Sequestration Watch: 90 Days and Counting

In accordance with the Sequestration Transparency Act of 2012, President Obama recently released the Administration’s plan to address the $1.2 trillion deficit by January 2, 2013. (http://cdn.govexec.com/media/gbc/docs/pdfs_edit/091412cc1.pdf). In the face of Congressional failure, the Administration must cut $109 billion a year over the next nine years. Non-defense spending could see cuts of 8.2% in 2013 alone. Future cuts could go as high as 17%. Cuts range from housing for the elderly and persons with disabilities, rural development, juvenile justice programs, community policing, and programs preventing violence against women (http://www.nonprofitquarterly.org/policysocial-context/21016-a-nonprofits-guide-to-sequestration.html). According to Secretary Duncan, education could see a long-range cut of $2.7 billion in Title I funds, special education and Head Start programs (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/25/education-budget-cuts_n_1703442.html). This translates into the loss of thousands of teachers, aides, special education professionals, and early childhood care providers nationally. Especially hard hit would be communities and children living in poverty. As Congress and the White House remain at a stalemate over the budget and the nation is caught up in the Presidential Election cycle, educational leaders must speak out at the local and national levels to raise awareness and advocate for the children in our care. We ignore this at our peril!