AASA Members Detail Impact of Sequester Cuts on Nation’s Schools

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Contact: Kitty Porterfield, kporterfield@aasa.org, 803-774-6953

Alexandria, Va., Feb. 26, 2013. School superintendents across the nation are bracing for the deep cuts of sequestration, the federal policy consequence for continued Congressional inaction. In a report released today by the American Association of School Administrators (AASA), hundreds of districts across the nation provided details describing what the cuts would look like in their district, reporting jobs cut, programs eliminated, and other negative impacts.

Nearly 400 responses from 42 states paint a dreary picture as it relates to the nation’s public schools and the sequester.

"The blind cuts of sequestration, made regardless of program demand or effectiveness, represent poor, short-sighted policy," said AASA executive director Daniel Domenech. "The cuts represent billions of lost dollars for the Department of Education and will affect millions of students, classrooms and teachers by increasing class sizes, reducing programs and eliminating educator jobs."

Among the key findings:

• More than three quarters of respondents (77.9%) indicated their district would have to eliminate jobs as a result of the sequester. School districts will, on average, eliminate between 3.7 and 4.8 instructional positions as a result of the sequester.
• The cuts will be to areas that most directly impact student learning, including the reduction of academic programs, personnel layoffs, increased class size, reduction of professional development, and the deferring technology purchases.
• For the first time in the four years and 14 surveys AASA has administered relating to the impact of the recession on the nation’s schools, there was a significant increase in the percentage of respondents indicating that special education funding will take a hit.

   

"At a time where society demands more from schools and student learning," commented one respondent from Wyoming, "this action would put all schools in direct sight for those that already discount schools and their efforts. We have a great opportunity to make the changes for student improved learning and.…now we could face a huge stoppage of effort."

The full report may be found at www.aasa.org/aasaBlog.aspx. For specific questions about the report, please contact Noelle Ellerson, AASA Assistant Director, Policy Analysis and Advocacy, nellerson@aasa.org, 703.774.6953.

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