Letter: Give politicians the message: Keep education funding

Despite overwhelming public support for increased spending on education -- and despite unprecedented economic growth -- tight federal spending limits threaten to force the largest federal education cut in history.

The proposed 12 percent cut would mean a potential loss of almost $4 billion for America's classrooms, including $1 billion from Title I programs for our most disadvantaged students.

Federal funding plays a vital role in education, including helping students learn math and reading skills, reducing class size, providing services to students with disabilities, providing professional development to assure quality teachers, helping to keep schools safe and drug-free, and making college affordable for low- and middle-income families.

Yet if Congress does not act to increase spending limits, federal education funding here in Nevada is projected to drop from $112,205,001 to $98,740,410 -- a loss of $13,464,601 in critical education funds for the coming school year.

Americans have never before enjoyed such prosperity, and our federal budget has never been better prepared to meet the challenge of educating all of our children. The last thing we should be considering is a reduction in education spending.

Instead of cutting education spending, Congress should provide a 15 percent increase in education funding to ensure that all students attend modern schools with small classes taught by qualified teachers.

Please contact your elected leaders in Washington today and tell them to "Please be smart: Invest in public education."

ELAINE LANCASTER, President, Nevada State Education Association

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