The bill also follows administration and House recommendations for these programs:
- HBCU graduate institutions: $58.5 million, a $500,000 increase;
- Hispanic-serving institutions: $95.8 million, up $700,000; and
- Tribal colleges and universities: $23.8 million, same as current funding.
But the bill would preserve the Carl D. Perkins Act, the main federal program that supports technical and career education. The White House had called for termination of this initiative to help fund its new high school improvement effort. The Perkins Act supports both high school and post-secondary technical education programs.
Instead of terminating this program and creating another, the Senate bill would provide level funding for Perkins at $1.3 billion. The House made a similar recommendation earlier this summer.
The House and Senate will meet in late summer or early fall to resolve differences between the two bills. Also looming on the horizon is the possibility of new education budget cuts that may be needed to reconcile spending bills with the budget goals adopted earlier this year.
© Copyright 2005 by DiverseEducation.com
