Giving Compass' Take:

• Linda Jacobson explains how Trump's 2020 budget proposal would impact school funding around teacher development. 

• How can funders help to define and implement effective teacher development? 

• Learn about a private investment in teacher development. 

The Trump administration is calling for a 10% reduction in federal funding for schools in fiscal 2020 and is recommending flat funding for Title I, special education and English learners.

“The administration believes that we need to reduce the amount of discretionary funding,” James Blew, the department's assistant secretary for planning, evaluation and policy development, said during a press briefing.

The major education priority, a $5 billion tax credit proposal to allow states to create scholarships for students to attend private schools, will be part of the U.S. Treasury Department’s budget recommendations. A request to double the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship program — which also gives families access to private schools — to $30 million, is also not part of the Education Department's budget but will be in the administration’s overall proposed budget.

The administration, however, is asking for a $60 million increase — up to $500 million — to support the expansion of charter schools, $50 million toward states' efforts to create weighted or student-centered funding formulas, and an increase from 3% to 5% for Direct Student Services set aside under Title I. One purpose of this increase, Blew said, is to help students — particularly in rural areas — access higher-level courses like Advancement Placement classes that are not available in their local districts.

The administration also wants to extend its emphasis on choice to teachers and is requesting $300 million for the Education Innovation and Research program — an increase of $170 million — part of which would support a “rigorously evaluated demonstration of teacher-driven professional development” (PD) and the rest that would allow teachers to receive stipends so they can choose their own PD.

“Teachers are generally very unhappy with professional development in their districts right now,” Blew said.

Stephanie Hirsh, executive director of Learning Forward, a membership organization for those leading professional development, said in an email that PD voucher programs may benefit some students, but "our schools and communities are better served by developing systems of educator support that ensure each and every teacher experiences high-quality professional learning so each and every student has an opportunity to learn at high levels."

The budget request also includes $200 million for the Teacher and School Leader Incentive Program, which would emphasize mentoring and teacher residency programs for beginning teachers. “Residency programs are proving to be effective” and preparing teachers for their first day in the classroom, Blew said.

Read the full article about Trump's 2020 budget proposal by Linda Jacobson at Education Dive.