NEA, Congress 'Will Fight Bush Education Trims"
Jarrett Acey and Edwin Reyes

Hispanic Link reporters Jarrett Acey and Edwin Reyes interviewed the highest-ranking Hispanic in the 2.7 million-member National Education Association, Secretary-Treasurer Lily Eskelsen, on how she sees NEA and the Congress responding to the budget proposal submitted to Congress by President Bush this month. Here, in summary, are her responses.

Hispanic Link: Overall, how will the President’s proposed budget cuts affect U.S. public education?

Lily Eskelsen: Of all his proposals that completely eliminate programs, one third are in education. President Bush’s word that he wants to leave no child behind does not match his budget priorities for public education.

HL: What about Hispanics and other students of color? Will they feel the effects disproportionate?

LE: "Absolutely. They’re eliminating school dropout prevention programs and safe and drug-free school grants completely. The cuts also include college preparation programs that provide opportunities for students in disadvantaged schools and communities. There are successful programs we’ve worked very hard to build over the years that are on the chopping block.

The budget is very, very detrimental for minority families who often fall in the lower income brackets, where the parents did not receive enough schooling and are desperate to end that cycle of minimum-wage jobs by getting their kids good postsecondary training.”

HL: What are some specific federal programs it eliminates?

LE: There’s Upward Bound, which focuses mostly on motivating and training individual students. And GEAR UP, for low-income students in inner cities, especially those who don’t have college graduates in their homes. It provides mentors who can prepare them, take them on campus visits to make them familiar and comfortable with the college atmosphere.

Other programs marked for elimination focus on children in migrant farmworker families.

HL: What about the impact on Pell Grants?

LE: Pell Grants are going to be increased by a tiny $100 with a maximum award of $4,050. Costs to students at some universities are $10,000 or more. , The average grant is $2,400. But they changed the formula that calculates whether you qualify for a Pell Grant, and under the new formula a family would have to make a lot less money.

For instance, under the new formula 90,000 families who now qualify will be ineligible, above the line, and 1.3 million families that would continue to qualify would get less than they received before, so where the budget gave with one hand it took away with the other.

HL: What’s the feedback you’re getting from teachers and parents around the country?

LE: They’re saying the President has to be kidding. These are successful programs. They’re saying that if education is a priority, we need more money for such programs to make educational success for Hispanic kids and all kids to become a reality.

Minority advocate groups, civil rights groups, disability groups — everybody is shouting with one voice that this budget doesn’t reflect this nation’s priorities.”

HL: How do you read the reaction on Capitol Hill?

LE: We’re quite encouraged. We’re hearing that a lot of Republicans and virtually a unanimous chorus of Democrats see this budget in need of major, major revisions. .

HL: What is NEA doing about it?

LE: We’re certainly not sitting down. With huge tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans, we’re not accepting that the money isn’t there. We will do a full court press with Congress here in Washington.

But our most powerful voices are those spread across the country — our own members and parents and students themselves, who know that the best investment we can make in national security is in public education. They aren’t the least bit intimidated about debating that point with their elected representatives or with the President himself.

© 2005, Hispanic Link News Service
02/20/05
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