We stand with ACTE and Advance CTE and second their call to action. Beyond question, these planned and proposed cuts will weaken the foundation of our country's education system and workforce at a time when we need to double down on our investments in our youth, their future, and the future of our country.
Sarita Pillai is a vice president and director of STEM and Workforce Success at Education Development Center.
Andrés Henríquez is director of STEM Education Strategy at Education Development Center.
The views expressed in this article are the writers' own.
