In his last two federal budgets, President George Bush has proposed the elimination of the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education program. The President’s 2008 federal budget plan, released in early February, maintains the program, but subjects it to a sharp cut.

President Bush’s $2.9 trillion fiscal year 2008 federal budget proposal cuts the $1.3 billion Perkins program by 52.6% - a reduction of $686.3 million.

The drastic cut in Perkins funding would be a major blow to career and technical education in Wisconsin. In the current fiscal year, Wisconsin received just under $25 million in Perkins funding, $12.6 million of which went to the Wisconsin Technical College System.

Wisconsin’s technical college districts use Perkins funding to provide a broad range of academic support services to students. For example, many technical college districts use Perkins funding to develop or continue programs aimed at increasing the success of academically and economically disadvantaged students, single parents and disabled students.

Under the Bush Administration’s FY 2008 budget proposal, technical colleges would likely be forced to eliminate many of their student success and student achievement programs. As a result, many of the special needs students that rely on Perkins-funded programs may fail to receive the services that encourage persistence, completion and success.

While President Bush’s FY 2006 and FY 2007 budgets proposed eliminating Perkins funding, Congress recognized the importance of Perkins-funded programs and restored the President’ proposed program elimination in FY 2006 (as of this writing the FY 2007 budget was not signed into law).

The Perkins program, which both houses of Congress recently reauthorized by near unanimous votes, has not seen a substantial increase in funding since FY 2002.

The President’s budget request represents the start of the annual budget and appropriations process.  Congress makes the bulk of the funding decisions for the federal government. In a year when budget deficits are drawing increased attention, it is critical that technical college advocates clearly let Members of Congress know of the importance of increases for the Perkins program, not cuts. 

Technical college faculty and staff are strongly encouraged to contact their federal representatives and voice their support for the Carl Perkins program.