U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Fiscal Year 2021

Budget Summary

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

FISCAL YEAR 2021 BUDGET SUMMARY

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. SUMMARY OF THE 2021 BUDGET REQUEST........................................................................................... 5

II. THE 2021 EDUCATION BUDGET BY PROGRAM AREA............................................................................ 9

A. Elementary and Secondary Education ....................................................................................... 9

Overview ................................................................................................................................... 9

Elementary and Secondary Education for the Disadvantaged Block Grant ............................ 10

Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies ......................................................................... 10

Migrant Education ................................................................................................................... 11

Neglected and Delinquent Education ...................................................................................... 11

Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants ........................................................................ 11

21st Century Community Learning Centers ........................................................................... 12

Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants ................................................................ 12

English Language Acquisition ................................................................................................ 12

Education for Homeless Children and Youths ........................................................................ 13

Rural Education ....................................................................................................................... 13

Comprehensive Literacy Development Grants ....................................................................... 13

Innovative Approaches to Literacy ......................................................................................... 14

Native Hawaiian Education..................................................................................................... 14

Alaska Native Education ......................................................................................................... 14

Comprehensive Centers .......................................................................................................... 15

Education Innovation and Research ........................................................................................ 15

Teacher and School Leader Incentive Grants ......................................................................... 15

American History and Civics Education ................................................................................. 16

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Supporting Effective Educator Development (SEED) ............................................................ 16

Charter Schools Grants ........................................................................................................... 16

Magnet Schools Assistance ..................................................................................................... 17

Ready to Learn Programming (RTL) ...................................................................................... 17

Arts in Education .................................................................................................................... 17

Javits Gifted and Talented Education ..................................................................................... 18

Statewide Family Engagement Centers .................................................................................. 18

School Safety National Activities ........................................................................................... 18

Promise Neighborhoods .......................................................................................................... 19

Full-Service Community Schools (FSCS) .............................................................................. 19

State Assessments ................................................................................................................... 19

Indian Education ..................................................................................................................... 20

Impact Aid............................................................................................................................... 21

Training and Advisory Services .............................................................................................. 22

Supplemental Education Grants .............................................................................................. 22

B. Special Education and Rehabilitation Services ........................................................................ 23

Grants to States ......................................................................................................................... 24

Preschool Grants ....................................................................................................................... 24

Grants for Infants and Families ................................................................................................ 24

State Personnel Development ................................................................................................... 25

Technical Assistance and Dissemination .................................................................................. 25

Personnel Preparation ............................................................................................................... 25

Parent Information Centers ....................................................................................................... 25

Educational Technology, Media, and Materials ....................................................................... 26

Special Olympics Education Program ...................................................................................... 26

Vocational Rehabilitation State Grants ..................................................................................... 26

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Client Assistance State Grants .................................................................................................. 27

Training..................................................................................................................................... 27

Demonstration and Training ..................................................................................................... 27

Independent Living Services for Older Blind Individuals ........................................................ 28

Protection and Advocacy of Individual Rights ......................................................................... 28

Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults ............................................ 28

Special Institutions for Persons with Disabilities ..................................................................... 29

C. Career, Technical and Adult Education ................................................................................... 30

Career and Technical Education ............................................................................................... 31

Adult Education ........................................................................................................................ 31

D. Student Financial Assistance .................................................................................................... 32

Student Aid Summary Tables ................................................................................................... 35

Aid Available to Students ......................................................................................................... 36

Number of Student Aid Awards ................................................................................................ 37

Federal Pell Grant Program....................................................................................................... 38

Federal Work-Study .................................................................................................................. 39

Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants ........................................................................................ 39

TEACH Grants .......................................................................................................................... 40

Federal Family Education Loans and Direct Loans .................................................................. 41

E. Higher Education Programs ..................................................................................................... 44

Aid for Institutional Development ............................................................................................ 46

Aid for Hispanic-Serving Institutions ....................................................................................... 48

Consolidated Minority-Serving Institutions (MSI) Grant ......................................................... 48

Tribally Controlled Postsecondary Career and Technical Institutions ..................................... 49

Special Programs for Migrant Students .................................................................................... 49

Federal TRIO Programs ............................................................................................................ 50

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Transition Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities into Higher Education (TPSID) ... 51

Child Care Access Means Parents In School ............................................................................ 51

Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP) .......................................................................................... 51

Howard University .................................................................................................................... 52

Academic Facilities .................................................................................................................. 52

F. Institute of Education Sciences ................................................................................................. 53

Research, Development, and Dissemination ............................................................................. 53

Statistics .................................................................................................................................... 53

Assessment ................................................................................................................................ 54

Research in Special Education .................................................................................................. 54

Special Education Studies and Evaluations .............................................................................. 54

III. PROGRAMS PROPOSED FOR ELIMINATION ........................................................................................... 55

IV. DEPARTMENTAL MANAGEMENT .......................................................................................................... 58

Salaries and Expenses Overview .............................................................................................. 59

V. APPENDICES ........................................................................................................................................ 63

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“Now is the time to fight for the forgotten child, and that’s what we’re doing with respect to 

education. ... In my Administration, these children are forgotten no longer. ... We believe that 

every parent should have educational freedom for their children. Earlier this year, I asked 

Congress to pass a federal tax credit to support state-based scholarship programs, so we can 

provide over 1 million more students with school choice. People want school choice. They want 

to have their child go to a school that they want to have their child go to. It’s very simple.”

 

-President Donald J. Trump 

I. SUMMARY OF THE 2021 BUDGET REQUEST 

The fiscal year 2021 President’s Budget Request marks a significant expansion of President Trump’s effort 

to transform the Federal role in education. In addition to renewing his Education Freedom Scholarship 

(EFS) tax-credit proposal, which would provide a Federal tax credit of up to $5 billion a year for donations 

to scholarship programs for families of elementary and secondary students who are seeking State-defined 

public or private education options, the fiscal year 2021 Request would consolidate most Federal 

elementary and secondary education programs into a flexible block grant that would allow States to decide 

how best to use Federal funds to meet the needs of their students, improve workforce preparation through 

a significant increase for career and technical education, and consider a proposal to evaluate the Office of 

Federal Student Aid (FSA) as a separate organization, with reformed governance, that would significantly 

increase FSA’s ability to better serve students and taxpayers alike. 

Overall, the President’s fiscal year 2021 Budget includes $66.6 billion in new discretionary budget authority 

for the Department of Education, a $6.1 billion, or 8.4 percent reduction below the fiscal year 2020 

appropriation. 

The fiscal year 2021 Request includes the following key initiatives:

Education Freedom Scholarships

President Trump’s most transformative education proposal is to establish a Federal tax credit for voluntary 

donations to State-designed scholarship programs for elementary and secondary students, capped at 

$5.0 billion per year. This tax credit would be available to individuals and domestic businesses that make 

donations to State-identified scholarship granting organizations that offer scholarships that can be used on 

a wide range of public and private educational activities, such as career and technical education, special 

education services, or tuition for private school. This proposal would dramatically expand the choices 

available to families and make tremendous strides toward the goal of providing all students with the 

opportunity to receive a high-quality education. States, not the Federal government, will determine family 

eligibility requirements and allowable uses of scholarship funds, and because it is funded by private 

donations, the proposal would not divert a single dollar away from public schools or teachers. 

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Elementary and Secondary Education for the Disadvantaged Block Grant

The fiscal year 2021 Request also proposes to consolidate most formula and competitive grant programs 

authorized by the Elementary and Secondary Act, as amended (ESEA), as well as several related programs,

into an Elementary and Secondary Education for the Disadvantaged Block Grant (ESED Block Grant). 

This proposal builds on the 2015 Every Student Succeeds Act, which reauthorized the ESEA and sought to 

restore State and local control over education by significantly reducing the mandates from Washington 

accompanying Federal education funds. The ESED Block Grant would further right-size the Federal role 

in education and allow States and school districts to decide how best to use ESEA and related funds to meet 

the needs of their students, parents, teachers, and schools. The Request would consolidate nearly 30 Federal 

elementary and secondary education programs into a single $19.4 billion formula grant program, with funds 

allocated through the same formulas used by the Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies program. 

States and local districts would have discretion to use those funds for any authorized purpose of the 

consolidated programs, while also continuing to meet key accountability and reporting requirements aimed 

at protecting students, supporting meaningful school improvement efforts, and giving parents the 

information they need to support a high-quality education for their children. In addition to helping to 

eliminate Federal overreach and empower States and local school districts to choose the evidence-based 

strategies and interventions most likely to improve student outcomes, the consolidation of most ESEA 

programs into a single formula grant would allow the Department to significantly reduce staffing and 

administrative costs over time. 

Career and Technical Education

The fiscal year 2021 Request increases support for Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs by 

nearly $900 million to support the Administration’s goal of ensuring every high school in America has 

access to CTE programs that provide multiple high-quality pathways to high-paying, in-demand jobs. The 

total includes an increase of $680 million, or 53 percent, for Career and Technical Education (CTE) State 

Grants, which supports high-quality CTE programs in high schools and postsecondary institutions. In 

addition, the Budget renews the President’s proposal to double the American Competitiveness and 

Workforce Improvement Act fee for the H-1B visa program, which would generate an estimated 

$117 million in additional funding for the CTE State Grants program. The Request also provides 

$90 million for CTE National Programs, an increase of $83 million, to support the development and 

implementation of innovative, evidence-based, high-quality CTE programs in STEM, including computer 

science.

Postsecondary Student Aid

Today, the Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) manages the servicing of one of the largest consumer loan 

portfolios in the world. In addition, FSA provides oversight for more than 6,000 institutions of higher 

education that participate in the Higher Education Act (HEA) Title IV programs; develops and implements 

the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) process; and secures the data of the over 40 million 

Americans with Federal Student Loans. Recognizing the significant growth in the scope and complexity of 

FSA’s responsibilities since its establishment as a performance-based organization more than 20 years ago, 

the President’s Budget proposes the evaluation of FSA as a separate organization, with reformed 

governance. An updated governance model could significantly increase FSA’s ability to serve students and 

taxpayers by improving its management, oversight, and administration of the Federal student aid programs.

The Budget would also rethink and modernize all aspects of how students pay for and afford college, 

including sensible steps to address excessive student debt, promote multiple pathways, modernize and 

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simplify the student aid process, and better position the Federal Government to deliver world-class service 

to students and their families as they finance higher education. To accomplish these goals, the fiscal year 

2021 Request includes proposals to simplify the Federal student loan programs and student loan repayment, 

establish reasonable annual and lifetime loan limits for all Federal student loans and provide higher 

education institutions more flexibility to help students avoid borrowing more than they will be able to repay.

The Request also includes proposals to expand Pell Grant eligibility to students enrolled in high-quality 

short-term programs offered by institutions that provide students with a credential, certification, or license 

in a high-demand field. The Budget also makes Pell Grants available to certain incarcerated students to 

improve employment outcomes, reduce recidivism, and facilitate their successful reentry to society.

The Request also continues to support the multi-year Next Generation (Next Gen) student aid platform, 

which includes building the technology and operational components that support the Federal student aid 

programs that make up more than a third of the Department’s discretionary appropriation. Key 

improvements will include the development and implementation of a new loan servicing platform to 

improve service for all Federal student loan borrowers and the consolidation of all customer-facing websites 

into a single, user-friendly hub to complement a new mobile platform and give students, parents, and 

borrowers a seamless experience from application through repayment.

Other Critical Investments

In addition to the initiatives described above, the fiscal year 2021 Request would continue to provide strong 

support for students with disabilities, invest in Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and 

other minority-serving institutions (MSIs), and restructure key higher education programs to streamline and 

reduce administrative costs while increasing flexibility for grantees.

Special Education Programs 

The overall Request for programs in the Special Education account, which primarily funds programs 

authorized by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), is $14.0 billion, an increase of 

$100 million over the 2020 enacted level. Highlights include: 

• $12.9 billion for IDEA Grants to States, an increase of $100 million over the fiscal year 2020 

enacted level to support special education and early intervention services for more than 7 million 

children with disabilities;

• $394 million for IDEA Preschool Grants, the same as the fiscal year 2020 enacted level, to help 

States make a free appropriate public education available to all children with disabilities ages 3 

through 5; 

• $477 million for IDEA Grants for Infants and Families, the same as the fiscal year 2020 enacted 

level, to help States implement statewide systems of early intervention services for infants and 

toddlers with disabilities;

• $250 million for IDEA National Activities and Special Olympics education programs, the same as 

the fiscal year 2020 enacted levels.

HBCU/MSI STEM Opportunity Zones Initiative 

The fiscal year 2021 Request includes $150 million, an increase of $137.4 million, for the Minority Science 

and Engineering Improvement Program (MSEIP) to fund STEM activities led by HBCUs and MSIs located 

in Opportunity Zones. Funds could be used by these institutions to bolster STEM academic pipelines 

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aligned with the local business community; improve public-private STEM partnerships; launch STEM 

entrepreneurship incubators; and incentivize or complement investment from Opportunity Funds for 

STEM-focused capital projects (e.g., facilities for incubators) that will help prepare the future generation 

of STEM professionals. The expanded MSEIP would target $50 million to HBCUs, $50 million to 

Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), and $50 million to all other MSIs. 

Historically Black Colleges and Universities

The fiscal year 2021 Request is consistent with the President's Executive Order on HBCUs, which calls for 

efforts to strengthen the capacity of HBCUs to provide the highest-quality education and to provide 

opportunities for HBCU participation in Federal programs. HBCU programs, including Howard 

University, would receive a total of $749.2 million, an increase of $44 million over the fiscal year 2020 

enacted level (including the $50 million HBCU share of MSEIP funds proposed for fiscal year 2021). In 

addition, the recent enactment of the FUTURE Act would provide $85 million in mandatory funding for 

HBCUs, bringing the total amount of Department of Education support for HBCU programs in fiscal year 

2021 to $834.2 million.

Minority-Serving Institutions

The fiscal year 2021 Request also would expand support for MSIs, which serve high proportions of minority 

students, often in communities otherwise underserved by other institutions of higher education. The 

Request provides a total of $343 million for MSIs, an increase of $87.4 million, or 34 percent, over the 

fiscal year 2020 enacted level. New funds in fiscal year 2021 would be dedicated to the MSI share of the 

HBCU/MSI STEM Opportunity Zones initiative described above.

In addition, the Request includes $336.3 million in combined discretionary and mandatory funding for an 

expansion of the Consolidated MSI Grant proposal included in the 2020 President’s Budget. The 2021 

proposal would streamline grantmaking by consolidating a total of 11 discretionary and mandatory MSI 

program authorities, including the HEA Title V Aid for Hispanic-Serving Institutions programs, that have 

similar purposes and activities, into a single institutional formula grant program, providing funds more 

institutions can count on, yielding program management efficiencies, and targeting funds to institutions that 

serve their students well. The $196.3 million discretionary Request is the same as the 2020 appropriation 

for the discretionary MSI and HSI programs that would be included in the consolidated formula grant. 

TRIO Student Supports Block Grant 

The fiscal year 2021 Request continues to call for the transformation of the Federal TRIO programs from 

a complex and difficult to administer set of Federal competitive grant programs to a single formula grant 

to States that would support activities—including current TRIO activities and those authorized under 

Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) and the College 

Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP)—to help low-income and other disadvantaged students progress 

through the academic pipeline from middle school through postsecondary education. The proposed TRIO 

Student Supports Block Grant is part of an overall Administration strategy—also reflected in the 

Elementary and Secondary Education for the Disadvantaged Block Grant initiative—to restore authority 

and responsibility over education from the Federal Government to the States, recognize the need for fiscal 

responsibility in light of the limited Federal role in education, and reduce the size and cost of the Federal 

bureaucracy. The Request for the TRIO Student Supports Block Grant is $950 million, the same as the 

fiscal year 2020 President’s Budget. 

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II. THE 2021 EDUCATION BUDGET BY PROGRAM AREA

A. ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION

OVERVIEW

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as reauthorized by the Every Student Succeeds Act

(ESSA), recognized that the primary responsibility for creating, improving, and sustaining public education 

systems lies with States and local school districts. The law built on State and local reform efforts in recent 

years that help to ensure educational opportunity for all students and included the following key provisions: 

• Holding all students to high academic standards that prepare them for success in college and 

careers;

• Annual reporting on key information about students and schools, including data on achievement 

and graduation rates; measures of school climate, quality, and safety; the professional qualifications 

of teachers; and per-pupil expenditures for each school and district; 

• Requiring that, when students and schools fall behind, steps are taken to help them improve, with 

a particular focus on the lowest-performing 5 percent of Title I schools, high schools with low 

graduation rates, and schools where subgroups, including students from low-income families, 

English learners, students with disabilities, and students of color, are falling behind; and

• Empowering State and local decision makers to continue to refine their own systems for school 

improvement. 

The ESSA reauthorized the ESEA through fiscal year 2020, and the 2021 Request opens the debate over 

the future shape of the ESEA by proposing to consolidate most ESEA programs and several related 

programs into a single formula grant called the Elementary and Secondary Education for the Disadvantaged 

Block Grant (ESED Block Grant). 

The Administration’s proposal recognizes that most ESEA funds already flow to States and school districts 

through separately authorized formula grant programs that are administered primarily through Consolidated 

ESEA State Plans. The ESED Block Grant would take the next logical step and consolidate all the funding 

supporting those State Plans into a single State and local formula grant. As a result, the Department of 

Education would wind down its labor-intensive discretionary grant competitions and national activities. 

The Request includes $19.4 billion for the ESED Block Grant. In comparison to the funding of the 

consolidated components in fiscal year 2020, it represents a reduction of $4.7 billion, which reflects the 

Administration’s commitment to better align the limited Federal role in education with the fiscal restraint 

needed to increase funding for national defense and public safety. 

The Request would maintain separate funding for State Assessments, which underpins ESEA-mandated 

State-determined testing and accountability systems, Training and Advisory Services authorized by 

Title IV of the Civil Rights Act, Supplemental Education Grants required by the Compact of Free 

Association Amendments Act of 2003, the Impact Aid programs that offset the loss of education revenue 

due to the Federal presence, and Indian Education programs. 

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ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION FOR THE DISADVANTAGED BLOCK GRANT

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions — — $19,363.4

The Elementary and Secondary Education for the Disadvantaged Block Grant would consolidate nearly all 

currently funded formula and competitive grant programs authorized by the Elementary and Secondary 

Education Act, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act, as well as several related programs, into a 

single State formula grant program. 

The ESED Block Grant would empower State and local education leaders to determine how best to use 

Federal resources consistent with the purposes of the ESEA while recognizing local needs and context. The 

ESED Block Grant would minimize Federal intrusion in local schools while still enabling the Federal 

Government to fulfill its role of helping States improve educational outcomes for our most vulnerable 

children. States would continue to submit accountability plans that would set statewide performance goals 

and targets, identify and address achievement and attainment gaps for all ESEA subgroups, ensure 

continued reporting on achievement and other key metrics, and require rigorous interventions for the bottom 

5 percent of schools, as well as those schools with the largest subgroup achievement and attainment gaps.

The ESED Block Grant consolidation proposal supports a number of the Administration’s most important 

objectives in scaling back the Federal role in education, including shifting authority and responsibility from 

the Federal Government to the States, reducing the size and cost of the Federal bureaucracy, and 

maintaining the fiscal discipline necessary to support the President’s goal of increasing support for national 

security and public safety while reducing the Federal budget deficit. 

ESED Block Grant funds would be allocated by formula to State and local educational agencies (LEAs). 

LEAs would develop and submit to their States for approval plans consistent with those currently required 

by section 1112 of the ESEA, which includes provisions describing how the LEA will meet the needs of

economically disadvantaged students, students from major racial and ethnic groups, students with 

disabilities, English learners, homeless children and youth, and neglected and delinquent students. 

The Request would allow the Department to reserve sufficient funds during the initial implementation of 

the ESED Block Grant to pay continuation awards through the end of their approved project periods to 

existing grantees under competitive grant programs consolidated into the ESED Block Grant.

TITLE I GRANTS TO LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions $15,859.8 $16,309.8 —

For fiscal year 2021, the Administration proposes to consolidate the Title I Grants to Local Educational 

Agencies program into the ESED Block Grant. Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies provides 

supplemental education funding, especially in high-poverty areas, for local programs that provide extra 

academic support to help students in high-poverty schools meet challenging State academic standards. The 

program serves approximately 25 million students in nearly 60 percent of all public schools. Title I Grants 

to LEAs also provides the foundation for the accountability system under ESEA, which emphasizes State 

and local responsibilities in the areas of standards and assessments, measuring student academic progress, 

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reporting on performance, and supporting school improvement to provide all students equitable access to a 

high- quality education and close achievement gaps. State accountability and transparency systems under 

the Title I program would be retained under the ESED Block Grant proposal. 

MIGRANT EDUCATION

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions $374.8 $374.8 —

Migrant Education State Grants provide formula-based assistance in meeting the educational needs of 

children of migratory agricultural workers and fishers, including overcoming educational disruption and 

other challenges resulting from repeated moves, so that these students can meet the same academic 

standards expected of all children. The Request would consolidate Migrant Education activities into the 

ESED Block Grant, giving States and school districts additional flexibility and discretion to meet the needs 

of migrant students.

NEGLECTED AND DELINQUENT EDUCATION

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions $47.6 $47.6 —

This program provides formula grants to States to support education services for neglected and delinquent 

children and youth in local and State-run institutions, attending community day programs, and in 

correctional facilities. The Request would consolidate this program into the ESED Block Grant, giving 

States and school districts additional flexibility and discretion to meet the needs of neglected and delinquent 

students. 

SUPPORTING EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTION STATE GRANTS

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions $2,055.8 $2,131.8 —

This program, authorized under ESEA’s Title II-A, provides formula grants to State educational agencies 

(SEAs), which then subgrant most funds to local educational agencies, to support activities designed to 

increase student achievement by improving the effectiveness of teachers, principals, and other school 

leaders; increase the number of teachers, principals, and other school leaders who are effective in improving 

student academic achievement in schools; provide low-income and minority students greater access to 

effective teachers, principals, and other school leaders; and reduce class size. The Request would 

consolidate the program into the ESED Block Grant, under which States and school districts would have 

discretion to support similar activities in response to local needs and circumstances. 

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21ST CENTURY COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTERS

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions $1,221.7 $1,249.7 —

This program enables States, through competitive subgrants to school districts or community-based 

organizations, to support centers that provide additional student learning opportunities through before- and 

after-school programs and summer school programs aimed at improving student academic outcomes. The 

Request would consolidate the program into the ESED Block Grant, under which States and school districts 

would have discretion to support similar activities in response to local needs and circumstances. 

STUDENT SUPPORT AND ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT GRANTS

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions $1,170.0 $1,210.0 —

This program, authorized under ESEA’s Title IV-A, provides formula grants to State educational agencies, 

which then subgrant most funds to local educational agencies, to support well-rounded educational 

opportunities, safe and healthy students, and the effective use of technology. The Request would consolidate 

Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants into the ESED Block Grant, under which States and 

school districts would have discretion to support similar activities in response to local needs and 

circumstances.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ACQUISITION

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions $737.4 $787.4 —

This program awards formula grants to States based on each State’s share of the Nation’s English learners 

(ELs) and recent immigrant students. States must develop, in meaningful consultation with geographically 

diverse districts, statewide entrance and exit procedures for EL status. States also must ensure that districts 

annually assess the English proficiency of the EL students they serve. Schools use this funding to implement 

effective language instruction educational programs designed to help ELs attain English language 

proficiency. The program also awards grants to schools operated predominantly for Native American and 

Alaska Native students and supports national activities, including professional development for teachers of 

ELs and a clearinghouse of research-based information about instructional methods, strategies, and 

programs for ELs. The Request would consolidate English Language Acquisition formula and competitive 

grant programs into the ESED Block Grant, giving States and school districts additional flexibility and 

discretion to meet the needs of English learners.

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EDUCATION FOR HOMELESS CHILDREN AND YOUTHS

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions $93.5 $101.5 —

This program, which is authorized by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, as amended, provides 

formula grants to States, which then subgrant most funds to LEAs for services and activities that help 

homeless children enroll in, attend, and succeed in school, such as preschool programs, enriched 

supplemental instruction, before- and after-school programs, transportation, and health care referrals. The 

Request would consolidate this program into the ESED Block Grant, giving States and school districts 

additional flexibility and discretion to meet the needs of homeless students. 

RURAL EDUCATION

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions $180.8 $185.8 —

The Rural Education Achievement Program (REAP) supports two programs to help rural school districts 

carry out activities to improve the quality of teaching and learning in their schools. The Small, Rural School 

Achievement program provides formula funds to rural school districts that serve small numbers of students, 

and the Rural and Low-Income School program provides funds to rural school districts that serve 

concentrations of poor students, regardless of the district’s size. The Request would consolidate the REAP 

grants into the ESED Block Grant, giving States and school districts additional flexibility and discretion to 

meet the needs of rural students and schools. 

COMPREHENSIVE LITERACY DEVELOPMENT GRANTS

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions $190.0 $192.0 —

This program provides competitive grants to SEAs that then award subgrants to eligible entities to support 

efforts to improve literacy instruction in high-need schools or early childhood education programs. The 

Request would consolidate the program into the ESED Block Grant, giving States and school districts 

flexibility to support similar activities in response to local needs and circumstances. The Department would 

reserve sufficient funds under the ESED Block Grant to pay continuation awards to existing grantees 

through the end of their approved project periods. 

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INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO LITERACY

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions $27.0 $27.0 —

The Innovative Approaches to Literacy program makes competitive grants to support projects that promote 

literacy through enhanced school library programs; early literacy services, including outreach to parents of 

young children to ensure that families have access to developmentally appropriate materials and are 

encouraged to read aloud to their young children; and the distribution of high-quality books. The Request

would consolidate the program into the ESED Block Grant, giving States and school districts flexibility to 

support similar activities in response to local needs and circumstances. The Department would reserve 

sufficient funds under the ESED Block Grant to pay continuation awards to existing grantees through the 

end of their approved project periods. 

NATIVE HAWAIIAN EDUCATION

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions $36.4 $36.9 —

The Native Hawaiian Education program makes competitive awards to support supplemental education 

services to the Native Hawaiian population in such areas as teacher training, family-based education, gifted 

and talented education, early childhood education, special education, higher education, and communitybased education learning centers. The Request would consolidate the program into the ESED Block Grant, 

giving States and school districts flexibility to support similar activities in response to local needs and 

circumstances. The Department would reserve sufficient funds under the ESED Block Grant to pay 

continuation awards to existing grantees through the end of their approved project periods. 

ALASKA NATIVE EDUCATION

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions $35.5 $36.0 —

This program makes competitive awards to support supplemental educational programs and services 

designed to improve educational outcomes for Alaska Natives, including activities to support the use and 

preservation of Alaska Native languages, professional development for educators, home instruction 

programs for Alaska Native preschool children, family literacy services, student enrichment programs in 

science and mathematics, and dropout prevention programs. The Request would consolidate the program 

into the ESED Block Grant, giving States and school districts flexibility to support similar activities in 

response to local needs and circumstances. The Department would reserve funds under the ESED Block 

Grant sufficient to pay continuation awards to existing grantees through the end of their approved project 

periods. 

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COMPREHENSIVE CENTERS

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions $52.0 $52.0 —

This program makes competitive awards to support a system of regional centers and content centers that 

provide training, technical assistance, and professional development to build State capacity to provide highquality education for all students, particularly those in low-performing local educational agencies and 

schools. The Request would consolidate the program into the ESED Block Grant, giving States and school 

districts both resources and flexibility to pay directly for technical assistance and other support tailored to 

address local needs and circumstances. The Department would reserve funds under the ESED Block Grant 

sufficient to pay continuation awards to existing centers through the end of their approved project periods. 

EDUCATION INNOVATION AND RESEARCH

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions $130.0 $190.0 —

The Education Innovation and Research (EIR) program supports the creation, development, 

implementation, replication, and scaling up of evidence-based innovations designed to improve student 

achievement and attainment for high-need students. The Request would consolidate the EIR program into 

the ESED Block Grant, giving States and school districts both resources and flexibility to support evidencebuilding activities in response to local needs and circumstances. The EIR program typically makes 

frontloaded awards that do not entail outyear costs, and the Department currently does not anticipate any 

need to reserve ESED Block Grant funds in fiscal year 2021 to pay continuation costs for current grantees.

TEACHER AND SCHOOL LEADER INCENTIVE GRANTS

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions $200.0 $200.0 —

The Teacher and School Leader Incentive Grants (TSL) program makes competitive awards to help 

develop, implement, improve, or expand human capital management systems or performance-based 

compensation systems. The Request would consolidate the TSL program into the ESED Block Grant, which 

would give States and school districts flexibility to support similar activities in response to local needs and 

circumstances. The Department would reserve sufficient funds under the ESED Block Grant to pay 

continuation awards to existing grantees through the end of their approved project periods.

15
AMERICAN HISTORY AND CIVICS EDUCATION

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions $4.8 $4.8 —

The American History and Civics Academies program supports efforts to improve the quality of American 

history and civics education by providing intensive workshops for teachers (Presidential Academies) and 

students (Congressional Academies) aimed at enhancing the teaching and understanding of these twin 

foundations of effective citizenship. The program also promotes evidence-based instructional methods and 

professional development programs in American history, civics and government, and geography. The 

Request would consolidate the program into the ESED Block Grant, giving States and school districts 

flexibility to support similar activities in response to local needs and circumstances. The Department would 

reserve funds under the ESED Block Grant sufficient to pay continuation awards to existing grantees 

through the end of their approved project periods. 

SUPPORTING EFFECTIVE EDUCATOR DEVELOPMENT (SEED)

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions $75.0 $80.0 —

The SEED program provides competitive grants to institutions of higher education, national nonprofit 

entities, and the Bureau of Indian Education to support evidence-based professional development activities, 

including those leading to an advanced credential, as well as non-traditional preparation and certification 

pathways that allow teachers, principals, or other school leaders to obtain employment in traditionally 

underserved local educational agencies. The Request would consolidate the program into the ESED Block 

Grant, giving States and school districts flexibility to support similar activities in response to local needs 

and circumstances. The Department would reserve funds under the ESED Block Grant sufficient to pay 

continuation awards to existing grantees through the end of their approved project periods. 

CHARTER SCHOOLS GRANTS

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions $427.9 $440.0 —

Through grants to State entities, charter school developers, and charter school management organizations, 

Charter Schools Grants support the startup of new charter schools and the replication and expansion of 

high-quality charter schools serving students in prekindergarten through grade 12. Funds also support grants 

to improve charter schools’ access to facilities and information dissemination and evaluation activities. The 

Request would consolidate the Charter Schools Grants program into the ESED Block Grant, which would 

give States and school districts flexibility to support similar activities in response to local needs and 

circumstances. The Department would reserve sufficient funds under the ESED Block Grant to pay 

continuation awards to existing Charter Schools grantees through the end of their approved project periods.

16
MAGNET SCHOOLS ASSISTANCE

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions $113.7 $107.0 —

Under this program, the Department makes competitive 5-year grants to support high-quality magnet 

schools in LEAs implementing a desegregation plan and to increase educational options for parents and 

families. The Request would consolidate Magnet Schools into the ESED Block Grant, which would give 

States and school districts flexibility to support similar activities in response to local needs and 

circumstances. The Department would reserve sufficient funds under the ESED Block Grant to pay 

continuation awards to existing grantees through the end of their approved project periods. 

READY TO LEARN PROGRAMMING (RTL)

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions $27.7 $29.0 —

The RTL program makes awards to public telecommunications entities that support the development and 

distribution of educational video programming for preschool and elementary school children and their 

parents, caregivers, and teachers, as well accompanying support materials and services that can be used to 

promote the effective use of such programming. Funds also are used to develop digital content, such as 

applications and online educational games, that is specifically designed for nationwide distribution over 

public television stations’ digital broadcasting channels and the Internet. The Request would consolidate 

RTL into the ESED Block Grant, giving States and school districts flexibility to support similar activities 

in response to local needs and circumstances. The Department would reserve funds under the ESED Block 

Grant sufficient to pay continuation awards to existing grantees through the end of their approved project 

periods. 

ARTS IN EDUCATION

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions $29.0 $30.0 —

This program promotes arts education for students, including disadvantaged students and students who are 

children with disabilities, through professional development for arts educators, development and 

dissemination of accessible instructional materials and arts-based educational programming, and 

community outreach activities that strengthen partnerships among schools and arts organizations. The 

Request would consolidate the Arts in Education program into the ESED Block Grant, giving States and 

school districts flexibility to support similar activities in response to local needs and circumstances. The 

Department would reserve funds under the ESED Block Grant sufficient to pay continuation awards to 

existing grantees through the end of their approved project periods. 

17
JAVITS GIFTED AND TALENTED EDUCATION

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions $12.0 $13.0 —

The Javits program supports research, demonstration projects, innovative strategies, and other activities to 

build and enhance the capacity of elementary and secondary schools to identify gifted and talented students 

and meet their special educational needs. Funds also may be used to establish and operate gifted and talented 

education programs, which may include innovative methods and strategies for identifying and teaching 

students traditionally underserved in such programs. The Request would consolidate the Javits program 

into the ESED Block Grant, giving States and school districts flexibility to support similar activities in 

response to local needs and circumstances. The Department would reserve funds under the ESED Block 

Grant sufficient to pay continuation awards to existing grantees through the end of their approved project 

periods. 

STATEWIDE FAMILY ENGAGEMENT CENTERS

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions $15.4 $10.0 —

This program provides funding to statewide organizations, or consortia of such organizations, to establish 

statewide centers that promote parent and family engagement in education or provide comprehensive 

training and technical assistance to SEAs, LEAs, schools, and organizations that support partnerships 

between families and schools. The Request would consolidate the program into the ESED Block Grant, 

giving States and school districts flexibility to support similar activities in response to local needs and 

circumstances. The Department would reserve funds under the ESED Block Grant sufficient to pay 

continuation awards to existing grantees through the end of their approved project periods. 

SCHOOL SAFETY NATIONAL ACTIVITIES

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions $95.0 $105.0 —

This program authorizes activities to improve students’ safety and well-being. The Request would 

consolidate the School Safety National Activities program into the ESED Block Grant, and the Department 

would reserve funds under the ESED Block Grant sufficient to pay continuation awards to existing grantees 

through the end of their approved project periods. States and school districts would have discretion to use 

block grant funds for any ESEA-authorized purpose, including activities currently supported by School 

Safety National Activities, such as improving school climate and safety, expanding access to counseling

and mental health services, and preventing drug abuse, including mitigating the effects of the opioids crisis. 

Project SERV (School Emergency Response to Violence), which supports services to local educational 

agencies and institutions of higher education in which the learning environment has been disrupted due to 

a violent or traumatic incident, would continue to be funded through a separate reservation under the ESED 

Block Grant. 

18
PROMISE NEIGHBORHOODS

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions $78.3 $80.0 —

This program provides competitive grants to support distressed communities in improving the academic 

and developmental outcomes for children, youth, and their families from birth through college. Funded 

activities are focused on “pipeline services,” which include high-quality early childhood programs; highquality in-school and out-of-school programs; transition support for students at all levels of education and 

workforce preparation; family and community engagement support; job training, internships, and career 

counseling; and social, health, nutrition, and mental health services. The Request would consolidate the 

program into the ESED Block Grant, giving States and school districts flexibility to support similar 

activities in response to local needs and circumstances. The Department would reserve funds under the 

ESED Block Grant sufficient to pay continuation awards to existing grantees through the end of their 

approved project periods. 

FULL-SERVICE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS (FSCS)

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions $17.5 $25.0 —

FSCS makes competitive 5-year grants to school districts—in partnership with community-based 

organizations, nonprofit organizations, or other public or private entities—to provide comprehensive 

academic, social, and health services for students, students’ family members, and community members in 

school settings by integrating existing school and community programs and implementing coordinated 

strategies that can impact neighborhoods with high rates of poverty, childhood obesity, academic failure, 

and involvement of community members in the justice system. The Request would consolidate FSCS

program into the ESED Block Grant, giving States and school districts flexibility to support similar 

activities in response to local needs and circumstances. The Department would reserve funds under the 

ESED Block Grant sufficient to pay continuation awards to existing grantees through the end of their 

approved project periods. 

STATE ASSESSMENTS

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions

State Assessment Grants $369.1 $369.1 $369.1

Competitive Assessment Grants 8.9 8.9 —

Total 378.0 378.0 369.1

The Request would help States continue to administer aligned assessment systems as part of their ongoing 

implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act. Annual, high-quality, statewide assessments aligned to 

19
challenging State academic standards are a critical element of the statewide accountability systems that 

each State must establish under the Act, providing parents and educators with information they need to 

enable students to be successful and make progress towards attainment of State-determined college- and 

career-ready academic standards. State assessments also help identify schools that are succeeding and 

schools where challenges remain in improving academic achievement and closing achievement gaps. 

Competitive Assessment Grants would be eliminated, consistent with Administration policy on ESEA 

competitive grant programs under the ESED Block Grant proposal.

INDIAN EDUCATION

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions

Grants to Local Educational Agencies $105.4 $105.4 $105.4

Special Programs for Indian Children 68.0 68.0 68.0

National Activities 6.9 7.4 7.4

Total 180.2 180.7 180.7

Note: Amounts may not add due to rounding.

Indian Education programs supplement the efforts of States, LEAs, and Indian tribes to improve educational 

opportunities for Indian children. The programs link these efforts to broader educational reforms underway 

in States and localities to help ensure that these reforms benefit Indian students, enabling them to master 

the same challenging academic standards as other students by better meeting their educational and cultural 

needs.

Grants to Local Educational Agencies provide formula grants to LEAs and to schools operated by the 

Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Education for activities to improve the educational 

achievement of Indian students. Funds would support supplemental educational services to a disadvantaged 

population that is heavily affected by poverty and low educational attainment, providing an average 

estimated per-pupil payment of $232 for nearly 460,000 eligible American Indian and Alaska Native 

elementary and secondary students nationwide. 

The Request for Special Programs for Indian Children includes support for competitive awards for projects 

to improve the college- and career-readiness of Native youth, as well as professional development grants 

for training Native American teachers and administrators for employment in schools with high proportions 

of Indian students. 

The Request also supports National Activities, which fund grants to support Native language immersion 

programs; State-Tribal Education Partnership grants to create and build the capacity of Tribal educational 

agencies; and research, evaluation, and data collection activities designed to provide critical information on 

the educational status and needs of Indian students and to identify effective practices in the education of 

Indian students. 

20
IMPACT AID

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions

Payments for Federally Connected Children: 

 Basic Support Payments $1,301.2 $1,340.2 $1,340.2

 Payments for Children with Disabilities 48.3 48.3 48.3

Facilities Maintenance 4.8 4.8 4.8

Construction 17.4 17.4 17.4

Payments for Federal Property 74.3 75.3 —

Total 1,446.1 1,486.1 1,410.8

Note: Amounts may not add due to rounding.

The Impact Aid program provides financial assistance to school districts affected by Federal activities. The 

presence of certain children living on Federal property across the country can place a financial burden on 

the LEAs that educate them because such property is exempt from local property taxes, denying LEAs 

access to a key source of revenue used by most communities to finance education. Impact Aid helps replace 

the lost local revenue that would otherwise be available to LEAs to pay for the education of these children.

The Request would provide significant support for the education of almost 800,000 federally connected 

children in over 1,000 school districts while maintaining the fiscal discipline required to meet the 

President’s overall goal of increasing support for national security and public safety without adding to the 

Federal budget deficit. 

Basic Support Payments support federally connected children through both regular Basic Support Payments 

and Basic Support Payments for Heavily Impacted LEAs.

The Request for Payments for Children with Disabilities would support formula grants to help eligible 

districts meet their obligations under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to provide a free 

appropriate public education for federally connected children with disabilities.

The Request for Facilities Maintenance would fund essential repair and maintenance of the nine school 

facilities serving large numbers of military dependents that are owned and operated by the Department of 

Education, while also supporting the transfer of these schools to local school districts.

The Request for Construction would be used for competitive grants to the LEAs with the greatest need and 

would provide sufficient assistance to enable those LEAs to make major repairs and renovations. 

The Administration requests no funds for Payments for Federal Property because these payments 

compensate LEAs for lost property tax revenue due to the presence of Federal lands without regard to 

whether those districts educate any federally connected children.

21
TRAINING AND ADVISORY SERVICES 

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions $6.6 $6.6 $6.6

This program supports four regional Equity Assistance Centers, selected competitively, that provide 

services to school districts on issues related to discrimination based on race, gender, national origin, and 

religion. Typical activities include disseminating information on successful practices and legal 

requirements related to nondiscrimination; providing training to educators to develop their skills in specific 

areas, such as in the identification of bias in instructional materials; and technical assistance on selection of 

instructional programs. The Request would support a new Equity Assistance Center competition, as well 

as the administration and analysis of a final customer satisfaction survey for current grantees. 

SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATION GRANTS

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions $16.7 $16.7 $16.7

The Request would maintain support for Supplemental Education Grants to the Federated States of 

Micronesia (FSM) and the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), as authorized by the Compact of Free 

Association Amendments Act of 2003 (P.L. 108-188). Under this program, the Department transfers funds 

and provides recommendations on the uses of those funds to the Department of the Interior, which makes 

grants to the FSM and the RMI for educational services that augment the general operations of the 

educational systems of the two entities.

22
B. SPECIAL EDUCATION AND REHABILITATION SERVICES

OVERVIEW

The Administration is committed to providing Americans with disabilities the opportunities and services 

they need to succeed in school, in the workplace, and in the community. The 2021 President’s Budget

supports a wide range of programs that can improve educational, employment, and independent living 

outcomes for people with disabilities.

The $14.0 billion Request for Special Education programs focuses on improving educational and 

developmental outcomes for children with disabilities. For the Grants to States program, the Administration 

is requesting $12.9 billion, an increase of $100 million over the 2020 enacted level, to help maintain the 

Federal contribution toward meeting the excess cost of special education. Grants would cover 13 percent 

of the national average per pupil expenditure and provide an estimated average of $1,739 per child for about 

7.4 million children ages 3 through 21. This funding would support States and local educational agencies 

(LEAs) as they work to improve results for children with disabilities. Funding for the Grants for Infants 

and Families and Preschool Grants programs would be maintained at the 2020 enacted level. 

The $229.6 million Request for Special Education National Activities would maintain support for technical 

assistance, dissemination, training, and other activities that assist States, LEAs, parents, and others in 

improving results for children with disabilities. In addition, the Request includes $20.1 million for Special 

Olympics Education programs, the same as the 2020 enacted level. 

For Rehabilitation Services, the Administration requests a total of $3.8 billion in mandatory and 

discretionary funds to support comprehensive and coordinated vocational rehabilitation services for 

individuals with disabilities through training, demonstration, and technical assistance, as well as other direct 

service programs to help individuals with disabilities to live more independently in their communities. The 

Request includes $3.7 billion in mandatory funds for the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) State Grants 

program, an increase of $57.8 million over the fiscal year 2020 level consistent with the inflation increase 

specified in the authorizing statute. The Administration continues to propose elimination of the Supported 

Employment State Grants program because it duplicates support available through the VR State Grants 

program. Consequently, terminating the program would reduce unnecessary administrative burden and 

streamline program administration at the Federal and State levels, with minimal loss of services due to the 

increased funding proposed for VR State Grants. Funding for the remaining programs in the Rehabilitation 

Services account, including the Helen Keller National Center, would be maintained at the 2020 enacted 

level.

The 2021 Request also would level fund the American Printing House for the Blind, the National Technical 

Institute for the Deaf, and Gallaudet University. Total funding for these institutions would be 

$249.3 million, up $32.6 million, or 15 percent, since President Trump took office in 2017. 

23
i. SPECIAL EDUCATION

GRANTS TO STATES

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions $12,364.4 $12,764.4 $12,864.4

The Grants to States program, which is authorized under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 

(IDEA), makes formula grants that help States pay the additional costs of providing special education and 

related services to children with disabilities aged 3 through 21 years. The increased level proposed for fiscal 

year 2021 would support an estimated average per-child award of $1,739 for roughly 7.4 million children 

with disabilities, setting the Federal contribution to about 13 percent of the national average per pupil 

expenditure. 

Under the IDEA, States are required to provide a free appropriate public education to all children with 

disabilities. Services are provided in accordance with individualized education programs that are developed 

by teams that include the child’s parents, a special educator, a representative of the LEA, and a regular 

educator, if appropriate. In addition, services must be provided, to the maximum extent appropriate and in 

the least restrictive environment, which for most children means in classes with children without 

disabilities. Students with disabilities also must be included in general State and district-wide assessments, 

including the assessments required under ESEA, and States must appropriately accommodate children with 

disabilities so they can participate in these assessments, or alternate assessments for those children with the 

most significant cognitive disabilities who cannot participate in regular assessments.

PRESCHOOL GRANTS

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions $391.1 $394.1 $394.1

This program provides formula grants to help States make a free appropriate public education available to 

all children with disabilities ages 3 through 5. The Request would provide an estimated $484 per child for 

approximately 815,000 children to supplement funds provided under the Grants to States program and help 

to ensure that young children with disabilities are ready to learn when they enter school. 

GRANTS FOR INFANTS AND FAMILIES

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions $470.0 $477.0 $477.0

This program provides formula grants to help States implement statewide systems of early intervention 

services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families so that State and local agencies identify 

and serve children with disabilities early in life, when interventions can be most effective in improving 

educational outcomes. The Request would enable States to provide high-quality early intervention services 

to approximately 410,000 infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families. 

24
STATE PERSONNEL DEVELOPMENT

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions $38.6 $38.6 $38.6

This program provides competitive grants to help States reform and enhance their systems for personnel 

preparation and professional development in the areas of early intervention, educational, and transition 

services in order to improve outcomes for children with disabilities. The Request would cover the cost of 

continuation awards to State educational agencies to improve the knowledge and skills of special education 

and regular education teachers serving children with disabilities. It would also help recruit and retain 

personnel who are qualified to provide services to children with disabilities. 

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND DISSEMINATION

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions $44.3 $44.3 $44.3

This program funds competitive grants for technical assistance and dissemination of materials based on 

knowledge gained through research and practice. The Request would support continuations costs for 

projects initiated in previous years and approximately $6.1 million in new awards. 

PERSONNEL PREPARATION

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions $87.2 $89.7 $89.7

This program helps ensure that there are adequate numbers of personnel with the skills and knowledge 

necessary to help children with disabilities succeed educationally. Program activities focus both on meeting 

the demand for personnel to serve children with disabilities and improving the qualifications of these 

personnel, with particular emphasis on incorporating knowledge gained from research and practice into 

training programs. The Department uses requested funds to support (1) training for leadership personnel 

and personnel who work with children with low-incidence disabilities, (2) at least one activity in the broadly 

defined area of personnel development, and (3) enhanced support for beginning special educators. 

PARENT INFORMATION CENTERS

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions $27.4 $27.4 $27.4

These funds support centers that provide parents with the training and information they need to work with 

professionals to meet the early intervention and special education needs of their children with disabilities. 

The Request would support awards for about 94 centers as well as approximately 5 awards to provide 

technical assistance to the centers.

25
EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY, MEDIA, AND MATERIALS

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions $28.0 $29.5 $29.5

This program makes competitive awards for research, development, and other activities that promote the 

use of technology, including universal design features, in providing special education and related services. 

Funds also support media-related activities, such as providing video description and captioning of films and 

television for use in classrooms for individuals with visual and hearing impairments and increasing the 

availability of books in accessible formats for individuals with visual impairments and other print 

disabilities.

SPECIAL OLYMPICS EDUCATION PROGRAM

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions $17.6 $20.1 $20.1

This program funds the non-profit Special Olympics organization to support activities to promote the 

expansion of Special Olympics, including activities to increase the participation of individuals with 

intellectual disabilities within the United States. Funds also support the design and implementation of 

Special Olympics education programs, including character education and volunteer programs that support 

the purposes of the Special Olympics Sport and Empowerment Act of 2004, that can be integrated into 

classroom instruction and are consistent with academic content standards.

ii. REHABILITATION SERVICES

VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION STATE GRANTS

2019 2020

2021

Request

Mandatory BA in millions $3,303.6 $3,397.0 $3,667.8

Note: Pursuant to the Budget Control Act of 2011 (P.L. 112-25), the amount shown for fiscal year 2019 reflects the 6.2 percent 

reduction that went into effect on October 1, 2018, and the amount shown for fiscal year 2020 reflects the 5.9 percent reduction 

that went into effect on October 1, 2019. 

This program provides formula grants to State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies to help individuals 

with disabilities become gainfully employed. These agencies provide a wide range of services to nearly one 

million individuals with disabilities annually. Services include vocational evaluation, counseling and 

guidance, work adjustment, diagnosis and treatment of physical and mental impairments, education and 

vocational training, job placement, and post-employment assistance. States that are unable to serve all 

eligible individuals with disabilities who apply must give priority to individuals with the most significant 

disabilities.

26
The Administration’s Request would also assist States and Tribal governments to increase the participation 

of individuals with disabilities in the workforce. Giving workers with disabilities the support and the 

opportunity to acquire the skills they need to pursue in-demand jobs and careers is critical to growing our 

economy. The requested increase ($57.8 million over the fiscal year 2020 mandatory level) is consistent 

with the inflation adjustment specified in the authorizing statute (1.6 percent for 2021). In 2019, the VR 

program helped approximately 143,500 individuals with disabilities―94 percent with significant 

disabilities―achieve employment outcomes. Of the amount requested for VR State grants in 2021, 

$45.3 million would be set aside to support approximately 87 grants, including 73 continuation tribal 

grants, 13 new tribal awards, and a technical assistance training grant under the American Indian VR 

Services program. 

CLIENT ASSISTANCE STATE GRANTS

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions $13.0 $13.0 $13.0

This program makes formula grants to States for activities to inform and advise clients of the benefits 

available to them under the Rehabilitation Act, to assist them in their relationships with service providers, 

and to ensure the protection of their rights under the Act. The Request would support advocacy services for 

approximately 34,700 individuals with disabilities.

TRAINING

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions $29.4 $29.4 $29.4

The Training program makes competitive grants to State and other public or nonprofit agencies and 

organizations, including institutions of higher education, to help ensure that personnel with adequate skills 

are available to provide rehabilitation services to persons with disabilities.

DEMONSTRATION AND TRAINING

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions $5.8 $5.8 $5.8

This program supports competitive grants and contracts to expand and improve services in promoting the 

employment and independence of individuals with disabilities in the community. Most funds support parent 

centers that provide training and information to individuals with disabilities and their parents, family 

members, guardians, advocates, or authorized representatives. 

27
INDEPENDENT LIVING SERVICES FOR OLDER BLIND INDIVIDUALS

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions $33.3 $33.3 $33.3

The Independent Living Services for Older Blind Individuals program assists individuals aged 55 or older 

whose severe visual impairments make competitive employment difficult to obtain. Funds are provided 

under a formula to State VR agencies to provide services designed to help eligible individuals to adjust to

their blindness by increasing their ability to care for their individual needs. In fiscal year 2018, the program 

served approximately 55,831 individuals with severe visual impairments.

PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY OF INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions $17.7 $17.7 $17.7

The Protection and Advocacy of Individual Rights (PAIR) formula grant program funds systems in each 

State to protect and advocate for the legal and human rights of individuals with disabilities, helping them 

to pursue legal and administrative remedies to secure their rights under Federal law. The PAIR systems also 

provide information on, and referrals to, programs and services for individuals with disabilities. The 

Request would support advocacy services to approximately 46,000 individuals with disabilities.

HELEN KELLER NATIONAL CENTER FOR DEAF-BLIND YOUTHS AND ADULTS

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions $13.5 $16.0 $16.0

This program serves individuals who are deaf-blind, their families, and service providers through a national 

headquarters center with a residential training and rehabilitation facility and a network of 10 regional offices 

that provide referral, counseling, training, and technical assistance services. The funds requested would 

serve an estimated 2,200 consumers, 650 families, and 1,500 agencies and organizations through its 

regional offices, and provide direct services for approximately 65 consumers at the Center’s residential 

training and rehabilitation program. 

28
SPECIAL INSTITUTIONS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions

American Printing House for the Blind $30.4 $32.4 $32.4

National Technical Institute for the Deaf 77.5 79.5 79.5

Gallaudet University 134.4 137.4 137.4

Total 242.3 249.3 249.3

For fiscal year 2021, the Administration requests $249.3 million for Special Institutions, the same as the 

2020 enacted level and an increase of $32.6 million, or 15 percent, since President Trump took office in 

2017. 

AMERICAN PRINTING HOUSE FOR THE BLIND

The American Printing House for the Blind (APH) manufactures and distributes specially adapted 

educational materials for students who are visually impaired, offers advisory services for consumers and 

educational agencies, and conducts applied research related to the development of new products. 

NATIONAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE FOR THE DEAF

The National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) provides postsecondary technical education and 

training for students who are deaf or hard of hearing, as well as graduate education and interpreter training 

programs. NTID also conducts research and provides training related to the education and employment of 

individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. The Department maintains a contract with the Rochester 

Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York, for the operation of NTID. The Request provides support 

for operations, including funds that may be used for the Federal Endowment Grant program. 

GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY

Gallaudet University (University) offers bilingual (i.e., American Sign Language and English) 

undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education programs for individuals who are deaf or hard of 

hearing, and for hearing students wishing to pursue careers in fields related to deafness. The University also 

operates the Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center (Clerc Center), which includes two accredited 

demonstration schools serving deaf and hard of hearing elementary and secondary students: the Kendall 

Demonstration Elementary School and the Model Secondary School for the Deaf. Through its National 

Mission programs, the Clerc Center is responsible for conducting research related to deaf education and for 

the provision of training and technical assistance to professionals and families around the country. The 

Request provides support for operations of the University and the Clerc Center, including funds that may 

be used for the Federal Endowment Grant program.

29
C. CAREER, TECHNICAL AND ADULT EDUCATION

OVERVIEW

A skilled workforce is critical for both strong communities and a strong economy. President Trump 

believes expanded investment in the reauthorized Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act will 

help more Americans to obtain relevant skills and high-paying jobs, while at the same time minimizing the 

costs of postsecondary education to students and families. The President’s vision includes expanding career 

and technical education (CTE) so that every American high school provides access to high-quality CTE 

programs. 

In particular, the Administration prioritizes education and training in science, technology, engineering, and 

mathematics (STEM) fields, including computer science, because those skills help American businesses 

drive solutions to complex industry problems, develop new products for expanded markets, and grow the 

economy. 

The 2021 President’s Budget would expand and reform America’s workforce preparation system through 

a Request for nearly $2 billion in discretionary funding for CTE State Grants, up $680 million or 53 percent 

over the 2020 enacted level. In addition, the President’s Budget renews the proposal to double the American 

Competitiveness and Improvement Act fee for the Department of Labor’s H-1B visa program to help fund 

the training of American workers to fill jobs in occupations and industries that employ foreign workers with 

H-1B visas. Under the proposal, 15 percent of the revenue generated through the H-1B fees, or an estimated 

$117 million, would be allocated to support CTE State Grants, bringing the total increase for the program 

to nearly $800 million over the 2020 enacted level. In particular, the Administration will work with its 

State partners to promote the use of this increased funding to expand access to high-quality CTE programs 

at the high school level. 

The Request also would significantly expand CTE National Programs, providing $90 million to take full 

advantage of the new evidence-based Innovation and Modernization Grants authority. The proposed 

increase of $82.6 million over the 2020 enacted level would create a significant incentive for partnerships 

involving schools, postsecondary institutions, community organizations, and business and industry to 

develop, implement, and expand high-quality CTE programs, particularly in the STEM fields, including 

computer science, that drive innovation and economic growth. In total, funding for all CTE programs would 

increase by nearly $900 million. 

Finally, the Request recognized the importance of Adult Education programs in helping to increase the 

number of adults who have the basic literacy and numeracy skills required to participate successfully in 

workforce education and training programs, including meeting the basic entrance requirements of 

apprenticeship programs. 

Adult Education State Grants and National Leadership Activities would be funded at the 2020 enacted 

levels of $657 million and $13.7 million, respectively. 

30
CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions

State Grants $1,262.6 $1,282.6 $1,962.6

National Programs 7.4 7.4 90.0

Total 1,270.0 1,290.0 2,052.6

The Request provides $2.0 billion for the Career and Technical Education (CTE) State Grants program, an 

increase of $680 million, or 53 percent, over the 2020 enacted level. The Request would help State and 

local workforce training programs deliver on the promise of the Strengthening Career and Technical 

Education for the 21st Century Act by better integrating academic and career and technical education; 

promoting student attainment of challenging academic standards along with technical skills; providing 

strong linkages between secondary and postsecondary education; helping prepare special populations for 

high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand industry sectors or occupations that will allow graduates to earn a 

living wage; and provide work-based learning opportunities and opportunities to gain postsecondary credit 

while still attending high school. The President’s Budget also proposes to double fees for the H-1B visa 

program to help fund the training of American workers to fill jobs in occupations and industries that employ 

foreign workers with H-1B visas. Under the proposal, 15 percent of the revenue generated through the H-1B 

fees, or an estimated $117 million, would be allocated to support CTE State Grants, bringing the total 

request for CTE State Grants to nearly $2.1 billion. 

The $90.0 million Request for CTE National Programs provides an increase of $82.6 million to significantly 

expand the number and size of awards under the newly authorized Innovation and Modernization authority

and allowing grantees to both demonstrate new CTE models and take proven programs to scale. New 

awards would focus on STEM fields, including computer science.

ADULT EDUCATION

BA in millions 2019 2020

2021

Request

Adult Education State Grants $642.0 $657.0 $657.0

National Leadership Activities 13.7 13.7 13.7

Total 655.7 670.7 670.7

The Adult Education and Family Literacy Act is authorized through the Workforce Innovation and 

Opportunity Act, which promotes alignment of the Adult Education programs with Federal job training 

programs and the postsecondary education system. 

The Request provides $657.0 million for Adult Education State Grants, the same as the 2020 enacted level. 

The program assists adults without a high school diploma or the equivalent to become literate and obtain 

the knowledge and skills necessary for postsecondary education, employment, and economic selfsufficiency.

The $13.7 million Request for National Leadership Activities would continue to support efforts to increase 

the literacy and workforce skills of adults.

31
D. STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

OVERVIEW

The Federal student aid programs provide grant, loan, and work-study assistance to help students afford a 

postsecondary education, find employment in today’s workforce, and realize the lifelong benefits of a 

higher education. The Request for student financial assistance includes both discretionary and mandatory 

funding that would make available $125 billion in new Federal student aid to help nearly 10.5 million 

students and their families pay for college.

The Administration’s fiscal year 2021 budget focuses on reducing the complexity of student financial aid; 

encouraging responsible borrowing; and aligning education to the needs of the workforce. The Request

includes proposals that address student debt by streamlining student loan programs and repayment options, 

instituting sensible and reasonable annual and lifetime loan limits for parents and graduate students, and 

redirecting inefficiencies to prioritize debt relief for undergraduate borrowers struggling to repay. 

Additionally, the Request supports expanding Pell Grant eligibility for high-quality short-term programs, 

making Pell Grants available to certain incarcerated students to improve employment outcomes, reduce 

recidivism, and facilitate their successful reentry to society, and reforming the existing Federal Work-Study 

program to support workforce and career-oriented training opportunities for low-income undergraduate 

students. These proposals are part of the Administration’s commitment to reforming higher education 

through legislation and regulatory reform. The Administration looks forward to working with Congress to 

encourage institutions to offer accessible, affordable, and innovative education that prepares students for 

lifelong learning and success. Specific policy proposals include: 

Evaluation of a Separate Federal Student Aid

Today, the Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) manages the servicing of one of the largest consumer loan 

portfolios in the world. In addition, FSA provides oversight for more than 6,000 institutions of higher 

education that participate in the HEA Title IV programs; develops and implements the Free Application for 

Student Aid (FAFSA) process; and secures the data of the over 40 million Americans with Federal Student 

Loans. Recognizing the significant growth in the scope and complexity of FSA’s responsibilities since its 

establishment as a performance-based organization more than 20 years ago, the President’s Budget 

proposes the evaluation of FSA as a separate organization, with reformed governance. An updated 

governance model could significantly increase FSA’s ability to serve students and taxpayers by improving 

its management, oversight, and administration of the Federal student aid programs. 

Expand Pell Grant Eligibility to High-Quality Short-Term Programs

Americans are often unable to access education and training programs that would provide them with the 

skill needed to secure well-paying jobs in high-demand fields. Postsecondary programs that could help 

address this problem are often not eligible to receive Federal student aid due to time and program length 

requirements. Federal law should facilitate, not impede, students getting the skills they need to secure wellpaying jobs. To that end, the Request proposes to expand Pell Grant eligibility to students enrolled in highquality short-term programs that lead to a credential, certification, or license in a high-demand field.

32
Expand Pell Grant Eligibility to Certain Incarcerated Students 

Today, one and a half million Americans are in Federal or state prisons across the country and more than 

95 percent of these prisoners will eventually leave prison, reenter society, and face the challenge of securing 

jobs and reintegrating their lives. The Request proposes to expand Pell Grant eligibility to incarcerated 

students who are within five years of their likely release and enroll in programs that prepare them for highdemand occupations. 

Protect Pell Grants and Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants 

Pell Grants are the foundation of low- and middle-income students’ financial aid package to which other 

forms of aid are added. The Administration’s fiscal year 2021 budget would fully fund the Pell Grant 

program in 2021, maintaining a $6,345 maximum award in 2021-2022, while ensuring the program remains 

on stable financial footing. The budget would also restore nearly $400 a year to each recipient of an Iraq 

and Afghanistan Service Grant, by protecting those grants from sequestration cuts just like Pell Grants. 

Reform Campus-Based Aid Programs

Most of the roughly 6,000 institutions of postsecondary education that participate in the Federal Pell Grant 

and/or Federal Student Loan programs also participate in one or more of the Federal Campus-Based Aid 

programs. Consistent with the President’s call to bolster effective workforce development programs, the 

Request proposes to reform the Federal Work-Study (FWS) program from a model that mostly provides 

subsidized employment for campus-based jobs through Federal aid for higher income undergraduate and 

graduate students to a program that supports workforce and career-oriented opportunities for low-income 

undergraduate students. The Request also proposes to focus scarce funds on the neediest students by 

reforming the FWS institutional allocation formula to take greater consideration of the institution’s 

enrollment of Pell Grant recipients. Schools could fund individual undergraduate students through 

subsidized employment, paid internships, or other placements without limitation on the type of organization 

where the placement occurs, provided those placements are career or academically relevant. Schools could 

also serve groups of students through programs and initiatives that expose students to, or build preparedness 

for, careers. 

The Request also proposes to eliminate funding for the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity 

Grant program, which is largely duplicative of the Pell Grant program and does not effectively deliver needbased aid to the neediest students.

Protect Students and Taxpayers from Growing Student Loan Burden 

The Budget protects graduate and parent borrowers from racking up crushing debt – and taxpayers from 

the cost of forgiving excessive balances – by instituting sensible annual and lifetime loan limits. The Budget 

proposes to set an aggregate limit on Parent PLUS loans for undergraduate students of $26,500—the 

difference between the dependent undergraduate aggregate limit of $31,000 and the independent 

undergraduate aggregate limit of $57,500. In addition, dependent undergraduate students would be eligible 

to borrow an additional amount (up to the independent undergraduate limit) if the parent has already reached 

the new Parent PLUS limit. The Budget also proposes to set annual and aggregate limits of $50,000 and 

$100,000 respectively for graduate students, exclusive of any undergraduate borrowing. 

In addition, the Budget provides higher education institutions greater flexibility to ensure their students 

avoid excessive student loan debt and are able to repay their loans. As such, the Request proposes to provide 

financial aid administrators greater latitude to limit excessive loan borrowing and to allow schools to impose 

mandatory annual financial literacy training (i.e., loan counseling) in order for students to receive loan 

disbursements.

33
Simplify Student Loan Programs 

The current Federal student loan system is unnecessarily complex for borrowers to navigate. The 

Administration proposes to simplify the student loan programs by providing one loan option, all with 

reasonable limits, to each type of borrower (undergraduate, graduate, and parent). The Budget proposes to 

consolidate all undergraduate borrowing under the Unsubsidized Stafford loan program. Graduate student 

borrowing would additionally be simplified by consolidating all graduate borrowing under one graduate 

loan program with the same corresponding loan terms and conditions as current Graduate PLUS loans (note 

that in the following tables, figures for this loan program will be shown in 2021 under Grad PLUS). Parent 

borrowers would still be able to take advantage of the Parent PLUS loan program with the limit described 

above. 

Simplify Student Loan Repayment 

In recent years, income-driven repayment (IDR) plans, which offer borrowers the option of making 

affordable monthly payments based on factors such as income and family size, have grown in both 

popularity and cost. However, choosing and enrolling in the right repayment plan is overly complicated by 

the numerous statutory and regulatory repayment plans required to be offered to borrowers. In addition, the 

benefits provided by these plans are not currently focused on the most vulnerable student borrowers. 

The Request proposes to greatly streamline student loan repayment by consolidating five IDR plans into a 

single plan. The Single IDR plan would set a borrower’s monthly payment at 12.5 percent of discretionary 

income, while eliminating the standard repayment cap to ensure that high-income, high- balance borrowers 

make payments commensurate with their income. Married borrowers who file separately would have their 

payments determined based on both their and their spouse’s income. For borrowers with undergraduate 

student debt only, any balance remaining after 180 months of repayment would be forgiven. For borrowers 

with any graduate debt, any balance remaining after 30 years of repayment would be forgiven. To further 

improve and simplify loan repayment, the Request proposes auto-enrolling severely delinquent borrowers 

into the Single IDR plan. 

While retaining teacher loan forgiveness programs in order to incentivize more high-quality teachers to 

teach in high-need schools and subjects, the Request proposes eliminating inefficient subsidies in the 

student loan program to prioritize debt relief for undergraduate borrowers struggling to repay. These 

proposals include eliminating Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Subsidized Stafford loans, and the payment 

of Account Maintenance Fees to guaranty agencies. As a result of these proposals, all new undergraduate 

student loans would be unsubsidized. These proposals would also help simplify the student loan programs.

All policies for student loans would apply to loans originated on or after July 1, 2021, with an exception 

for students who borrowed their first loans prior to July 1, 2021, and who are borrowing to complete their 

current course of study. These policies together would save approximately $169 billion over 10 years. 

Increase Institutional Accountability

Investing in higher education generally provides strong value for students and taxpayers; however, some 

institutions consistently fail to deliver the type of quality education that enables students successfully to 

repay Federal student loans, leaving borrowers and taxpayers to foot the bill. A better system would require 

postsecondary institutions that accept taxpayer funds to share in the financial responsibility associated with 

student loans. The Administration plans to work with Congress to address this issue. 

34
STUDENT AID SUMMARY TABLES (BUDGET AUTHORITY) 

($ in millions) 2019 2020 2021

Request

Pell Grants

Discretionary funding $22,475.4 $22,475.4 $22,475.4

Mandatory funding1 6,758.0 7,143.0 7,009.0

Total, Pell Grants 29,233.4 29,618.4 29,484.4

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity 840.0 865.0 0.0

Federal Work-Study 1,130.0 1,180.0 500.0

TEACH Grants2 33.0 3.3 27.6

Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants3 0.4 0.5 0.0

Federal Family Education Loans4 1,562.6 6,394.4 -466.3

Federal Direct Loans5 25,014.0 72,164.1 -8,327.0

Total, Student Aid 57,813.4 110,225.7 21,218.7

35

Note: Amounts may not add due to rounding.

1 Amounts appropriated for Pell Grants for 2019, 2020, and 2021 include mandatory funding provided in the Higher Education 

Act, as amended, to fund both the base maximum award and add-on award.

2 For budget and financial management purposes, this program is operated as a credit program under the Federal Credit Reform 

Act of 1990. Budget authority reflects the estimated net present value of future Federal non-administrative costs for awards made

in a given fiscal year. The 2019 amount includes a net upward reestimate of $4.0 million. The 2020 amount includes a net downward 

re-estimate of $25.4 million due to lower than anticipated volume. The amount for 2021 reflects new loan subsidy.

3 The Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants (IASG) program is displayed as part of the Pell Grant program in 2021, reflecting 

Budget policy to move IASG into the Pell Grant program. In 2021, projected costs for this award are projected to be $599,000.

4 Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) budget authority does not include the Liquidating account. The FFEL reestimates include 

the Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act (ECASLA) reestimates. The 2019 amount includes a net upward reestimate 

of $1.6 billion. The 2020 amount includes a net upward reestimate of $6.3 billion and an upward modification of $109 million. The 

2021 amount reflects a modification savings due to the policy proposal to eliminate Account Maintenance Fees paid to guaranty

agencies. The reestimate for 2020 reflects the impact of changes on an outstanding FFEL plus ECASLA portfolio of $227 billion, 

accounting for 2.8 percent of this total outstanding portfolio.

5 The 2019 amount includes a net upward reestimate of $27.3 billion, due primarily to updated default and collection assumptions 

as well as increased borrower participation in higher- cost Income Driven Repayment (IDR) plans, and technical changes to how 

loans in IDR plans are modeled. The 2020 amount includes a net upward reestimate of $63.2 billion, due primarily to updated IDR 

income assumptions using newly available IDR application data. The Direct Loans 2019 and 2020 BA amounts also reflect upward

modifications of $350 million and $50 million respectively in each year as appropriated by Congress to support a temporary 

expansion of Public Service Loan Forgiveness (TEPSLF). The 2020 modification also includes $435 million for costs associated 

with the regulatory action to provide proactive discharge (unless the borrower elects to reject the discharge) to borrowers for whom 

the Department of Veteran Affairs provides information showing the borrower has a total and permanent disability. The 2020 

reestimate reflects the impact of changes on an outstanding Direct Loan portfolio of $1,165 billion. The Direct Loan net reestimate 

shown in 2020 accounts for approximately 5.4 percent of the total DL outstanding portfolio at the end of FY 2019.
AID AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS

($ in millions) 2019 2020 2021

Request

Pell Grants $28,246.6 $29,596.8 $30,348.2

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants 1,154.7 1,189.0 0.0

Federal Work-Study 1,152.4 1,203.8 504.4

Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants1 0.4 0.5 0.0

New Student Loans:

Federal Direct Loans2 90,660.9 92,708.0 93,760.2

TEACH Grants 85.5 92.0 93.5

Total, Aid Available to Students3 121,300.6 124,790.3 124,706.3

Unduplicated Count of Postsecondary Students

Aided by Department Programs (in 000s) 10,235 10,428 10,499

36

Note: Numbers may not add due to rounding.

1 The Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants (IASG) program is displayed as part of the Pell Grant program in 2021, reflecting 

Budget policy to move IASG into the Pell Grant program.

2 Consolidation Loans for existing borrowers will total $39.9 billion in 2019; $39.8 billion in 2020; and $40.0 billion in 2021.

3 Shows total aid generated by Department programs.
NUMBER OF STUDENT AID AWARDS

(in thousands) 2019 2020 2021

Request

Pell Grants 6,673.0 6,834.0 7,086.0

Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants 1,718.3 1,769.4 0.0

Work-Study 699.7 730.9 315.4

Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants1 0.1 0.1 0.0

New Student Loans:2

Federal Direct Loans 14,470.5 14,687.8 13,712.4

TEACH Grants 31.4 31.8 32.2

Total, Number of Student Aid Awards 23,592.9 24,054.0 21,146.0

37

Note: Numbers may not add due to rounding.

1 The Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants (IASG) program is displayed as part of the Pell Grant program in 2021, reflecting 

Budget policy to move IASG into the Pell Grant program.

2 Excludes Consolidation Loans. Number of Consolidation Loans will total 653,000 in 2019; 647,000 in 2020; and 645,000 in

2021.
FEDERAL PELL GRANT PROGRAM

BA in millions 2019 2020

2021

Request

Discretionary budget authority $22,475.4 $22,475.4 $22,475.4

Mandatory budget authority 5,388.0 5,738.0 5,887.0

Definite mandatory funding 1,370.0 1,405.0 1,122.0

Total 29,233.4 29,618.4 29,484.4

Maximum grant (in whole dollars)

Discretionary portion $5,135 $5,285 $5,285

Mandatory add-on 1,060 1,060 1,060

Total 6,195 6,345 6,345

Program costs (dollars in millions) $28,280.0 $29,631.0 $30,383.6

Aid available (dollars in millions) $28,246.6 $29,596.8 $30,348.2

Average grant (in whole dollars) $4,233 $4,331 $4,283

Recipients (in thousands) 6,673 6,834 7,086

The Federal Pell Grant program helps ensure financial access to postsecondary education by providing 

grant aid to low and moderate-income undergraduate students. The program is the largest need-based 

postsecondary student grant program, with individual awards based on the financial circumstances of 

students and their families. The 2021 discretionary Request of $22.5 billion for Pell Grants would continue 

to make college more affordable for an estimated 7.1 million students by fully funding the maximum award 

of $6,345. 

In addition, the Request proposes to expand Pell Grant eligibility to students enrolled in high-quality shortterm programs that lead to a credential, certification, or license in a high-demand field, and make Pell Grants 

available to certain incarcerated students to improve employment outcomes, reduce recidivism, and 

facilitate their successful reentry to society. The request also proposes to move the Iraq and Afghanistan 

Service Grant (IASG) program into the Pell Grant program to protect the children of our fallen service 

members from cuts to their grant of nearly $400 each year.

Campus-Based Aid Programs 

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) and Federal Work-Study are called the 

“campus-based aid” programs because they make grants directly to participating institutions, which have 

considerable flexibility to package awards based on the needs of their students. To simplify the complex 

array of student aid programs, the Request would eliminate funding for the FSEOG program. The Request

38
would also reform the Federal Work-Study program to use the funding to support workforce and careeroriented training opportunities for low-income undergraduate students. 

FEDERAL WORK-STUDY 

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions $1,130.0 $1,180.0 $500.0

Aid available (dollars in millions) $1,152.4 $1,203.8 $504.4

Average award (in whole dollars) $1,647 $1,647 $1,599

Recipients (in thousands) 700 731 315

The Federal Work-Study program provides grants to participating institutions to pay up to 75 percent of the 

wages of eligible undergraduate and graduate students working part-time to help pay their college costs. 

The school or another eligible employer provides the balance of the student’s wages. The Request proposes 

to reduce Federal Work-Study to $500.0 million—a level which, when combined with institutional 

matching funds, would make available more than $504 million to an estimated 315,000 recipients. Funds 

are allocated to institutions according to a statutory formula and individual award amounts are determined 

at the discretion of institutional financial aid administrators. The Request would dramatically reform the 

Federal Work-Study program to allocate funding to institutions enrolling high numbers of Pell Grant 

recipients that would support workforce and career-oriented training opportunities for low-income 

undergraduate students. 

IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN SERVICE GRANTS 

2019 2020 2021

Request

BA in thousands $430 $490 —

Aid available (dollars in thousands) $445 $523 —

Average award (in whole dollars)

1 $5,300 $5,626 —

Recipients (2) (2) —

1 Average award amounts for 2019 and 2020 reflect impact of sequestration. 

2 Number of recipients estimated to be fewer than 500.

The Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant (IASG) program provides non-need-based grants to students whose 

parent or guardian was a member of the Armed Forces who died in Iraq or Afghanistan as a result of

39
performing military service after September 11, 2001. Of those dependents of deceased service men and 

women, students who fall below the financial criteria for the Pell Grant program are eligible for a maximum 

Pell Grant and those who do not are eligible to receive a Service Grant. Additionally, students must be 24 

years old or younger; or, if older than 24, must have been enrolled in an institution of higher education at 

the time of the parent or guardian’s death. Service Grants are equal to the maximum Pell Grant for a given 

award year, which is $6,345 for the 2020–2021 award year.

As a result of sequestration, the current IASG program has, since award year 2012-2013, annually reduced 

the maximum grant for which recipients are eligible. Thus far, 246 students have lost approximately 

$170,000 in grant aid due to sequestration. The Request proposes moving the IASG program to the Pell 

Grant program. This change will help to ensure the children of our fallen service members receive a full 

aid award, exempt from cuts of nearly $400 a year due to sequestration.

TEACH GRANTS 

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions $33.01 $3.31 $27.61

Aid available to students (in millions) $85.5 $92.0 $93.5

Maximum grant (in whole dollars) $4,000 $4,000 $4,000

Average grant (in whole dollars) $2,727 $2,896 $2,905

Recipients (in thousands) 31.4 31.8 32.2

1 The 2019 amount includes a net upward reestimate of $4.0 million. The 2020 amount includes a net downward reestimate of 

$25.4 million. The amount for 2021 reflects new loan subsidy.

The TEACH Grant program awards annual grants of up to $4,000 to eligible undergraduate and graduate 

students who agree to serve, within 8 years of graduation, as full-time teachers in mathematics, science, 

foreign language, bilingual education, special education, or reading at a high-need school for not less than

4 years. For students who fail to fulfill this service requirement, grants are converted to Direct Unsubsidized 

Stafford Loans with interest accrued from the date the grants were awarded. The 2020 budget authority 

amount differs from the 2019 and 2021 levels significantly due to the inclusion of -$25.4 million for a 

downward reestimate due primarily to lower than anticipated volume. The Administration projects that 

64 percent of students receiving TEACH Grants will have their grants converted to loans. For budget and 

financial management purposes, the TEACH program is operated as a loan program with 100 percent 

forgiveness of outstanding principal and interest upon completion of a student’s service requirement. 

Consistent with the requirements of the Credit Reform Act of 1990, budget authority for this program 

reflects the estimated net present value of all future non-administrative Federal costs associated with awards 

made in a given fiscal year. 

40
FEDERAL FAMILY EDUCATION LOANS AND DIRECT LOANS

BA in millions 2019 2020

2021

Request

Federal Family Education Loans1

Net modification of existing loans — $108.8 $-466.3 2

Net reestimate of existing loans 1,562.63,4 $6,285.63,4 —

Total, FFEL program BA 1,562.6 6,394.4 -466.3

Federal Direct Loans

New loans subsidies (BA) -1,646.43 8,473.23 -8,327.0 3

Net modification of existing loans 350.0 485.02 —

Net reestimate of existing loans 26,310.44 63,205.94 —

Total, new budget authority 25,014.0 72,164.1 -8,327.0

Total, student loans (BA) 26,576.6 78,449.7 -8,793.3

41

1 FFEL budget authority does not include the liquidating account.

2 Under Credit Reform, costs or savings related to the impact of enacted policy changes on existing loans are reflected in the current 

year. The 2021 FFEL modification reflects a savings associated with the policy proposal to eliminate payment of Account 

Maintenance Fees to guaranty agencies. The 2019 and 2020 DL modifications include $350 million and $50 million respectively 

appropriated in each fiscal year to support a temporary expansion of Public Service Loan Forgiveness (TEPSLF). The 2020 

modification also includes $435 million for costs associated with the regulatory action to provide proactive discharge (unless the 

borrower elects to reject the discharge) to borrowers for whom the Department of Veteran Affairs provides information showing

the borrower has a total and permanent disability.

3 Total includes amount for Consolidation Loans.

4 Under Credit Reform, the subsidy amounts are reestimated annually in both Direct Loans and FFEL to account for changes in 

long-term projections. Reestimates and modifications reflect the impact of changes on outstanding portfolios of $174 billion for

FFEL, $53 billion for ECASLA, and $1,165 billion for Direct Loans. Total reestimates and modifications shown in 2020 account 

for approximately 5 percent of the total outstanding portfolio at the end of fiscal year 2019.
New Loan Volume

(in millions)

Direct Loans:

2019 2020 2021 

Request

Stafford loans $19,419.5 $19,685.9 $15,732.9

Unsubsidized Stafford loans 47,823.4 48,860.6 46,130.4

Parent PLUS loans 12,513.9 12,893.2 13,024.7

Grad PLUS loans 10,904.1 11,268.3 18,872.2

Total1 90,660.91 92,708.01 93,760.22

Number of New Loans 

(in thousands)

Direct Loans:

2019 2020 2021 

Request

Stafford loans 5,536 5,623 4,479

Unsubsidized Stafford loans 7,464 7,581 7,448

Parent PLUS loans 875 882 903

Grad PLUS loans 595 602 882

Total 14,4702 14,6882 13,7122

42

1 Amounts in 2021 reflect budget proposals to eliminate new Subsidized Stafford borrowing, institute limits on Parent PLUS and 

graduate borrowing, and consolidate all graduate borrowing under one graduate loan program with the same terms and conditions

as Graduate PLUS loans. Amounts for the consolidated graduate loan program in 2021 are shown under Grad PLUS.

2 Consolidation Loans for existing borrowers will total $39.9 billion and 653,000 loans in 2019, $39.8 billion and 647,000 loans 

in 2020, and $40.0 billion and 645,000 loans in 2021.

The Department of Education operates two major student loan programs—the Federal Family Education 

Loan (FFEL) program and the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) program—but since 

July 1, 2010, the Department has made new loans only through the Direct Loan program. The legacy FFEL 

program made loans to students and their families through private lenders, with loans guaranteed by the 

Federal Government and administered by State and private nonprofit guaranty agencies. To generate 

savings to help put the Nation on a more sustainable fiscal path, the Request proposes to eliminate payments 

of Account Maintenance Fees to guaranty agencies.
Under the Direct Loan program, the Federal Government provides the loan capital and schools disburse 

loan funds to students. The Department carries out its loan origination and servicing functions under Direct 

Loans through private contractors. The Direct Loan program features four types of loans with fixed interest 

rates that are set annually (note that these descriptions are for current law—the 2021 Budget proposes 

several reforms to simplify and streamline student loan programs and repayment options):

• Stafford Loans are low-interest loans with annual and aggregate limits available to undergraduate 

students based on financial need. The Federal Government pays the interest while the student is in 

school and during certain grace and deferment periods. The current interest rate for undergraduate 

loans made in award year 2019–2020 is 4.53 percent. 

• Unsubsidized Stafford Loans are low-interest loans with annual and aggregate limits available to 

undergraduate and graduate students, regardless of financial need. The Federal Government does 

not pay interest for the student during in-school, grace, and deferment periods. The interest rate is

4.53 percent for undergraduate borrowers and 6.08 percent for graduate and professional borrowers 

in award year 2019-2020. 

• PLUS Loans are available to parents of dependent undergraduate students and to graduate and 

professional students. There is no annual or aggregate limit on the amount that can be borrowed 

other than the cost of attendance minus other student financial aid. The interest rate is 7.08 percent 

in award year 2019–2020, and the Federal Government does not pay interest during in-school, 

grace, and deferment periods. 

• Consolidation Loans allow borrowers with multiple student loans who meet certain criteria to 

combine their loans and extend their repayment schedules. The rate for both FFEL and Direct 

Consolidation Loans is based on the weighted average of loans consolidated rounded up to the 

nearest one-eighth of 1 percent. The resulting rate for the consolidated loan is then fixed for the life 

of the loan.

The Request proposes to simplify the federal student loan programs and student loan repayment, institute 

sensible and reasonable annual and lifetime loan limits for parents and graduate students and eliminate 

inefficient subsidies in the student loan program to prioritize debt relief for undergraduate borrowers

struggling to repay.

43
E. HIGHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS

OVERVIEW

The Request includes $1.8 billion in discretionary funds for Higher Education programs aimed at improving 

student achievement and increasing access to a high-quality education for all students.

To foster more and better opportunities in higher education for communities that are often underserved, the 

Request provides $1.1 billion for programs that serve high proportions of minority students. This includes 

$343 million for Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) and $749.2 million for programs that focus on 

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), including Howard University and HBCU Capital 

Financing, consistent with the President's Executive Order on HBCUs, which calls for efforts to strengthen 

the capacity of HBCUs to provide the highest-quality education and to provide opportunities for HBCU 

participation in Federal programs. The recently enacted FUTURE Act would provide another $255 million 

in mandatory funding for HBCUs ($85 million) and MSIs ($170 million).

A highlight of the 2021 Request for HBCUs and MSIs is a $150 million request for the Minority Science 

and Engineering Improvement Program (MSEIP) program, an increase of $137.4 million over the 2020 

enacted level, to support a HBCU/MSI STEM Opportunity Zones Initiative that would fund STEM-based 

projects led by HBCUs and MSIs located in Opportunity Zones. Funds could be used to create or expand 

STEM academic pipelines aligned with the local business community; improve public-private STEM 

partnerships; launch STEM entrepreneurship incubators; and incentivize or complement investment from 

Opportunity Funds for STEM-focused capital projects (e.g. facilities for incubators) that will help prepare 

the future generation of STEM professionals. The expanded MSEIP would target $50 million to HBCUs, 

$50 million to Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs), and $50 million to all other MSIs.

The Request includes $196.3 million in discretionary funding to renew the Administration’s proposal for a 

Consolidated MSI Grant program, which would streamline grantmaking by consolidating six discretionary 

MSI programs, including the HEA Title V Aid for Hispanic-Serving Institutions programs, that have similar 

purposes and activities, into a single institutional formula grant program. The 2021 Request also would add 

to this proposal $140 million in funding for five MSI mandatory authorities recently reauthorized by the 

FUTURE ACT, bringing total budget authority for the proposed Consolidated MSI Grant program to 

$336.3 million.

The 2021 Request continues to call for the transformation of the TRIO programs from a complex and 

difficult to administer set of Federal competitive grant programs to a single Student Supports Block Grant 

to States that would support activities—including current TRIO activities and those authorized under 

Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) and the College 

Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP)—to help low-income and other disadvantaged students progress 

through the academic pipeline from middle school through postsecondary education. This proposal reflects 

an overall Administration strategy—also seen in the Elementary and Secondary Education for the 

Disadvantaged Block Grant initiative—of restoring authority and responsibility over education at all levels 

from the Federal Government to the States, recognizing the need for fiscal responsibility in light of the 

limited Federal role in education, and reducing the size and cost of the Federal education bureaucracy. The 

Request for the TRIO Student Supports Block Grant is $950 million, the same as the 2020 President’s 

Budget and a reduction of $140 million from the 2020 enacted level for the current TRIO programs. 

To help fund evidence building to improve postsecondary education, the Request also proposes through 

appropriations language a new HEA pooled evaluation authority to improve data collection and conduct 

rigorous research and evaluations of the Department’s postsecondary programs. The pooled evaluation 

44
authority is modeled after the successful authority incorporated into the Elementary and Secondary Act by 

the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015. The authority would permit the Department to reserve up to

0.5 percent of funding appropriated for each HEA program, with the exception of the Pell Grant program 

and the Student Aid Administration account. 

The Request eliminates funding for a number of higher education programs that duplicate other programs, 

are more appropriately supported with State, local, institutional, or private funds, are outside of the 

Department’s core mission, or have not shown evidence of effectiveness. These programs include the 

Strengthening Institutions Program, International Education and Foreign Language Studies programs, 

GEAR UP, Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need, and the Fund for the Improvement of 

Postsecondary Education. The Teacher Quality Partnership program would be consolidated in the 

Elementary and Secondary Education for the Disadvantaged Block Grant. 

45
AID FOR INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

BA in millions

2019 2020

2021

Request

Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP) $99.9 $107.9 —

Strengthening Tribally Controlled Colleges 

and Universities (TCCUs) 31.9 36.6 $36.6

Strengthening Tribally Controlled Colleges 

and Universities (mandatory TCCUs) 28.1

1

28.2

1

30.0

Strengthening Alaska Native and Native 

Hawaiian-serving Institutions (ANNHs) 15.9 18.3 —

Strengthening Alaska Native and Native 

Hawaiian-serving Institutions 

(mandatory ANNHs) 14.1114.11—

Strengthening Historically Black Colleges 

and Universities (HBCUs) 282.4 324.8 324.8

Strengthening Historically Black Colleges 

and Universities (mandatory HBCUs) 79.71 80.01 85.0

Strengthening Historically Black Graduate 

Institutions (HBGIs) 73.0 84.0 84.0

Strengthening HBCU Master’s Program 8.7 10.0 10.0

Strengthening Predominantly Black 

Institutions (PBIs) 11.5 13.2 —

Strengthening Predominantly Black 

Institutions (mandatory PBIs) 14.1

1

14.1

1 —

Strengthening Asian American- and Native 

American Pacific Islander-serving 

Institutions (AANAPISIs) 3.9 4.4 —

Strengthening Asian American- and Native 

American Pacific Islander-serving 

Institutions (mandatory AANAPISIs) 4.71 4.71 —

Strengthening Native American-serving 

nontribal institutions (NASNTIs) 3.9 4.4 —

Strengthening Native American-serving 

nontribal institutions (mandatory 

NASNTIs) 4.71 4.71 —

Minority Science and Engineering 

Improvement (MSEIP) 11.1 12.6 150.0

Total 687.5 762.1 720.4

Discretionary 542.1 616.3 605.4

Mandatory 145.4 145.9 115.0

1 Mandatory appropriations are provided under Section 371 of the HEA, as amended by P.L. 111-152. These amounts include 

sequester reductions of 6.2 percent in 2019 and 5.9 percent in 2020 that went into effect October 1, 2018, and October 1, 2019, 

respectively, pursuant to the Budget Control Act of 2011 (P.L. 112-25).

46
The Request for Aid for Institutional Development (Title III) continues to support institutions that serve 

large percentages of minority and low-income students. Title III funding, which is awarded both 

competitively and by a formula that directs aid to specified institutions, helps provide equal educational 

opportunity and strong academic programs for these students and enhances the financial stability of the 

institutions that serve them. Funds may be used to plan, develop, and implement activities that support 

student services, interventions that promote degree completion, and faculty development; administrative 

management; development and improvement of academic programs; joint use of libraries and laboratories; 

construction, maintenance, and renovation of instructional facilities; and endowment funds. 

Specifically, for fiscal year 2021, the Administration requests a total of $605.4 million for the Strengthening 

HBCUs program, Strengthening HBGIs program, Strengthening HBCU Master’s Program, Strengthening 

TCCUs, and MSEIP.

Strengthening HBCUs supports any accredited, legally authorized HBCU that was established prior to 1964 

and which retains a principal mission of educating African-Americans. Fiscal year 2021 funding would 

support 97 HBCUs. 

Strengthening HBGIs supports 24 postgraduate institutions with schools of law, medical schools, or other 

graduate programs. 

Strengthening HBCU Master’s Program supports 18 HBCUs, specified in Section 723 of the HEA, 

determined to be making a substantial contribution to graduate education opportunities for Black Americans 

at the master’s level in mathematics, engineering, the physical or natural sciences, computer science, 

information technology, nursing, allied health, or other scientific disciplines. 

Strengthening TCCUs supports 35 Tribal Colleges and Universities located primarily in remote areas not 

served by other postsecondary education institutions. These institutions offer a broad range of degree and 

vocational certificate programs to students for whom these educational opportunities would otherwise be 

geographically and culturally inaccessible. 

A $150 million Request for the MSEIP program, an increase of $137.4 million over the 2020 enacted level, 

would support STEM-based projects led by HBCUs and MSIs located in Opportunity Zones that would 

create or expand STEM academic pipelines, launch STEM entrepreneurship incubators, and promote 

investment from Opportunity Funds for STEM-focused capital projects (e.g. facilities for incubators). The 

expanded MSEIP would target $50 million to HBCUs, $50 million to Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs), 

and $50 million to all other MSIs. 

The Request also renews and expands the Administration’s Consolidated MSI Grant proposal that would 

combine 11 programs into a single institutional formula grant program, including three programs currently 

authorized in HEA Title V and the following eight programs (counting both mandatory and discretionary 

authorities) authorized in HEA Title III: Strengthening Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving 

Institutions program, Strengthening Predominantly Black Institutions program, Strengthening Asian 

American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving Institutions program, Strengthening Native 

American-serving Nontribal Institutions program. The 2021 Request would add $140 million in mandatory 

MSI funding provided under the FUTURE ACT to the $196.3 million in discretionary funds for a total of 

$336.3 million in budget authority for new Consolidated MSI Grants. This proposal reflects the 

Administration’s emphasis on streamlining grantmaking and reducing administrative burden by reducing 

the number of programs with similar purposes and redundant activities, improving alignment between 

Federal resources and need, and shrinking the Federal bureaucracy. During the initial phase-in period of 

the new program, the Department would pay continuation awards to existing grantees through the end of 

their approved project periods. 

47
AID FOR HISPANIC-SERVING INSTITUTIONS

BA in millions

2019 2020

2021

Request

Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions 

(HSIs) (discretionary) $124.4 $143.1 —

Mandatory Developing HSI STEM and 

Articulation Programs 93.8

1 94.11 —

Promoting Postbaccalaureate Opportunities for 

Hispanic Americans (discretionary) 11.2 12.8 —

Total 229.4 250.0 —

Discretionary 135.6 155.9 —

Mandatory 93.8

1 94.11 —

1 Mandatory appropriations are provided under Section 371 of the HEA, as amended by P.L. 111-152. These amounts include 

sequester reductions of 6.2 percent in 2019 and 5.9 percent in 2020 that went into effect October 1, 2018, and October 1, 2019, 

respectively, pursuant to the Budget Control Act of 2011 (P.L. 112-25).

For fiscal year 2021, the Administration is proposing changes in how both discretionary and mandatory 

funds are administered to eligible institutions of higher education defined as HSIs. Currently, the Higher 

Education Act (HEA) authorizes numerous Title III and Title V programs that have similar purposes and 

activities; each program conducts its own competition for new awards. Rather than investing significant 

Department and MSI staff time and resources into running multiple competitions, the Administration is 

proposing a Consolidated MSI Grant program, which would combine 11 existing HEA Title III/V program

authorities, including the three HSI programs, into a single new authority that would make formula-based 

awards to institutions that serve large numbers of minority students. HSIs make up the majority of 

institutions that would be served through this proposed program. During the initial phase-in of the new 

program, the Department would make continuation awards to current grantees through the end of their 

approved project periods, as described in the Consolidated MSI Grant section.

CONSOLIDATED MINORITY-SERVING INSTITUTIONS (MSI) GRANT

BA in millions

2019 2020 2021

Request

Discretionary — — $196.3

Mandatory — — 140.0

Total — — 336.3

48
The Administration is proposing an expanded Consolidated MSI Grant program that would combine six 

discretionary programs totaling $196.3 million in discretionary funding, the same level as the fiscal year 

2020 appropriation for the consolidated programs, together with five mandatory authorities funded at $140 

million in 2021, into a single institutional formula grant program. These programs include the following:

• Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving Institutions (mandatory and discretionary) 

• Predominantly Black Institutions (mandatory and discretionary) 

• Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving Institutions (mandatory and 

discretionary)

• Native American-serving Nontribal Institutions (mandatory and discretionary) 

• Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (discretionary only) 

• Developing HSI STEM and Articulation Programs (mandatory only) 

• Promoting Postbaccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans (discretionary only) 

The proposed consolidation of these programs reflects the Administration’s emphasis on reducing 

duplication in Federal education programs, streamlining program administration, reducing burden for 

grantees, and re-allocating limited Federal staff resources and expertise from competition-related activities 

to grant monitoring and performance improvement. 

Under the proposal, institutions that meet the current eligibility requirements under the existing authorities 

would receive formula allocations. The Administration is also considering a requirement for institutions to 

meet a minimum Pell graduation rate threshold to maintain eligibility for funding. During the transition to 

the proposed program, the Department would pay continuation awards to current grantees under the

programs proposed for consolidation through the end of their project periods. The Request would support 

$163.0 million in new awards ($131.7 million in fiscal year 2020 mandatory carryover funds and 

$31.3 million in discretionary funds) and $165.0 million in discretionary continuation awards. 

TRIBALLY CONTROLLED POSTSECONDARY CAREER AND TECHNICAL INSTITUTIONS

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions $9.6 $10.0 $10.0

The Request would support awards to tribally controlled postsecondary career and technical institutions 

that meet the program’s eligibility requirements to fund instructional and student support services under the 

Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act. 

SPECIAL PROGRAMS FOR MIGRANT STUDENTS

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions $45.6 $44.6 —

The Special Programs for Migrant Students includes the High School Equivalency Program (HEP), which 

funds competitively selected projects to help low-income migratory and seasonal farmworkers and fishers 

49
earn high school diplomas or equivalency certificates, and the College Assistance Migrant Program 

(CAMP), which makes competitive grants to provide stipends and special services, such as tutoring and 

counseling, to migratory students who are in their first year of college. HEP and CAMP programs focus on 

finding and assisting migratory youth who have not been able—due to limited or inconsistent educational 

opportunity—to complete high school or go on to postsecondary education. The Request would fold this 

program into two of the major reform proposals included in the 2021 President’s Budget: HEP activities 

would be consolidated into the Elementary and Secondary Education for the Disadvantaged Block Grant, 

which would give States and school districts flexibility to support similar activities in response to local 

needs and circumstances, and CAMP would be consolidated into the TRIO Student Supports Block Grant, 

under which States would have discretion to use funds to support CAMP-like activities. The Department 

would pay continuation awards to existing grantees under both programs through the end of their approved 

project periods. 

FEDERAL TRIO PROGRAMS

BA in millions 2019 2020 

2021

Request 

Talent Search $179.9 $170.0 —

Upward Bound 343.3 353.3 —

Veterans Upward Bound 19.1 19.8 —

Upward Bound Math-Science 64.2 65.5 —

Educational Opportunity Centers 54.1 55.6 —

Student Support Services 335.4 374.2 —

McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement 59.1 42.4 —

Staff Training 3.2 3.3 —

Evaluation 0.0 0.4 —

Administration/Peer Review 1.7 5.5 —

TRIO Student Supports Block Grant

 New awards — — $73.7

 Continuation awards — — 876.3

Total 1,060.0 1,090.0 950.0

Note: Amounts may not add due to rounding.

Federal TRIO programs are among the Department’s largest investments aimed at getting more students 

prepared for, into, and through postsecondary education. The Request would transition the Federal TRIO 

Programs from a series of competitive grant programs to a single Student Supports Block Grant to States 

that would support activities—including current TRIO activities and those authorized under Gaining Early 

Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) and the College Assistance Migrant 

Program (CAMP) —to help low-income and other disadvantaged students progress through the academic 

pipeline from middle school through postsecondary education. This proposal would give States, which are 

in the best position to understand the postsecondary transition and support needs of their students and 

institutions, flexibility to allocate TRIO resources to those activities most likely to improve postsecondary 

50
access and outcomes for their students. The proposal also would enable the Department to re-allocate 

limited staff resources from competition-related activities to grant monitoring, performance improvement, 

and program evaluation. During the multi-year transition to the new TRIO Student Supports Block Grant, 

the Department would pay continuation awards for all current TRIO grantees through the end of their 

project periods, with the remaining funds distributed to States through the proposed formula. Finally, the 

proposal would remove the current statutory provisions limiting the Department’s ability to rigorously 

evaluate the effectiveness of the TRIO programs.

TRANSITION PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES INTO HIGHER 

EDUCATION (TPSID)

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions $11.8 $11.8 $11.8

The TPSID program supports competitive grants awarded to institutions of higher education or consortia 

of such institutions to create or expand high-quality, inclusive model comprehensive transition and 

postsecondary programs for students with intellectual disabilities. The Request would support 

approximately 25 continuation awards, as well as a Coordinating Center that provides technical assistance 

to institutions with transition programs.

CHILD CARE ACCESS MEANS PARENTS IN SCHOOL 

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions $50.0 $53.0 $15.1

This competitive grant program supports the participation of low-income parents in postsecondary 

education through campus-based childcare services. Grants made to institutions of higher education must 

be used to supplement childcare services or start a new program, not to supplant funds for current childcare 

services. The program gives priority to institutions that leverage local or institutional resources and employ 

a sliding fee scale.

TEACHER QUALITY PARTNERSHIP (TQP) 

2019 2020

2021

Request

BA in millions $43.1 $50.1 —

This program supports projects that improve the preparation of teachers; enhance professional development 

activities for teachers; strengthen accountability for teacher preparation programs; recruit highly qualified 

individuals, including minorities, into the teaching profession; and attract talented professionals from 

outside the teaching pipeline into the classroom. The Request would consolidate TQP into the Elementary 

and Secondary Education for the Disadvantaged Block Grant, giving States and school districts flexibility 

to support similar activities in response to local needs and circumstances. The Department would reserve 

51
funds under the ESED Block Grant sufficient to pay continuation awards to existing grantees through the 

end of their approved project periods. 

HOWARD UNIVERSITY

BA in millions 2019 2020

2021

Request

General Support $209.2 $212.7 $212.7

Howard University Hospital 27.3 27.3 27.3

Total 236.5 240.0 240.0

Howard University is a congressionally chartered HBCU that plays an important role in providing 

disadvantaged individuals, particularly Blacks or African-Americans, with access to a high quality 

postsecondary education. The 2021 Request would maintain strong support for Howard University’s 

academic and research programs, serving undergraduate, graduate, and professional students and the 

Howard University Hospital. Federal support for the Hospital enables provision of medical, dental, and 

other health-related education, research, and training opportunities for graduate and professional students. 

The Request includes $3.4 million for Howard University’s endowment, which is designed to assist the 

University in increasing its financial strength and independence.

ACADEMIC FACILITIES 

BA in millions

2019 2020

2021

Request

HBCU Capital Financing Program $40.5 $46.5 $40.5

CHAFL Federal Administration 0.4 0.4 0.4

These programs support the construction, reconstruction, and renovation of academic facilities at 

institutions of higher education. The Request for the HBCU Capital Financing Program would support the 

management and servicing of loan guarantees on previously issued loans, and includes $20 million in loan 

subsidy that would allow the program to guarantee $220 million in new loans in 2020 and $20 million for 

loan deferments initially granted in fiscal year 2018. Funds also would be used to continue technical 

assistance services to help HBCUs increase their fiscal stability and improve their access to capital markets. 

The Administration is seeking legislative authority to raise the limits on total loan authority and the sublimits on authority for loans to public and private HBCUs. 

Funding for College Housing Administration Facilities Loans (CHAFL) Federal Administration is used 

solely to manage and service existing portfolios of facilities loans and grants made in prior years.

52
F. INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION SCIENCES

OVERVIEW

The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) supports sustained programs of research, statistics, and evaluation 

to study and provide solutions to the challenges faced by schools, teachers, and learners. Investment in 

research, statistics, and evaluation activities is critical in order to identify effective instructional and 

program practices, track student achievement, and measure the impact of educational reform. Through its 

four centers—the National Center for Education Research, the National Center for Education Statistics, the 

National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance, and the National Center for Special 

Education Research—IES ensures the Federal investment in education research, statistics, and evaluation 

is of high quality and relevant to the needs of educators and policymakers. The Administration requests 

$565.4 million for IES activities, $58 million less than 2020 enacted level. As in previous years, the Request

would not fund the Regional Education Laboratories or the Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems program. 

RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND DISSEMINATION

2021

2019 2020 Request

BA in millions $192.7 $195.9 $195.9

The Request supports critical investments in education research, development, dissemination, and 

evaluation that provide parents, teachers, schools, and policymakers with evidence-based information on 

effective educational practices. The Request would enable IES to sustain its efforts to produce and support 

the use of evidence-based practices in the field and in the Department, fund new research awards, and 

continue disseminating information about what works in education to States and localities.

STATISTICS

2021

2019 2020 Request

BA in millions $109.5 $110.5 $113.5

The Department’s Statistics program—operated primarily through competitively awarded contracts 

administered by National Center for Education Statistics—provides general statistics about trends in 

education, collects data to monitor reform and measure educational progress, and informs the IES research 

agenda. The Request would support the collection, analysis, and dissemination of education-related 

statistics in response to both legislative requirements and to the particular needs of data providers, data 

users, and educational researchers. The Request includes $3 million to support the Privacy Technical 

Assistance Center, which serves as a valuable resource center to State and local educational agencies, the 

postsecondary community, and other parties engaged in building and using education data systems on issues 

related to privacy, security, and confidentiality of student records. 

53
ASSESSMENT 

2021

2019 2020 Request

BA in millions $158.7 $160.7 $188.7

The Request includes a $28 million increase to maintain a robust assessment schedule under the ongoing 

National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). NAEP measures and reports on the status of and 

trends in student learning over time on a subject-by-subject basis and makes objective information on 

student performance available to policymakers, educators, parents, and the public. As the largest nationally 

representative and continuing assessment of what American students know and can do, NAEP has become 

a key measure of our Nation’s educational performance. The Request maintains level funding for the 

National Assessment Governing Board (NAGB), which formulates policy for NAEP. 

RESEARCH IN SPECIAL EDUCATION 

2021

2019 2020 Request

BA in millions $56.0 $56.5 $56.5

Funds support a comprehensive program of special education research designed to expand the knowledge 

and understanding of infants, toddlers, and children with disabilities; answer questions about how children 

with disabilities develop and learn; and learn how best to support their development through improved 

teaching and special education and related services. Continued investment in such long-term programs of 

research is necessary to accumulate empirical knowledge and develop evidence-based practices and policies 

that will result in improved academic achievement, social and emotional well- being, behavior, and physical 

development for children with disabilities.

SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDIES AND EVALUATIONS 

2021

2019 2020 Request

BA in millions $10.8 $10.8 $10.8

This program supports studies to assess the implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education 

Act (IDEA) and the effectiveness of State and local efforts to provide special education and early 

intervention programs and services to infants, toddlers, and children with disabilities. The Request would 

support an impact evaluation of training in transition supports, a study of State and local implementation of 

IDEA, a longitudinal study of post-high school outcomes for youth with disabilities, and special education 

reports from the What Works Clearinghouse.

54
III. PROGRAMS PROPOSED FOR ELIMINATION

The Request supports the Administration’s commitment to eliminating funding for programs that have achieved 

their original purpose, duplicate other programs, are narrowly focused, or are unable to demonstrate 

effectiveness. Overall, 11 programs would be eliminated, for an annual savings of $1.6 billion compared to the 

fiscal year 2020 appropriation. The table below identifies each program—in alphabetical order—and respective 

funding (i.e., fiscal year 2020 Budget Authority). A brief summary of each program follows the table. 

2020 BA (in millions)

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants 865.0

Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education 24.5

Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs 365.0

Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need 23.0

Impact Aid Payments for Federal Property 75.3

International Education and Foreign Language Studies Domestic Programs 68.1

International Education and Foreign Language Studies Overseas Programs 8.1

Regional Educational Laboratories 56.0

Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems 33.0

Strengthening Institutions 107.9

Supported Employment State Grants 22.5

Total $1,648.4

2020 BA 

(in millions)

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants $865.0 

This program allocates money to institutions using a statutory formula; the institutions then use the money 

to award need-based aid to students. This program duplicates the Pell Grant program and its allocation 

formula is not targeted efficiently, basing most of the allocation on prior allocation levels.

55
2020 BA

(in millions)

Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education $24.5

This program supports institutional reforms and strategies designed to improve institutional effectiveness 

and to expand postsecondary opportunities. The Administration believes that no additional funds are 

required for the demonstration activities funded under this program in prior years. 

Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs $365.0

This program provides funds to States and partnerships for early college preparation and awareness 

activities to help low-income middle and high school students prepare to pursue postsecondary education. 

Many of the activities funded under GEAR UP can be supported through the proposed TRIO Student 

Supports Block Grant as well as the proposed Elementary and Secondary Education for the Disadvantaged 

Block Grant. 

Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need $23.0

GAANN provides fellowships, through competitive grants to postsecondary institutions, to graduate 

students with superior ability and high financial need studying in areas of national need. This program 

supports activities that are more appropriately supported through other Federal, State, local, and private 

funds.

Impact Aid Payments for Federal Property $75.3 

This authority provides payments to local educational agencies without regard to the presence of federally 

connected children and thus does not necessarily support the provision of educational services for federally 

connected children. Most districts that receive these payments have been funded for 40 years or more—

sufficient time to adjust to the removal of Federal property from their tax rolls.

International Education and Foreign Language Studies Domestic Programs $68.1

This program is designed to strengthen the capability and performance of American education in foreign 

languages and in international studies. This program supports activities that are better advanced by other 

agencies whose primary mission is national security.

56
2020 BA

(in millions)

International Education and Foreign Language Studies Overseas Programs $8.1

This program improves secondary and postsecondary teaching and research concerning other cultures and 

languages, training of specialists, and the American public's general understanding of the peoples of other 

countries. This program supports activities that are better advanced by other agencies whose primary

mission is national security.

Regional Educational Laboratories $56.0

This program supports dissemination and technical assistance activities that are duplicative of existing 

investments in areas of training, technical assistance, and professional development to build State capacity 

to provide high-quality education. Past surveys and evaluations suggest that the technical assistance 

currently provided through this program may be underutilized or not relevant to State and district needs. 

Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems $33.0

This program provides competitive grants to State educational agencies to enable them to design, develop, 

and implement Statewide longitudinal data systems to efficiently and accurately collect, manage, and 

analyze individual student data. The program, which was intended to supplement other State or local funds, 

has fulfilled its original purpose and is no longer necessary, and States would be able to support similar 

activities through the Elementary and Secondary Education for the Disadvantaged Block Grant. 

Strengthening Institutions $107.9 

This program provides funds that may be used to support a wide variety of institutional support activities, 

including construction, maintenance, renovation, and improvement of instructional facilities. The program 

duplicates activities that may be supported with other Federal funds, including the proposed Consolidated 

MSI Grant program.

Supported Employment State Grants $22.5

Through this formula grant program, State Vocational Rehabilitation agencies receive supplemental funds 

to assist consumers with the most significant disabilities in achieving the employment outcome of supported 

employment. As supported employment is now an integral part of the Vocational Rehabilitation State 

Grants program, there is not a need for a separate funding stream to ensure the provision of such services.

57
IV. DEPARTMENTAL MANAGEMENT 

HISTORY AND BACKGROUND

Congress established the Department of Education as a Cabinet level agency in 1980. Today, the 

Department supports programs that touch every area and level of education. The Department's early 

learning, elementary, and secondary education programs annually serve approximately 18,377 school 

districts and more than 55 million students attending more than 98,000 public and 34,000 private schools. 

Department programs also provide grant, loan, and work-study assistance to approximately 12 million 

postsecondary students at over 6,000 institutions of higher education. 

The Department is responsible for administering education programs authorized and funded by Congress 

and signed into law by the President. This responsibility involves developing regulations and policy 

guidance regarding program operations, determining how program funds are awarded to recipients 

consistent with statutory requirements, and ensuring programs are operated fairly and conform to statutes 

and laws prohibiting discrimination in federally funded activities. The Department also collects data and 

conducts research on education to help focus attention on education issues of national importance.

Most Federal funds for education are distributed using one of three methods: (1) a statutory formula based 

on certain eligibility requirements, such as the number of low-income students in a school district; (2) a 

competitive process aimed at identifying the most promising proposals or projects targeting a particular 

educational purpose; or (3) an assessment of financial need, such as the ability of a student or family to pay 

for college. 

Key programs include the Elementary and Secondary Education for the Disadvantaged Block Grant, for 

which $19.4 billion would help approximately 25 million students in high-poverty schools make progress 

toward State academic standards; and $12.9 billion for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 

Part B Grants to States to help States and school districts meet the special education needs of 7.1 million 

students with disabilities. Key programs also include Federal Pell Grants, which would make available 

$30.3 billion in need-based grants to 7.1 million students enrolled in postsecondary institutions; and the 

postsecondary student loan programs, which would help provide roughly $135 billion in new and 

consolidated Direct Loans to help students and families pay for college.

The Department’s programs and responsibilities have grown substantially over the past decade. Some of 

the growth has resulted from legislation that added responsibilities or changed requirements, including the 

Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA) that created 100 percent Direct Lending, the 

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), and the Federal Information Technology Acquisition 

Reform Act (FITARA). In addition, oversight of the Department student loan and grant programs continues 

to grow. The Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act 

(ESSA), requires ED to provide assistance and flexibility to States and school districts to ensure a smooth 

implementation of the new statute. ED’s workload also has increased as ED strives to improve its oversight 

of its programs and data. 

58
SALARIES AND EXPENSES (S&E) OVERVIEW 

Departmental Management

 BA in millions

2019 2020

2021

Request

Program Administration $430.0 $430.0 $448.71

Office for Civil Rights 125.0 130.0 130.0

Office of Inspector General 61.1 63.0 68.0

Student Aid Administration 1,679.0 1,768.9 1,883.3

Other2 8.6 8.6 8.6

Total 2,303.7 2,400.5 2,538.6

Full-Time Equivalent Employment (FTE)

 (whole numbers) 

Program Administration 1,500 1,542 1,581

Office for Civil Rights 508 589 592

Office of Inspector General 214 231 252

Student Aid Administration 1,343 1,451 1,584

Other2 17 19 19

Total3 3,582 3,832 4,028

1 Includes $15 million for Building Modernization.

2 Includes small Federal Credit Administration accounts and S&E activities in program accounts.

3 Actual FTE usage in FY 2019; target for FY 2020 and FY 2021. 

The Department is requesting $2.539 billion for its S&E budget accounts in fiscal year 2021, an increase 

of $138.1 million, over the fiscal year 2020 appropriation. The increase focuses on key departmental policy 

and management priorities. These include continued improvements to the Department’s IT security to 

ensure the integrity of Department of Education data as well as to prevent potential IT security breaches. It 

also includes the transition to the Next Generation Financial Services Environment; continual operations 

59
for student aid application processing, origination and disbursement functions; and student aid IT system 

hosting. Funding is also requested for building modernization and renovation activities which will reduce 

the Department’s future rent costs by allowing the Department to move staff out of some existing space.

In fiscal year 2021, the Administration’s Request supports 4,028 Full-Time Equivalents (FTE) 

Employment, a net increase of 196 FTE above the fiscal year 2020 appropriation. 

PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION

The Program Administration account provides administrative support for most programs and offices in the 

Department. The fiscal year 2021 Request totals $448.7 million, an increase of $18.7 million above the 

fiscal year 2020 appropriation. The Request includes $274.6 million for personnel compensation and

benefits to support 1,581 FTE, an increase of $13.3 million above the fiscal year 2020 level of

$261.3 million.

Salaries and Expenses non-personnel costs cover such items as travel, rent, mail, telephones, utilities, 

printing, information technology (IT) services and security, contractual services, equipment, supplies, and 

other services. The total Request for non-personnel activities in fiscal year 2021 is $174.1 million, an 

increase of $5.4 million from the fiscal year 2020 appropriation of $168.7 million. Approximately 

70 percent of the total non-personnel Request is to cover Program Administration’s share of the 

Department’s centralized services. The centralized services Request totals $126.0 million for fiscal year 

2021, an increase of $2.6 million over the fiscal year 2020 appropriation. 

The overall account increase of $18.7 million is primarily needed for: (1) building modernization and 

renovation activities with a goal of reducing the Department’s future rent costs and; (2) continued 

improvements to the Department’s IT security to ensure the integrity of Department of Education data as 

well as to prevent potential IT security breaches. The Request for non-personnel activities to support 

Building Modernization in fiscal year 2021 is $15.0 million; no funds were provided in fiscal year 2020. 

The Administration requests that the Program Administration Salaries and Expenses account be provided 

transfer authority to allow for use of the IT Working Capital Funds authorized by the Modernizing 

Government Technology (MGT) Act in 2018. The authority would enable ED to transfer 1-year 

administrative funds to an account with a 3 year period of availability for use on IT modernization. The 

anticipated transfer amount for fiscal year 2021 is $5 million. 

STUDENT AID ADMINISTRATION

The Student Aid Administration account provides funds to administer the Federal student aid programs 

authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Act. These programs, which provide funds to help 

students and families pay for the cost of education and training beyond high school, are the Nation’s largest 

source of financial aid for postsecondary students. This account supports functions across the student aid 

lifecycle including educating students and families about the process for obtaining aid and student loan 

repayment options; processing student financial aid applications; disbursing aid; servicing loans; collecting 

on defaulted loans; and ensuring enforcement and oversight of the Title IV programs.

Ensuring the smooth operation of the complex financial transactions and assisting the many participants 

involved in the student financial aid programs, while safeguarding the interests of both students and Federal 

taxpayers, is one of the Department's greatest management challenges and highest administrative priorities. 

Primary responsibility for administering the Federal student financial assistance programs rests with 

Federal Student Aid (FSA), the Office of the Under Secretary, and the Office of Postsecondary Education. 

60
In fiscal year 2021, FSA will provide $125 billion in new Federal student aid grants and loans (excluding 

Direct Consolidation Loans) to approximately 10.5 million postsecondary students and their families. These 

students attend over 6,000 institutions of higher education. 

SAFRA ended the origination of new loans under the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program. 

Since July 1, 2010, all new loans are originated and serviced through the Direct Loan (DL) program 

administered by the Department of Education. Although all new lending is made through the DL program, 

private lenders continue to service and collect outstanding non-defaulted loans from the FFEL portfolio, 

while guaranty agencies and the Department continue to service and collect loans assigned to the Federal 

Government. The Department currently contracts with nine servicers to service the Department’s portfolio 

of over 42 million borrowers. 

The Student Aid Administration (SAA) account represents about 74 percent of the Department’s total 

discretionary administrative budget. The Administration requests $1.883 billion for fiscal year 2021 in the

Student Aid Administration account to administer the Federal student aid programs, an increase of

$114.4 million above fiscal year 2020 appropriation. The requested funds are necessary to manage and

service the student loan portfolio, including anticipated increases in loan volume and costs associated with 

transitioning to the Next Generation Financial Services Environment, maintaining operations for student 

aid application processing, origination and disbursement functions, student aid information technology (IT) 

system hosting, and enhancing IT security. 

The Request supports Federal Student Aid (FSA) in continuing to undertake a monumental student loan 

servicing upgrade. FSA is reorganizing its fragmented servicing and operating infrastructure in order to 

provide an innovative, world-class financial services experience for its customers. The Next Generation 

Financial Services Environment at FSA will start with a mobile-first, mobile-complete engagement layer 

for all customer interactions that will link with an integrated but nimble new system. Integrated into every 

aspect of this modernization effort will be state-of-the-art cyber security protection. The end goal of this 

technical reorganization and modernization effort will be to provide better service for FSA's over 40 million 

customers, including students and institutions, across the student aid lifecycle. The new environment will 

help increase awareness and understanding of Federal student aid opportunities and responsibilities, 

improve FSA’s operational flexibility, and enhance cost and operational efficiency, producing better 

outcomes for students and taxpayers. 

Recognizing the significant growth in the scope and complexity of FSA’s responsibilities since its 

establishment as a performance-based organization more than 20 years ago, the President’s Budget 

proposes the evaluation of FSA as a separate organization, with reformed governance. 

OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS

The Department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) investigates discrimination complaints, conducts 

compliance reviews, monitors corrective action plans, and provides technical assistance on civil rights 

issues. Since fiscal year 2007, the number of complaints doubled through fiscal year 2019, while the number 

of investigative staff decreased by 10 percent over the same period. The FTE level is projected to be 592 in 

fiscal year 2021. 

The fiscal year 2021 Request for OCR is $130.0 million, which is level funded to fiscal year 2020 

appropriation. About $97.7 million, or 75.2 percent, of the Request is for staff pay and benefits for 592 

FTE. The remaining $32.0 million is for non-pay projects and includes $3.6 million for information 

technology services, including the contract for the Civil Rights Data Collection. The requested funds would 

ensure essential program support to resolve complaints of discrimination filed by the public and to ensure 

61
that institutions receiving Federal financial assistance are in compliance with the civil rights laws enforced 

by OCR.

OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducts audits and investigations of the Department’s programs 

and activities to help ensure accountability for taxpayer-provided funds and to identify management 

improvements. The fiscal year 2021 Request for the OIG is $68.0 million, an increase of $5.0 million over 

the fiscal year 2020 appropriation. Approximately 68 percent of this amount, or $46.5 million, is for 

personnel compensation and benefits to support a staffing level of 252 FTE.

The non-personnel Request of $21.5 million includes $1.2 million to contract for the mandatory annual 

audit of the Department’s financial statements. The scope of the audit would include the examination and 

analysis of account balances, review of applicable financial systems, and evaluation of internal controls and 

compliance with significant laws and regulations. Additionally, the non-personnel Request includes funds 

to support the Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, and to continue to develop the 

ability to perform predictive analytics with a tool to identify patterns of fraud and risk, allowing OIG to 

better target its audit and investigative work.

62
V. APPENDICES

A. Detailed Budget Table by Program 

B. Summary of Discretionary Funds

C. Summary of Mandatory Funds 

D. Total Expenditures for Elementary and Secondary Education in the United States

63
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64
 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FISCAL YEAR 2021 PRESIDENT'S BUDGET

(in thousands of dollars) 

 2/10/2020 

Cat 

Code 

2019 

Appropriation 

2020 

Appropriation 

2021 President's 

Budget 

2021 President's Budget Compared to 

2020 Appropriation 

Amount Percent

Improving Elementary and Secondary Education 

 1. Elementary and secondary education for the disadvantaged block grant (proposed legislation) 

Annual appropriation D 0 0 6,840,812 6,840,812 ---

Advance for succeeding fiscal year D 0 0 12,522,618 12,522,618 ---

Total, Appropriation D 0 0 19,363,430 19,363,430 ---

Total, Budget authority D 0 0 6,840,812 6,840,812 ---

Current 0 0 6,840,812 6,840,812 ---

Prior year's advance 0 0 0 0 ---

Education for the Disadvantaged 

65

 1. Grants to local educational agencies (ESEA I-A): 

(a) Basic grants (section 1124) 

Annual appropriation D 5,018,625 5,468,625 0 (5,468,625) -100.00% 

Advance for succeeding fiscal year D 1,440,776 990,776 0 (990,776) -100.00% 

Subtotal 6,459,401 6,459,401 0 (6,459,401) -100.00% 

(b) 

(c) 

(d) 

Concentration grants (section 1124A) 

Advance for succeeding fiscal year D 1,362,301 1,362,301 0 (1,362,301) -100.00% 

Targeted grants (section 1125) 

Advance for succeeding fiscal year D 4,019,050 4,244,050 0 (4,244,050) -100.00% 

Education finance incentive grants (section 1125A) 

Advance for succeeding fiscal year D 4,019,050 4,244,050 0 (4,244,050) -100.00% 

Subtotal, Grants to LEAs 15,859,802 16,309,802 0 (16,309,802) -100.00% 

Annual appropriation D 5,018,625 5,468,625 0 (5,468,625) -100.00% 

Advance for succeeding fiscal year D 10,841,177 10,841,177 0 (10,841,177) -100.00% 

NOTES: D = discretionary program; M = mandatory program 

Pursuant to the Budget Control Act of 2011 (P.L. 112-25), most mandatory programs, with the exception of Pell Grants, Credit Liquidating, and Credit Reestimates, the levels shown in the 2019 Appropriation column 

reflect the 6.2 percent reduction that went into effect on October 1, 2018; and the levels shown in the 2020 Appropriation column reflect the 5.9 percent reduction that went into effect on October 1, 2019. 

Detail may not add to totals due to rounding. 
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FISCAL YEAR 2021 PRESIDENT'S BUDGET 2/10/2020 

(in thousands of dollars) 

Cat 

Code

2019 

Appropriation 

2020 

Appropriation 

2021 President's 

Budget 

2021 President's Budget Compared to 

2020 Appropriation 

Amount Percent 

Education for the Disadvantaged (continued) 

 2.

 3. 

Comprehensive literacy development grants (ESEA II-B-2, section 2222) D 190,000 192,000 0 (192,000) -100.00%

Innovative approaches to literacy (ESEA II-B-2, section 2226) D 27,000 27,000 0 (27,000) -100.00%

 4. State agency programs: 

(a) 

(b) 

Migrant (ESEA I-C) D 374,751 374,751 0 (374,751) -100.00% 

Neglected and delinquent (ESEA I-D) D 47,614 47,614 0 (47,614) -100.00% 

Subtotal, State agency programs 422,365 422,365 0 (422,365) -100.00%

 5. Special programs for migrant students (HEA IV-A-5) D 44,623 45,623 0 (45,623) -100.00% 

Total, Appropriation D 16,543,790 16,996,790 0 (16,996,790) -100.00% 

Total, Budget authority D 16,543,790 16,996,790 10,841,177 (6,155,613) -36.22% 

Current 5,702,613 6,155,613 0 (6,155,613) -100.00% 

Prior year's advance 10,841,177 10,841,177 10,841,177 0 0.00% 

66

Impact Aid (ESEA VII) 

1. Payments for federally connected children (section 7003): 

(a) Basic support payments (section 7003(b)) D 1,301,242 1,340,242 1,340,242 0 0.00% 

(b) Payments for children with disabilities (section 7003(d)) D 48,316 48,316 48,316 0 0.00% 

Subtotal 1,349,558 1,388,558 1,388,558 0 0.00% 

2. 

3. 

4. 

Facilities maintenance (section 7008) D 4,835 4,835 4,835 0 0.00% 

Construction (section 7007) D 17,406 17,406 17,406 0 0.00% 

Payments for Federal property (section 7002) D 74,313 75,313 0 (75,313) -100.00% 

Total D 1,446,112 1,486,112 1,410,799 (75,313) -5.07% 
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FISCAL YEAR 2021 PRESIDENT'S BUDGET 2/10/2020 

(in thousands of dollars) 

Cat 

Code

2019 

Appropriation 

2020 

Appropriation 

2021 President's 

Budget 

2021 President's Budget Compared to 

2020 Appropriation 

Amount Percent 

School Improvement Programs 

 1. Supporting effective instruction State grants (ESEA II-A) 

Annual appropriation D 374,389 450,389 0 (450,389) -100.00% 

Advance for succeeding fiscal year D 1,681,441 1,681,441 0 (1,681,441) -100.00% 

Subtotal D 2,055,830 2,131,830 0 (2,131,830) -100.00%

67

 2.

 3.

 4.

 5.

 6.

 7.

 8.

 9.

 10.

 11.

21st century community learning centers (ESEA IV-B) D 1,221,673 1,249,673 0 (1,249,673) -100.00%

State assessments (ESEA I-B, section 1201-1203) D 378,000 378,000 369,100 (8,900) -2.35%

Education for homeless children and youths (MVHAA Title VII-B) D 93,500 101,500 0 (101,500) -100.00%

Native Hawaiian education (ESEA VI-B) D 36,397 36,897 0 (36,897) -100.00%

Alaska Native education (ESEA VI-C) D 35,453 35,953 0 (35,953) -100.00%

Training and advisory services (CRA IV) D 6,575 6,575 6,575 0 0.00%

Rural education (ESEA V-B) D 180,840 185,840 0 (185,840) -100.00%

Supplemental education grants (Compact of Free Association Act) D 16,699 16,699 16,699 0 0.00%

Comprehensive centers (ETAA section 203) D 52,000 52,000 0 (52,000) -100.00%

Student support and academic enrichment grants (ESEA IV-A) D 1,170,000 1,210,000 0 (1,210,000) -100.00% 

Total, Appropriation D 5,246,967 5,404,967 392,374 (5,012,593) -92.74% 

Total, Budget authority D 5,246,967 5,404,967 2,073,815 (3,331,152) -61.63% 

Current 3,565,526 3,723,526 392,374 (3,331,152) -89.46% 

Prior year's advance 1,681,441 1,681,441 1,681,441 0 0.00% 

Safe Schools and Citizenship Education 

1. 

2. 

3.

School safety national activities (ESEA IV-F-3, section 4631) D 95,000 105,000 0 (105,000) -100.00% 

Promise neighborhoods (ESEA IV-F-2, section 4624) D 78,254 80,000 0 (80,000) -100.00% 

Full-service community schools (ESEA IV-F-2, section 4625) D 17,500 25,000 0 (25,000) -100.00% 

 Total D 190,754 210,000 0 (210,000) -100.00% 
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FISCAL YEAR 2021 PRESIDENT'S BUDGET 2/10/2020 

(in thousands of dollars) 

Cat 

Code 

2019 

Appropriation 

2020 

Appropriation 

2021 President's 

Budget 

2021 President's Budget Compared to 

2020 Appropriation 

Amount Percent 

Indian Education (ESEA VI) 

1. 

2. 

3. 

Grants to local educational agencies (Part A-1) D 105,381 105,381 105,381 0 0.00% 

Special programs for Indian children (Part A-2) D 67,993 67,993 67,993 0 0.00% 

National activities (Part A-3) D 6,865 7,365 7,365 0 0.00% 

Total D 180,239 180,739 180,739 0 0.00%

Innovation and Improvement 

 1.

 2.

 3.

 4.

 5.

 6.

 7.

 8.

 9.

 10. 

Education innovation and research (ESEA IV-F-1) D 130,000 190,000 0 (190,000) -100.00%

Teacher and school leader incentive grants (ESEA II-B-1) D 200,000 200,000 0 (200,000) -100.00%

American history and civics education (ESEA II-B-3) D 4,815 4,815 0 (4,815) -100.00%

Supporting effective educator development (SEED) (ESEA II-B-4, section 2242) D 75,000 80,000 0 (80,000) -100.00%

Charter schools grants (ESEA IV-C) 1 D 427,859 440,000 0 (440,000) -100.00%

Magnet schools assistance (ESEA IV-D) 1 D 113,701 107,000 0 (107,000) -100.00%

Ready to learn programming (ESEA IV-F-4, section 4643) D 27,741 29,000 0 (29,000) -100.00%

Arts in education (ESEA IV-F-4, section 4642) D 29,000 30,000 0 (30,000) -100.00%

Javits gifted and talented education (ESEA IV-F-4, section 4644) D 12,000 13,000 0 (13,000) -100.00%

Statewide family engagement centers (ESEA IV-E) 1 D 15,440 10,000 0 (10,000) -100.00% 

Total D 1,035,556 1,103,815 0 (1,103,815) -100.00% 

English Language Acquisition (ESEA III-A) D 737,400 787,400 0 (787,400) -100.00% 

1

 The 2019 Appropriation column reflects a reprogramming of $12,141 thousand from Charter Schools Grants to Magnet Schools Assistance ($6,700 thousand) and Statewide Family Engagement Centers ($5,440 

thousand). 
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FISCAL YEAR 2021 PRESIDENT'S BUDGET 2/10/2020 

(in thousands of dollars) 

Cat 

Code 

2019 

Appropriation 

2020 

Appropriation 

2021 President's 

Budget 

2021 President's Budget Compared to 

2020 Appropriation 

Amount Percent 

Special Education 

1. State grants: 

(a) Grants to States (IDEA B-611) 

Annual appropriation D 3,081,009 3,481,009 3,581,009 100,000 2.87%

Advance for succeeding fiscal year D 9,283,383 9,283,383 9,283,383 0 0.00% 

Subtotal 12,364,392 12,764,392 12,864,392 100,000 0.78% 

(b) 

(c) 

Preschool grants (IDEA B-619) D 391,120 394,120 394,120 0 0.00% 

Grants for infants and families (IDEA C) D 470,000 477,000 477,000 0 0.00% 

Subtotal, State grants 13,225,512 13,635,512 13,735,512 100,000 0.73% 

2. National activities (IDEA D): 

(a) 

(b) 

(c) 

(d) 

(e) 

State personnel development (subpart 1) D 38,630 38,630 38,630 0 0.00% 

Technical assistance and dissemination (section 663) D 44,345 44,345 44,345 0 0.00% 

Personnel preparation (section 662) D 87,200 89,700 89,700 0 0.00% 

Parent information centers (sections 671-673) D 27,411 27,411 27,411 0 0.00% 

Educational technology, media, and materials (section 674) D 28,047 29,547 29,547 0 0.00% 

Subtotal, National activities 225,633 229,633 229,633 0 0.00% 

3. Special Olympics education programs (Special Olympics Sport and Empowerment Act) D 17,583 20,083 20,083 0 0.00%

Total, Appropriation D 13,468,728 13,885,228 13,985,228 100,000 0.72% 

Total, Budget authority D 13,468,728 13,885,228 13,985,228 100,000 0.72% 

Current 4,185,345 4,601,845 4,701,845 100,000 2.17% 

Prior year's advance 9,283,383 9,283,383 9,283,383 0 0.00% 
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FISCAL YEAR 2021 PRESIDENT'S BUDGET 2/10/2020 

(in thousands of dollars) 

Cat 

Code 

2019 

Appropriation 

2020 

Appropriation 

2021 President's 

Budget 

2021 President's Budget Compared to 

2020 Appropriation 

Amount Percent 

Rehabilitation Services 

1. Vocational rehabilitation State grants: 

(a) 

(b) 

Grants to States (RA Title I-A, sections 110 and 111) 1 M 3,260,627 3,351,798 3,622,551 270,753 8.08% 

Grants to Indians (RA Title I-C) M 43,000 45,250 45,250 0 0.00% 

Subtotal 1 3,303,627 3,397,048 3,667,801 270,753 7.97% 

Mandatory baseline M 3,521,990 3,610,040 3,667,801 57,761 1.60%

 2.

 3.

 4.

 5.

 6.

 7.

 8. 

Client assistance State grants (RA section 112) D 13,000 13,000 13,000 0 0.00%

Training (RA section 302) D 29,388 29,388 29,388 0 0.00%

Demonstration and training programs (RA section 303) D 5,796 5,796 5,796 0 0.00%

Protection and advocacy of individual rights (RA section 509) D 17,650 17,650 17,650 0 0.00%

Supported employment State grants (RA VI) D 22,548 22,548 0 (22,548) -100.00%

Independent living services for older blind individuals (RA VII, Chapter 2) D 33,317 33,317 33,317 0 0.00%

Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults (HKNCA) D 13,500 16,000 16,000 0 0.00% 

Subtotal 135,199 137,699 115,151 (22,548) -16.37%

3,438,826 3,534,747 3,782,952 248,205 7.02%

Discretionary D 135,199 137,699 115,151 (22,548) -16.37% 

Mandatory M 3,303,627 3,397,048 3,667,801 270,753 7.97% 

Total 

1

 Pursuant to the Budget Control Act of 2011 (P.L. 112-25), the Vocational Rehabilitation State Grants program level shown in the 2019 Appropriation column reflects the 6.2 percent reduction that went into effect on 

October 1, 2018; and the 2020 Appropriation column reflects the 5.9 percent reduction that went into effect on October 1, 2019. 

American Printing House for the Blind (20 U.S.C. 101 et seq.) D 30,431 32,431 32,431 0 0.00% 

National Technical Institute for the Deaf (EDA I-B and section 207) D 77,500 79,500 79,500 0 0.00% 

Gallaudet University (EDA I-A and section 207) D 134,361 137,361 137,361 0 0.00% 
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FISCAL YEAR 2021 PRESIDENT'S BUDGET 2/10/2020 

(in thousands of dollars) 

Cat 

Code 

2019 

Appropriation 

2020 

Appropriation 

2021 President's 

Budget 

2021 President's Budget Compared to 

2020 Appropriation 

Amount Percent 

Career, Technical, and Adult Education 

1. Career and technical education (Carl D. Perkins CTEA): 

(a) State grants (Title I) 

Annual appropriation D 471,598 491,598 1,171,598 680,000 138.32% 

Advance for succeeding fiscal year D 791,000 791,000 791,000 0 0.00% 

Subtotal 1,262,598 1,282,598 1,962,598 680,000 53.02%

(b) National programs (section 114) D 7,421 7,421 90,000 82,579 1112.77%

Subtotal, Career and technical education 1,270,019 1,290,019 2,052,598 762,579 59.11% 

2. Adult education: 

(a) 

(b) 

Adult basic and literacy education State grants (AEFLA) D 641,955 656,955 656,955 0 0.00% 

National leadership activities (AEFLA section 242) D 13,712 13,712 13,712 0 0.00% 

Subtotal, Adult education 655,667 670,667 670,667 0 0.00% 

Total, Appropriation 1,925,686 1,960,686 2,723,265 762,579 38.89% 

Total, Budget authority 1,925,686 1,960,686 2,723,265 762,579 38.89% 

Current 1,134,686 1,169,686 1,932,265 762,579 65.20% 

Prior year's advance 791,000 791,000 791,000 0 0.00% 
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FISCAL YEAR 2021 PRESIDENT'S BUDGET 2/10/2020 

(in thousands of dollars) 

Cat 

Code 

2019 

Appropriation 

2020 

Appropriation 

2021 President's 

Budget 

2021 President's Budget Compared to 

2020 Appropriation 

Amount Percent 

Student Financial Assistance 

1. Federal Pell grants (HEA IV-A-1): 

(a) 

(b) 

(c) 

Discretionary Pell grants D 22,475,352 22,475,352 22,475,352 0 0.00% 

Mandatory Pell grants M 5,388,040 5,738,000 5,887,000 149,000 2.60% 

Mandatory Funding for Discretionary Program Costs M 1,370,000 1,405,000 1,122,000 (283,000) -20.14% 

Subtotal, Federal Pell grants 29,233,392 29,618,352 29,484,352 (134,000) -0.45% 

Discretionary D 22,475,352 22,475,352 22,475,352 0 0.00% 

Mandatory M 6,758,040 7,143,000 7,009,000 (134,000) -1.88% 

Federal Pell Grants Program Information (memorandum entry): 

Discretionary program costs D 22,693,000 23,893,000 24,496,483 603,483 2.53% 

Mandatory program costs M 5,587,000 5,738,000 5,887,116 149,116 2.60% 

Total, program costs 28,280,000 29,631,000 30,383,599 752,599 2.54% 

Maximum award (in whole dollars) 

Base award 5,135 5,285 5,285 0 0.00% 

Mandatory add-on 1,060 1,060 1,060 0 0.00% 

Total maximum award 6,195 6,345 6,345 0 0.00% 

Recipients (in thousands) 6,673 6,834 7,086 252 3.69% 

Note: Pursuant to the Budget Control Act of 2011 (P.L. 112-25), most mandatory programs, with the exception of Pell Grants, Credit Liquidating, and Credit Reestimates, the levels shown in the 2019 Appropriation column 

reflect the 6.2 percent reduction that went into effect on October 1, 2018; and the levels shown in the 2020 Appropriation column reflect the 5.9 percent reduction that went into effect on October 1, 2019. 
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FISCAL YEAR 2021 PRESIDENT'S BUDGET 2/10/2020 

(in thousands of dollars) 

Cat 

Code 

2019 

Appropriation 

2020 

Appropriation 

2021 President's 

Budget 

2021 President's Budget Compared to 

2020 Appropriation 

Amount Percent 

Student Financial Assistance (continued) 

2. Campus-based programs: 

(a) 

(b) 

Federal supplemental educational opportunity grants (HEA IV-A-3) D 840,000 865,000 0 (865,000) -100.00% 

Federal work-study (HEA IV-C) D 1,130,000 1,180,000 500,000 (680,000) -57.63% 

Subtotal, Campus-based programs 1,970,000 2,045,000 500,000 (1,545,000) -75.55% 

3. Iraq and Afghanistan service grants (P.L. 111-39) 1 M 403 463 0 (463) -100.00%

Total 31,203,795 31,663,815 29,984,352 (1,679,463) -5.30% 

Discretionary D 24,445,352 24,520,352 22,975,352 (1,545,000) -6.30% 

Mandatory M 6,758,443 7,143,463 7,009,000 (134,463) -1.88%

TEACH Grants (HEA IV-A-9) 

 1.

 2.

 3.

 4. 

New loan subsidy M 29,049 28,637 27,603 (1,034) -3.61%

Upward reestimate of existing loans M 5,082 10,858 0 (10,858) -100.00%

Downward reestimate of existing loans (non-add) M (1,092) (36,231) 0 36,231 -100.00%

Net reestimate of existing loans (non-add) M 3,990 (25,373) 0 25,373 -100.00% 

Subtotal, loan subsidies 34,131 39,495 27,603 (11,892) -30.11% 

Subtotal, new loan subsidies and net reestimate (non-add) 33,039 3,264 27,603 24,339 745.68% 

Total M 34,131 39,495 27,603 (11,892) -30.11% 

Note: Pursuant to the Budget Control Act of 2011 (P.L. 112-25), most mandatory programs, with the exception of Pell Grants, Credit Liquidating, and Credit Reestimates, the levels shown in the 2019 Appropriation column 

reflect the 6.2 percent reduction that went into effect on October 1, 2018; and the levels shown in the 2020 Appropriation column reflect the 5.9 percent reduction that went into effect on October 1, 2019. 

1

 The 2021 President's Budget column reflects the budget proposal to end the current Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant program and consolidate it into the Pell Grant program. 
 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FISCAL YEAR 2021 PRESIDENT'S BUDGET 2/10/2020 

(in thousands of dollars) 

Cat 

Code

2019 

Appropriation 

2020 

Appropriation 

2021 President's 

Budget 

2021 President's Budget Compared to 

2020 Appropriation 

Amount Percent 

Federal Direct Student Loans Program Account (HEA IV-D) 

 1.

 2.

 3.

 4.

 5.

 6. 

New loan subsidies M 4,842,627 11,829,410 6,409,396 (5,420,014) -45.82%

New net loan subsidy (non-add) M (1,646,411) 8,473,200 (8,327,040) (16,800,240) -198.28%

Upward reestimate of existing loans M 28,619,834 64,642,541 0 (64,642,541) -100.00%

Downward reestimate of existing loans (non-add) M (2,309,401) (1,436,593) 0 1,436,593 -100.00%

Net reestimate of existing loans (non-add) M 26,310,433 63,205,948 0 (63,205,948) -100.00%

Upward modification of existing loans1 M 350,000 484,996 0 (484,996) -100.00% 

Subtotal, loan subsidies 33,812,461 76,956,947 6,409,396 (70,547,551) -91.67% 

Subtotal, new loan subsidies and net reestimate/modification (non-add) 25,014,022 72,164,143 (8,327,040) (80,491,184) -111.54% 

Total 33,812,461 76,956,947 6,409,396 (70,547,551) -91.67% 

Mandatory M 33,812,461 76,956,947 6,409,396 (70,547,551) -91.67%

74

Federal Family Education Loans Program Account (HEA IV-B) 

 1.

 2.

 3.

 4.

 5.

 6. 

Upward reestimate of existing loans M 3,661,416 13,150,794 0 (13,150,794) -100.00%

Downward reestimate of existing loans (non-add) M (2,098,813) (6,865,204) 0 6,865,204 -100.00%

Net reestimate of existing loans (non-add) M 1,562,603 6,285,591 0 (6,285,591) -100.00%

Upward modification of existing loans M 0 108,970 0

Downward modification of existing loans (non-add) M 0 0 (466,318) (466,318) ---

Net modification of existing loans (non-add) M 0 108,773 (466,318) (575,091) -528.71% 

Total, FFEL Program Account M 3,661,416 13,259,764 0 (13,259,764) -100.00% 

Total, new loan subsidies and net reestimate (non-add) 1,562,603 6,394,364 (466,318) (6,860,682) -107.29% 

Federal Family Education Loans Liquidating Account (HEA IV-B) 

1. Pre-1992 student loans M (237,229) (182,492) (146,836) 35,656 -19.54%

Health Education Assistance Loans Liquidating Account M (7,059) (5,029) (5,029) 0 0.00% 

Note: Pursuant to the Budget Control Act of 2011 (P.L. 112-25), most mandatory programs, with the exception of Pell Grants, Credit Liquidating, and Credit Reestimates, the levels shown in the 2019 Appropriation column 

reflect the 6.2 percent reduction that went into effect on October 1, 2018; and the levels shown in the 2020 Appropriation column reflect the 5.9 percent reduction that went into effect on October 1, 2019. 

1 Includes $350,000 thousand originally appropriated as discretionary funds in the Department of Education Appropriations Act 2019 and $50,000 thousand originally appropriated as discretionary funds in the 

Department of Education Appropriations Act 2020. These amounts support the temporary expansion of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (TEPSLF) program and is treated in the budget as mandatory funding according 

to OMB rules. 
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FISCAL YEAR 2021 PRESIDENT'S BUDGET 2/10/2020 

(in thousands of dollars) 

Cat 

Code 

2019 

Appropriation 

2020 

Appropriation 

2021 President's 

Budget 

2021 President's Budget Compared to 

2020 Appropriation 

Amount Percent 

1. Aid for institutional development: 

(a) Strengthening institutions (HEA III-A, section 311) D 99,875 107,854 0 (107,854) -100.00%

Higher Education 

(b) 

(c) 

(d) 

(e) 

(f) 

(g) 

(h) 

Strengthening tribally controlled colleges and universities (HEA III-A, section 316) D 31,854 36,633 36,633 0 0.00% 

Mandatory strengthening tribally controlled colleges and universities 

(HEA III-F, section 371) M 28,140 28,230 30,000 1,770 6.27% 

Subtotal 59,994 64,863 66,633 1,770 2.73% 

Strengthening Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions (HEA III-A, 

section 317) D 15,930 18,320 0 (18,320) -100.00% 

Mandatory strengthening Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving 

institutions (HEA III-F, section 371) M 14,070 14,115 0 (14,115) -100.00% 

Subtotal 30,000 32,435 0 (32,435) -100.00% 

Strengthening HBCUs (HEA III-B, section 323) D 282,420 324,792 324,792 0 0.00% 

Mandatory strengthening HBCUs (HEA III-F, section 371) M 79,730 79,985 85,000 5,015 6.27% 

Subtotal 362,150 404,777 409,792 5,015 1.24% 

Strengthening historically Black graduate institutions (HEA III-B, section 326) D 73,037 83,995 83,995 0 0.00% 

(i) Strengthening HBCU masters program (HEA,Title VII, section 723) D 8,657 9,956 9,956 0 0.00% 

(j) 

(k) 

(l) 

(m) 

(n) 

(o) 

(p) 

Strengthening predominantly Black institutions (HEA III-A, section 318) D 11,475 13,197 0 (13,197) -100.00% 

Mandatory strengthening predominantly Black institutions (HEA III-F, section 371) M 14,070 14,115 0 (14,115) -100.00% 

Subtotal 25,545 27,312 0 (27,312) -100.00% 

Strengthening Asian American- and Native American Pacific Islander-serving 

institutions (HEA III-A, section 320) D 3,864 4,444 0 (4,444) -100.00% 

Mandatory strengthening Asian American- and Native American Pacific 

Islander-serving institutions (HEA III-F, section 371) M 4,690 4,705 0 (4,705) -100.00% 

Subtotal 8,554 9,149 0 (9,149) -100.00% 

Strengthening Native American-serving nontribal institutions (HEA III-A, section 319) D 3,864 4,444 0 (4,444) -100.00% 

Mandatory strengthening Native American-serving nontribal institutions (HEA III-F, section 371) M 4,690 4,705 0 (4,705) -100.00% 

Subtotal 8,554 9,149 0 (9,149) -100.00% 

Minority science and engineering improvement (HEA III-E-1) D 11,135 12,635 150,000 137,365 1087.18% 

Subtotal, Aid for institutional development 687,501 762,125 720,376 (41,749) -5.48% 

Discretionary D 542,111 616,270 605,376 (10,894) -1.77% 

Mandatory M 145,390 145,855 115,000 (30,855) -21.15% 

Note: Pursuant to the Budget Control Act of 2011 (P.L. 112-25), most mandatory programs, with the exception of Pell Grants, Credit Liquidating, and Credit Reestimates, the levels shown in the 2019 Appropriation column 

reflect the 6.2 percent reduction that went into effect on October 1, 2018; and the levels shown in the 2020 Appropriation column reflect the 5.9 percent reduction that went into effect on October 1, 2019. 
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FISCAL YEAR 2021 PRESIDENT'S BUDGET 2/10/2020 

(in thousands of dollars) 

Cat 

Code 

2019 

Appropriation 

2020 

Appropriation 

2021 President's 

Budget 

2021 President's Budget Compared to 

2020 Appropriation 

Amount Percent 

2. Aid for Hispanic-serving institutions: 

(a) Developing Hispanic-serving institutions (HEA V-A) D 124,415 143,081 0 (143,081) -100.00% 

(b) Mandatory developing HSI STEM and articulation programs (HEA III-F, section 371(b)(2)(B)) M 93,800 94,100 0 (94,100) -100.00% 

(c) Promoting postbaccalaureate opportunities for Hispanic Americans (HEA V, section 512) D 11,163 12,838 0 (12,838) -100.00% 

Higher Education (continued) 

Subtotal 229,378 250,019 0 (250,019) -100.00% 

Discretionary 135,578 155,919 0 (155,919) -100.00% 

Mandatory 93,800 94,100 0 (94,100) -100.00%

 3. Consolidated MSI Grant (proposed legislation) 

(a) Consolidated MSI Grant D 0 0 196,324 196,324 ---

(b) Mandatory Consolidated MSI Grant M 0 0 140,000 140,000 ---

Subtotal 0 0 336,324 336,324 ---

 4. Other aid for institutions: 

(a) International education and foreign language studies: 

(1) Domestic programs (HEA VI-A and B) D 65,103 68,103 0 (68,103) -100.00% 

(2) Overseas programs (MECEA section 102(b)(6)) D 7,061 8,061 0 (8,061) -100.00% 

76

Subtotal 72,164 76,164 0 (76,164) -100.00% 

(c) 

(d) 

Model transition programs for students with intellectual disabilities into 

higher education (HEA VII-D-2) D 11,800 11,800 11,800 0 0.00% 

Tribally controlled postsecondary career and technical institutions (CTEA section 117) D 9,564 10,000 10,000 0 0.00%

 5. Assistance for students: 0 

(a) 

(b) 

(c) 

(d) 

Federal TRIO programs (HEA IV-A-2, Chapter 1) D 1,060,000 1,090,000 950,000 (140,000) -12.84% 

Gaining early awareness and readiness for undergraduate programs 

(GEAR UP) (HEA IV-A-2, Chapter 2) D 360,000 365,000 0 (365,000) -100.00% 

Graduate assistance in areas of national need (HEA VII-A-2) D 23,047 23,047 0 (23,047) -100.00% 

Child care access means parents in school (HEA IV-A-7) D 50,000 53,000 15,134 (37,866) -71.45%

 6. Fund for the improvement of post secondary education (FIPSE) (HEA VII-B) 

 7. Teacher quality partnership (HEA II-A) 

D 5,000 24,500 0 (24,500) -100.00%

D 43,092 50,092 0 (50,092) -100.00% 

2,551,546 2,715,747 2,043,634 (672,113) -24.75%

Discretionary 2,312,356 2,475,792 1,788,634 (687,158) -27.76% 

Mandatory 239,190 239,955 255,000 15,045 6.27% 

Total 

Note: Pursuant to the Budget Control Act of 2011 (P.L. 112-25), most mandatory programs, with the exception of Pell Grants, Credit Liquidating, and Credit Reestimates, the levels shown in the 2019 Appropriation column 

reflect the 6.2 percent reduction that went into effect on October 1, 2018; and the levels shown in the 2020 Appropriation column reflect the 5.9 percent reduction that went into effect on October 1, 2019. 
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FISCAL YEAR 2021 PRESIDENT'S BUDGET 2/10/2020 

(in thousands of dollars) 

Cat 

Code 

2019 

Appropriation 

2020 

Appropriation 

2021 President's 

Budget 

2021 President's Budget Compared to 

2020 Appropriation 

Amount Percent 

Howard University 

1. 

2. 

General support (20 U.S.C. 121 et seq.) D 209,193 212,693 212,693 0 0.00% 

Howard University Hospital (20 U.S.C. 128) D 27,325 27,325 27,325 0 0.00% 

Total D 236,518 240,018 240,018 0 0.00% 

College Housing and Academic Facilities Loans Program Account (HEA section 121) 

1. 

2. 

Federal administration (FCRA section 505(e)) D 435 435 435 0 0.00% 

Reestimate of existing loan subsidies M (10) (38) 0 38 -100.00% 

Total 425 397 435 38 9.57% 

Discretionary D 435 435 435 0 0.00% 

Mandatory M (10) (38) 0 38 -100.00% 

77

College Housing and Academic Facilities Loans Liquidating Account (HEA section 121) M (2,452) (3,452) 0 3,452 -100.00% 

Historically Black College and University Capital Financing Program Account (HEA III-D) 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

Federal administration (FCRA section 505(e)) D 334 334 334 0 0.00% 

Loan subsidies D 20,150 20,150 20,150 0 0.00% 

Modification of existing loan subsidies D 20,000 26,000 20,000 (6,000) -23.08% 

Reestimate of existing loan subsidies M 7,678 (41,708) 0 41,708 -100.00% 

Total 48,162 4,776 40,484 35,708 747.65% 

Discretionary D 40,484 46,484 40,484 (6,000) -12.91% 

Mandatory M 7,678 (41,708) 0 41,708 -100.00% 

Higher Education Facilities Loans Liquidating Account (HEA section 121) M (601) (650) (650) 0 0.00% 

College Housing Loans Liquidating Account (HEA section 121) M (3,434) (3,452) (3,452) 0 0.00% 

Note: Pursuant to the Budget Control Act of 2011 (P.L. 112-25), most mandatory programs, with the exception of Pell Grants, Credit Liquidating, and Credit Reestimates, the levels shown in the 2019 Appropriation 

column reflect the 6.2 percent reduction that went into effect on October 1, 2018; and the levels shown in the 2020 Appropriation column reflect the 5.9 percent reduction that went into effect on October 1, 2019. 
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FISCAL YEAR 2021 PRESIDENT'S BUDGET 2/10/2020 

(in thousands of dollars) 

Cat 

Code 

2019 

Appropriation 

2020 

Appropriation 

2021 President's 

Budget 

2021 President's Budget Compared to 

2020 Appropriation 

Amount Percent 

Institute of Education Sciences 

1. Research and statistics: 

(a) 

(b) 

Research, development, and dissemination (ESRA I-A, B and D, except section 174) D 192,695 195,877 195,877 0 0.00% 

Statistics (ESRA I-C) D 109,500 110,500 113,500 3,000 2.71% 

2. Regional educational laboratories (ESRA section 174) D 55,423 56,022 0 (56,022) -100.00% 

3. Assessment (NAEPAA): 

(a) 

(b) 

National assessment (section 303) D 151,000 153,000 181,000 28,000 18.30% 

National Assessment Governing Board (section 302) D 7,745 7,745 7,745 0 0.00% 

Subtotal 158,745 160,745 188,745 28,000 17.42% 

4. 

5. 

78

6. 

Research in special education (ESRA, Part E) D 56,000 56,500 56,500 0 0.00% 

Statewide longitudinal data systems (ETAA section 208) D 32,281 33,000 0 (33,000) -100.00% 

Special education studies and evaluations (IDEA, section 664) D 10,818 10,818 10,818 0 0.00% 

Total D 615,462 623,462 565,440 (58,022) -9.31% 

Program Administration (DEOA) 

1.

 2. 

Salaries and expenses D 430,000 430,000 433,723 3,723 0.87%

Building Modernization D 0 0 15,000 15,000 ---

Total 430,000 430,000 448,723 18,723 4.35%

Student Aid Administration (HEA I-D) 

 1.

 2. 

Salaries and expenses D 850,066 911,843 1,148,604 236,761 25.97%

Servicing activities 1 D 828,877 857,100 734,705 (122,395) -14.28% 

Total 1,678,943 1,768,943 1,883,309 114,366 6.47% 

1

 The 2019 Appropriation column reflects actual obligations and the 2020 Appropriation column reflects updated servicing reestimates. 
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FISCAL YEAR 2021 PRESIDENT'S BUDGET 2/10/2020 

(in thousands of dollars) 

Cat 

Code 

2019 

Appropriation 

2020 

Appropriation 

2021 President's 

Budget 

2021 President's Budget Compared to 

2020 Appropriation 

Amount Percent 

Office for Civil Rights (DEOA, section 203) D 125,000 130,000 130,000 0 0.00% 

Office of Inspector General (DEOA, section 211) D 61,143 63,000 68,019 5,019 7.97% 

Contributions (DEOA, section 421) M 14 0 0 0 ---

General Fund Receipts 

 1.

 2.

 3.

 4.

 5.

 6.

 7.

 8. 

Perkins loan repayments M (90,162) (1,496,475) (970,590) 525,885 -35.14%

FDSL downward reestimate of loan subsidies M (2,309,401) (1,436,592) 0 1,436,592 -100.00%

FFEL downward reestimate of loan subsidies M (2,098,813) (6,865,204) 0 6,865,204 -100.00%

FDSL downward modification/negative loan subsidies M (7,896,820) (4,107,472) (9,969,445) (5,861,973) 142.71%

HBCU capital financing downward reestimate of loan subsidies M (6,011) 0 0 0 ---

FFEL downward modification/negative loan subsidies M 0 (197) (466,318) (466,121) 236609.64%

HEAL downward reestimate of loan subsidies M (34,077) 0 0 0 ---

TEACH downward reestimate of loan subsidies M (1,092) 0 0 0 ---

Total (12,436,376) (13,905,940) (11,406,353) 2,499,587 -17.97%

Special Fund Receipts 

 1. Student Financial Assistance debt collection M 13,850 14,850 15,850 1,000 6.73%

DISCRETIONARY APPROPRIATION D 71,098,416 72,701,214 66,560,692 (6,140,522) -8.45% 

Notes: Pursuant to the Budget Control Act of 2011 (P.L. 112-25), most mandatory programs, with the exception of Pell Grants, Credit Liquidating, and Credit Reestimates, the levels shown in the 2019 Appropriation 

column reflect the 6.2 percent reduction that went into effect on October 1, 2018; and the levels shown in the 2020 Appropriation column reflect the 5.9 percent reduction that went into effect on October 1, 2019. 

The funding total represents the discretionary program level. The program level does not include Changes in Mandatory Programs (CHIMPs). 
 

 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 2/10/2020 

Summary of Discretionary Funds, FY 2021 President's Budget 

(dollars in thousands) 

 

2019 

Appropriation 

2020 

Appropriation 

2021 

President's 

Budget 

2021 President's Budget 

Compared to 2020 Appropriation 

Amount Percent 

Elementary/Secondary Education (P-12) 

Elementary and Secondary Education (ESEA) 

Elementary and secondary education for the disadvantaged block grant (proposed legislation) 0 0 19,363,430 19,363,430 ---

Title I Grants to local educational agencies 15,859,802 16,309,802 0 (16,309,802) -100.00% 

Education innovation and research (i3) 130,000 190,000 0 (190,000) -100.00% 

Supporting Effective Educator Development (SEED) 75,000 80,000 0 (80,000) -100.00% 

State assessments 378,000 378,000 369,100 (8,900) -2.35% 

Student support and academic enrichment grants (Title IV-A) 1,170,000 1,210,000 0 (1,210,000) -100.00% 

Supporting effective instruction State grants (Title II) 2,055,830 2,131,830 0 (2,131,830) -100.00% 

Teacher and school leaders incentive grants 200,000 200,000 0 (200,000) -100.00% 

Charter schools 440,000 440,000 0 (440,000) -100.00% 

Magnet schools assistance 107,000 107,000 0 (107,000) -100.00% 

Promise Neighborhoods 78,254 80,000 0 (80,000) -100.00% 

School safety national activities 95,000 105,000 0 (105,000) -100.00% 

21st century (after school) community learning centers 1,221,673 1,249,673 0 (1,249,673) -100.00% 

English language acquisition 737,400 787,400 0 (787,400) -100.00% 

Impact aid 1,446,112 1,486,112 1,410,799 (75,313) -5.07% 

Other ESEA programs 1,216,442 1,242,701 180,739 (1,061,962) -85.46% 

Subtotal, ESEA 25,210,513 25,997,518 21,324,068 (4,673,450) -17.98% 

Special Education (IDEA) 

Grants to States (Part B) 12,364,392 12,764,392 12,864,392 100,000 0.78% 

Preschool Grants and Grants for infant and families 861,120 871,120 871,120 0 0.00% 

Other IDEA programs 225,633 229,633 229,633 0 0.00% 

13,451,145 13,865,145 13,965,145 100,000 0.72%

38,661,658 39,862,663 35,289,213 (4,573,450) -11.47%

1,270,019 1,290,019 2,052,598 762,579 59.11% 

261,411 274,911 75,788 (199,123) -72.43% 

40,193,088 41,427,593 37,417,599 (4,009,994) -9.68% 

Career and technical education 

Other P-12 programs 

Subtotal, IDEA 

Subtotal, ESEA and IDEA

Subtotal, Elementary/Secondary Education 

Postsecondary Education 

Federal Pell grants (discretionary only) 1 22,475,352 22,475,352 22,475,352 0 0.00% 

Other student financial assistance programs 1,970,000 2,045,000 500,000 (1,545,000) -75.55% 

Consolidated MSI Grant (proposed legislation) - - 196,324 196,324 ---

TRIO 1,060,000 1,090,000 950,000 (140,000) -12.84% 

Other postsecondary education programs 1,657,643 1,792,579 1,099,189 (693,390) -38.68% 

Subtotal, Postsecondary Education 27,162,995 27,402,931 25,220,865 (2,182,066) -7.96% 

Other Discretionary 

Adult Education 655,667 670,667 670,667 0 0.00% 

Research, development, and dissemination 192,695 195,877 195,877 0 0.00% 

Statistics 109,500 110,500 113,500 3,000 2.71% 

National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) 151,000 153,000 181,000 28,000 18.30% 

Statewide longitudinal data systems 32,281 33,000 0 (33,000) -100.00% 

Departmental management (SAA, Program Admin., OCR, OIG ) 2,295,086 2,391,943 2,530,051 138,108 5.77% 

Other programs and activities 306,104 315,703 231,133 (84,570) -26.79% 

Subtotal, Other Discretionary 3,742,333 3,870,690 3,922,228 51,538 1.33% 

TOTAL, DISCRETIONARY APPROPRIATION 71,098,416 72,701,214 66,560,692 (6,140,522) -8.45% 
 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 2/10/2020

Mandatory Funds Summary Table FY 2021 President's Budget 

(dollars in thousands) 

 

Category 

Code 

2019 

Appropriation 

2020 

Appropriation 

2021 

President's 

Budget 

2021 President's Budget

 Compared to 2020 Appropriation 

Amount Percent 

Rehabilitative Services 

Vocational rehabilitation State grants: 

Grants to States M 3,260,627 3,351,798 3,622,551 270,753 8.08% 

Grants to Indians M 43,000 45,250 45,250 0 0.00% 

Subtotal, Rehabilitative Services 3,303,627 3,397,048 3,667,801 270,753 7.97% 

Federal Student Aid (FSA) 

Federal Pell grants: 

Mandatory Pell grants M 5,388,040 5,738,000 5,887,000 149,000 2.60% 

Mandatory funding for discretionary program costs M 1,370,000 1,405,000 1,122,000 (283,000) -20.14% 

Subtotal 6,758,040 7,143,000 7,009,000 (134,000) -1.88% 

Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants M 403 463 0 (463) -100.00% 

TEACH Grants M 33,039 39,495 27,603 (11,892) -30.11% 

Federal Direct Student Loans Program Account M 33,812,461 76,956,947 6,409,396 (70,547,551) -91.67% 

Federal Family Education Loans Program Account 1 M 3,661,416 13,259,764 0 (13,259,764) -100.00% 

Federal Family Education Loans Liquidating Account M (237,229) (182,492) (146,836) 35,656 -19.54% 

Health Education Assistance Loans Liquidating Account M (7,059) (5,029) (5,029) 0 0.00% 

Subtotal, FSA 44,021,071 97,212,148 13,294,134 (83,918,014) -86.32% 

Higher Education 

Aid for institutional development M 145,390 145,855 115,000 (30,855) -21.15% 

Aid for Hispanic-serving institutions M 93,800 94,100 0 (94,100) -100.00% 

Consolidated MSI Grant (proposed legislation) M 0 0 140,000 140,000 ---

Subtotal, Higher Education 239,190 239,955 255,000 15,045 6.27% 

Other Mandatory Accounts 

Contributions M 14 0 0 0 ---

Higher education facilities loan accounts M 1,181 (49,300) (4,102) 45,198 -91.68% 

General fund receipts (mostly student loans) M (12,435,284) (13,905,940) (11,406,353) 2,499,587 -17.97% 

Student financial assistance debt collection M 13,850 14,850 15,850 1,000 6.73% 

Subtotal, Other Mandatory (12,420,239) (13,940,390) (11,394,605) 2,545,785 -18.26% 

TOTAL, ED MANDATORY FUNDS 35,143,649 86,908,761 5,822,330 (81,086,431) -93.30% 

1 No new loans have been made since 2010. Amounts in the 2019 and 2020 appropriation columns reflect reestimates. Amount reflects upward reestimate of existing loans only. 
TOTAL EXPENDITURES FOR ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION IN THE U.S.1

(dollars in billions)

Source of Funds by Level 2018-20192 2019-20202

Dollars Percent Dollars Percent

Federal3 $59.0 7.1% $60.0 7.0%

State 362.0 43.5 375.0 43.6

Local 332.0 39.9 343.0 39.9

All Other 79.0 9.5 82.0 9.5

Total 832.0 100.0 860.0 100.0

1

Data revised from previously published figures.

2

Projected.

3

Includes expenditures of all Federal agencies.

NOTES: Data above may vary from data reported in othersurveys of education funding. Differences can be accounted for primarily by differences among the reportsin 

any of the following: measures offunding used, e.g., budget authority vs. expenditures;the definition of education used; agencies and institutionsreporting the data; and 

basis of dollars reported, e.g., current vs. constant dollars. (Table prepared January 2020).

Because of rounding, detail may not add to totals.

82

The Department of Education’s mission is to promote student achievement

and preparation for global competitiveness by 

fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access. 

www.ed.gov