The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) applauds Congress’ continued support for students in the fiscal year 2020 Labor Health and Human Services-Education appropriations omnibus, which includes $1.21 billion for the Student Support and Academic Enrichment (SSAE) grant program, authorized under Title IV, Part A of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and $2.13 billion for Title II, Part A, which supports educator professional development.
“It’s refreshing to see members of Congress put aside politics to do what is right by our country’s students and educators,” said ISTE CEO Richard Culatta.“It is no secret that schools continue to face strained budgets that restrict resources and prevent smart innovations that will improve learning and prepare students for the future.”
The omnibus includes a $76 million increase for Title II-A. Title IV-A, the $1.17 billion flexible block grant program, saw a slight increase in the bill, gaining another $40 million in FY2020. In addition, the bill also includes $7 million for an Open Textbook Pilot that will fund a new competition next year. The entire budget bill now proceeds for signing by the president.
