New Bush FY 2005 Budget for No Child Left Behind Comes Up Short
AFT Chart Shows What Each State Could Have Bought with Promised Money

Washington, D.C. – Early figures reveal that the Bush administration’s fiscal year 2005 budget once again shortchanges billions of promised dollars that states need to help disadvantaged students and accomplish the goals of No Child Left Behind (NCLB), the American Federation of Teachers said today, citing budget figures recently released by the Congressional Research Service.

AFT released a state-by-state chart showing the gap between Bush’s 2005 budget for NCLB’s Title I -- which is targeted for disadvantaged students -- and what is needed to fully fund the program. The chart also illustrates the types of initiatives that could be funded with the necessary resources.

AFT President Sandra Feldman lauded No Child Left Behind’s standards and accountability measures but contends they are being threatened because of serious underfunding.

"The White House and Congress can’t have it both ways -- tout the law as a giant step forward but deny billions of dollars to carry out its requirements," Feldman said. "If we want to reap the benefits of this important law, we must keep our eye on the ball and focus on -- and support -- the programs that improve student achievement."

The following is a list of each state’s Title I funding gap and what the money could buy if a state’s entire shortfall was spent on one of the following programs -- smaller class sizes; prekindergarten; Kindergarten-Plus, which offers instruction in the months before and after kindergarten; and certifying uncertified teachers. Figures for the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico were not available. (Note: See end of chart for costs per pupil/per teacher for each of the programs.)

Download full press release including state-by-state chart (pdf, 338K)

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The AFT represents more than 1.3 million pre-K through 12th-grade teachers, paraprofessionals and other school support employees, higher education faculty, nurses and other healthcare workers, and state and local government employees.