Noelle Ellerson AASA April 2012 Sequestration and the Schools This is an audio slide show. Click on the speaker icon at the bottom of each slide.

Noelle EllersonAASA

April 2012

Sequestration and the Schools

This is an audio slide show. Click on the speaker icon at the bottom of each slide.

Sequestration 101How did we get here?What is it?What does it mean?Talking PointsWhat can I do?Resources

How Did We Get Here?• Stems from Debt Ceiling Debate, Summer

2011• Resulted in Budget Control Act which,

among other things, created bipartisan, bicameral Joint Deficit Commission

• 12 member committee tasked with identifying $1.2 trillion in cuts/savings over 10 years

• Failed to produce plan, triggering sequestration

What Is Sequestration?Sequestration = automatic, across-the-

board cuts Process ‘triggered’ in Jan. 2012, cuts will

come Jan. 2013Impacts almost all aspects of federal

budget; ALL programs in USED except PellInitial CBO estimates placed sequestration

cuts at 7.8%; more likely to be at 9.1%

What Does It Mean?Real-time, mid-year cutsRemember the Title I and IDEA adjustments

in Oct 2011? Similar concept, except deeper.

Cuts to USED will be between $3.5 and $4.1 billion

Estimated Education Impact at 7.8% level:Title I: $1.1 billionIDEA $978 millionPerkins:$136 millionHead Start: $590 million

Talking PointsCuts are coming, whether through

sequestration or Congressional actionCongress could act to identify blend of

spending cuts, revenue (taxes) and mandatory spending (Medicare) reform

Congressional action would likely still include cuts to education, but to a much lesser extent

Talking Points• Congress gave themselves the work of

identifying$1.2 trillion in savings• If we get to sequestration, it is because

Congress failed to act.• Sequestration is a blunt instrument, cutting

all programs without considering demand, effectiveness, or return on investment.

• Efforts to exempt portions of the budget (i.e., defense) simply amplify the severity of cuts to education

What Can I Do?• Contact your Senators and Representative

and urge them to support Congressional efforts to pick up the work of the Super Committee

• Use the Invoice on the ‘Resources’ slide to let your Congressional delegation know how the sequestration cuts would impact your district

• Work with your Board to explain to the community what sequestration is and how it would effect your district

ResourcesComplete a Sequestration Invoice and send

it to your Congressional delegation.Sign the Committee for Education Funding

petition to avoid sequestration.MORE Talking PointsHow will sequestration impact advanced

funded programs? Check out the AASA blog.

Questions?

Noelle EllersonAssistant Director, Policy Analysis & AdvocacyAmerican Association of School Administrators

[email protected]

For the latest AASA Advocacy updates, Check out the advocacy blog

Follow us on Twitter (@Noellerson)!