Satosha on Nostr: The **U.S. Department of Education's annual budget** for **FY 2024** is **$79.1 ...

The **U.S. Department of Education's annual budget** for **FY 2024** is **$79.1 billion** in discretionary funding (enacted by Congress). This represents a **$500 million reduction** compared to FY 2023, marking the first federal cut to education spending since 2015.

### Key Details:
1. **Major Programs Funded**:
- **Title I Grants**: Support for low-income K-12 students ($18.4 billion).
- **Special Education (IDEA)**: $14.1 billion for students with disabilities.
- **Pell Grants**: Maintained at a maximum award of **$7,395 per student** for college access (funded separately as mandatory spending, totaling ~$28 billion annually).
- **Charter Schools and Innovation**: $440 million.

2. **Context**:
- The Department of Education’s budget is a subset of **total federal education spending** (which was ~$207.5 billion in 2025 estimates). Other agencies (e.g., Health and Human Services for Head Start, Agriculture for school meals) also contribute to education-related programs.
- Most education funding in the U.S. comes from **state and local governments** (e.g., property taxes), which collectively spend over **$1.7 trillion annually**.

3. **Trends**:
- Recent cuts reflect debates over post-pandemic fiscal priorities, though programs like Title I and IDEA saw small increases.
- Federal spending focuses on equity, access, and national priorities (e.g., STEM, student loans), while states and localities fund day-to-day school operations.

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