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.

Sequestration 101 How did we get here? What is it? What does it mean? Talking Points What 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 Impacts almost all aspects of federal budget; ALL programs in USED except Pell Initial CBO estimates placed sequestration cuts at 7.8%; more likely to be at 9.1%

What Does It Mean? Real-time, mid-year cuts Remember 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 billion IDEA $978 million Perkins:$136 million Head Start: $590 million

Talking Points Cuts are coming, whether through sequestration or Congressional action Congress 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

Resources Complete a Sequestration Invoice and send it to your Congressional delegation.Sequestration Invoice Sign the Committee for Education Funding petition to avoid sequestration.petition MORE Talking PointsTalking Points How will sequestration impact advanced funded programs? Check out the AASA blog.AASA blog

Questions? Noelle Ellerson Assistant Director, Policy Analysis & Advocacy American Association of School Administrators For the latest AASA Advocacy updates, Check out the advocacy blogadvocacy blog Follow us on Twitter