The National Rural Education Advocacy Coalition (NREAC) released its 2013 Legislative Agenda, which addresses sequestration. MREA is among the state and national organizations concerned about educational opportunities for children who live in the rural areas of the United States that make up the Coalition.
Sequester Begins
The sequester began March 1 and unless modified by congressional action, it will reduce federal funds within your school budget by 5.3 percent for the 2013-14 school year, according to the American Association of School Administrators (AASA).
The federal education programs affected include: Title I Grant to LEA, Title II Teacher Quality, Title III, IDEA State Grant (federal flow through dollars to districts), Perkins/Career Tech, Impact aid and Headstart.
Impact on Minnesota
It is estimated that Minnesota schools will lose $16.2 million and school districts with significant Indian Reservation Land that receive Impact Aid to replace property tax revenue will have the most significant cuts which begin in this school year. Calculate the impact on your school district.
MREA is encouraging MREA superintendents to send their calculator results to AASA to help make public the size of the impact of this reduction. Share how it affects your district.
NREAC opposes the sequester and advocates in Washington DC on behalf of rural school districts nationwide.
Other National Issues
The NREAC’s Legislative Agenda for 2013 also focuses on:
- Rural Schools and Funding
- Elementary and Secondary Education Act
- Educational Technology and E-Rate
- School Safety
Read more about the NREAC’s Legislative Agenda.