Report covers how sequestration could impact schools

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The American Association of School Administrators (AASA) has released a new report on how the cuts of sequestration would impact the nation’s schools.

Officials said that sequestration stems from the failure of the U.S. Congress’ Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to identify $1.2 trillion in budgetary savings over 10 years and represents across-the-board budgetary cuts that will impact almost every federal program in January 2013, including cuts to education-related funding totaling more than $4 billion.

The report, “Cut Deep: How the Sequester Will Impact Our Nation’s Schools,” is the 13th survey in AASA’s Economic Impact Series.

According to the survey results, 90% of respondents reported that their state would be unable to absorb or offset the cuts of sequestration, and 89.5% indicated that their district would be unable to absorb the cuts.

Survey findings also indicate that the cuts will translate to reductions in and eliminations of personnel, curriculum, facilities and operations. Respondents reported that the cuts of sequestration would mean reducing professional development (69.4%), reducing academic programs (58.1%), personnel layoffs (56.6%) and increased class size (54.9%).

“AASA recognizes the challenges Congress faces in addressing spending, revenues and mandatory programs,” AASA President Benny Gooden said. “AASA firmly believes that the blunt cuts of sequestration run counter to the widely stated and broadly supported goal of putting our nation on the path to economic health and well-being.”

To read “Cut Deep: How the Sequester Will Impact Our Nation’s Schools,” go to the research page on the association's website here.

For information on another recent study from AASA, check out this story:

Study: School districts see continued budget cuts