NAGC Statement on President Biden's FY2023 Budget Request

With the release of the Biden Administration’s FY2023 Budget Request for the U.S. Department of Education, the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) is generally pleased with the proposed $20 billion increase to Title I Grants to Local Education Agencies and $5.5 million increase to Title II-A Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants, both of which will  help gifted and talented children. However, we are disappointed at what amounts to a decrease for the Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Program for FY2023 – the only federal program specifically focused on supporting gifted and talented students. This is especially troubling after Congress recently increased its funding by 7.4% for the current fiscal year.

The president stated that his FY2023 budget “lays out detailed investments to build on a record-breaking year of broad-based, inclusive growth – and meet the challenges of the 21^st Century.” The Association knows that investing in our gifted and talented children, especially those who have been historically marginalized and underserved, is critical to meeting the challenges of a global economy and creating a more inclusive and equitable environment in our schools. Because the Javits Program invests in research and practices to help close the excellence gaps in our schools, reducing or maintaining the same amount funding for the only federally funded program specifically for gifted and talented children is antithetical to the president’s message.

While NAGC welcomes the Administration’s proposed increases for many vital education programs to help ensure every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential, NAGC urges Congress to build on the increased appropriations that the Javits Program received in FY2022 and provide the highest possible funding for the next fiscal year.