Like all presidential budgets that have come before, President Obama's FY 13 budget is both a political and a financial document.  On the financial side, the budget  forecasts a deficit for fiscal year 2012 that will top $1.3 trillion, before falling in 2013 to $901 billion, or 5.5% of gross domestic product..  From the political perspective, the budget is a good predictor of the issues that President Obama will stake his re-election campaign on in the coming year.  Not surprisingly of utmost concern is JOBS.  Obama's proposal incudes $350 billion in stimulus measures and $476 billion for transportation and infrastructure that would be partially paid for by savings from the end of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Two of the proposed new investments in job creation are of interest to ISTE members.  They include:

• $30 billion to modernize at least 35,000 schools and  and $30 billion to help states and localities retain and hire teachers and first responders. ISTE has been a strong supporter of these efforts in the past, see my blog posts on the Fix America's Schools (FAST) Act and the Educator Jobs Bill.
• Build a next-generation, wireless broadband network.

The Department of Education buget proposal is "more of the same" with regard to classroom technology.  Once again President Obama's budget fails to fund the Enhancing Education Through Technology program, the federal government's major investment in classroom technology.  It is astounding that an Administration that continues to stress the transition from print to digital, and other benefits of technology for personalized learning, data driven decision making, creativty and innovation in the classroom fails to provide direct funding for the professional development of teachers to ensure they have the skills and know how to seamlessly integrate technology into the classroom.

Some other Department of Education funding recommendations:

$ 850 million for Race to the Top (a $300 million increase), districts as well as states will be eligible to compete and there will continue to be an early-learning component.

$150 million (level funded) for the Investing in Innovation Grant program .

$5 billion for a NEW competitive grant program that will challenge states and districts to work with their teachers and unions to attract, prepare and reward great teachers to help students learn.

More details about the Obama Budget will be available in the next few days.  ISTE will work with Congress during the FY 13 appropriations process to re-instate funding for EETT.

 ISTE will continue to focus on our top three policy priorities for the year:

• Great teachers and principals. All students should have access to educators who use modern information and communication tools and digital content to support student learning in all content areas. Teachers and principals require relevant digital resources and relevant 21^st century professional development to deliver on that essential promise.
• An education that provides true college and career readiness. We must effectively engage student learning through new instructional approaches and new technologies, with teachers demonstrating the relevance of a 21^st century education.
• Access to broadband, both at school and at home. We must continue our national commitment to closing the digital divide and ensure that all students have access to affordable broadband in their classrooms and at home.