Now that sequestration, that looming, scary, Inside-the-Beltway possibility, is finally upon us, what does that mean for states and school districts? Here’s a rundown:
1) What exactly is sequestration? Sequestration is a series of across-the-board cuts to a broad range of federal programs, including those in the U.S. Department of Education, set to hit the government on Friday, March 1, unless Congress and the Obama administration make a last-ditch effort to stop them. Programs in the U.S. Department of Education would be cut by about 5.3 percent, according to the Government Accountability Office. The cuts aren’t just for this year, either. They’re aimed at chopping $1.2 trillion out of the federal deficit over the next decade. So, if nothing happens, they’re the new normal.
via Sequestration and Education: 12 Frequently Asked Questions.