The Basic Education Coalition is grateful to Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) and the Members of the House Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations for including $925 million for Basic Education in the Fiscal Year 2020 State and Foreign Operations appropriations bill.
From passage of the READ Act (P.L. 115-56) to the provision of resources for programs that provide education assistance to children in need, our champions in Congress have continuously demonstrated exemplary leadership in the effort to ensure that all children have access to the quality education that they deserve.
In addition to providing children with literacy, numeracy, and critical thinking skills, basic education lays the foundation for sustainable economic growth, poverty alleviation, social stability, and participatory democracy. As USAID begins to implement a new Education Policy, this vital increase in funding will support the expansion of programs that can help provide access to quality education for the 262 million children around the world who are currently out of school.
U.S. international basic education programs focus on increasing equitable access to quality education, providing early learners with foundational skills, and preparing youth for successful careers. From 2011-2017, USAID’s international education programs reached over 109 million learners in more than 50 countries, including 22.6 million children living in conflict or crisis settings.
The Basic Education Coalition is a group of leading U.S.-based organizations and academic institutions working together to promote global peace and prosperity through education.