Federal education spending would receive a near-$2 billion boost next year, according to the $2.4 trillion budget proposed by President Bush Feb.2. Like Bill Murray's character in the movie Groundhog Day, though, supporters of educational technology must feel like they've seen this before: For the fourth straight year, the president's budget would eliminate a number of technology- specific education programs.

In all, U.S. Department of Education (ED) spending is recommended at $57 billion in fiscal year 2005. Bush's proposed increases include an additional $1 billion apiece for both disabled students and poor school districts. Despite a three-percent increase in overall ED funding, however, some 38 education initiatives are slated for termination, including at least four technology-specific programs totaling more than $54 million.

Supporters of Bush's budget proposal say the spike in overall funding reaffirms the administration's commitment to educating disadvantaged students and helping schools meet the provisions of the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), bolstering funding for Title I grants and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) for a second straight year. But critics contend the proposal falls short of Bush's promise to prepare the nation's students for success in a technology-driven, 21st-century workforce.

"In our view, this budget represents a major step back from the federal government's interest in and commitment to ensuring that our nation's educators and students gain access to the tremendous learning resources available online and the tools and skills needed to compete successfully in the 21st century's job market," said a joint statement issued by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) and the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN)--two organizations dedicated to promoting better use of technology in America's schools.

Among the initiatives again on the chopping block for next year is the Star Schools program, which aids in the deployment of advanced telecommunications services to underserved schools. In 2004 the program received $20.5 million, nearly $7 million short of what it was allotted in 2003. Bush has proposed cutting the program for the last four years.

Also slated for elimination in 2005 is the Community Technology Centers program, which provides federally subsidized computer centers for students in low-income areas. The program received $10 million in 2004, just half of what the Senate recommended and well shy of the $32.3 million it received in 2003.

Under Bush's proposal, Ready to Teach--a federal initiative that helps public broadcasters provide educational and professional development resources to schools--also would go unfunded. The program received more than $14 million from Congress in 2004, up from $12 million in 2003.

The Regional Technology in Education Consortia, or RTECs, would meet a similar fate. In 2004, the RTECs received $10 million from Congress despite Bush's plan to strike the program from the budget last year.