Federal funds
are defined as the monetary assistance given by the federal government to the public in vital areas. When it comes to education, this means that federal laws are put in place to allow institutions to access funding in order to help keep programs and institutions running optimally. This means that it is not the individual state's responsibility alone to address the financial needs of education.
Basics
The primary principle of federal funding for education is that this particular sector is vital to the development of the nation and should not be allowed to collapse. Thus, it should be given a reasonable amount of assistance when it comes to finances. When it comes to federal funding for education, this does not just translate to the creation of scholarships and grants, but also refers to other aspects of education. It includes research and development and providing adequate training. The funds can also be used to purchase necessary educational equipment like computers as well as to build infrastructure, such as new classrooms, and to improve existing ones.
Grants
While educational grants are not the only benefit derived from federal funding for education, they are the most visible. Through federal funding, programs are authorized and financed by Congress to provide qualified applicants with elementary, secondary and tertiary education. Individuals who are disadvantaged or disabled are also given special attention. There is an application process that must be followed in order to be considered for a grant from the government.
Recipients
Federal funds are meant for public good. Given this, there are various ways in which these monies are distributed to people. The funds can be channeled to state governments or to any instrument of these institutions. Another way in which these funds can be utilized is through local governments, which include counties, parishes, and the like. Local governments aren't the only bodies that can receive the funds for use in education. Private individuals and non-government organizations can make use of them, too.
Monitoring
Because the amounts disbursed by the federal government can be quite large, there are various safeguards in place to ensure that the funds are being used for educational purposes. These can range from internal to external sources such as independent auditing companies. The most common method used is called the single audit. What happens in this case is that the recipient's records are checked to see if the funds were used for their intended purpose.
Criticism
Although federal funding in education is largely accepted, it does have its share of critics. Some people believe that having the federal government contribute funds to the educational system allows it to have greater control over the curriculum taught. This has raised fears that the independence of educational systems to teach what they feel they ought to will be compromised. Critics have also pointed out that the system for the distribution of funds is lacking. Some have observed that funds can be distributed unfairly, with some people getting aid when it seems they do not deserve it. Thus, calls have been made to improve the system of disbursement of federal funds.
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