Ed. budget funds No Child Left Behind

WASHINGTON, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- The budget for the U.S. Education Department demonstrates commitment to No Child Left Behind, Education Secretary Margaret Spellings said Monday.

President George W. Bush unveiled Monday the Education Department budget, which included $24.5 billion for No Child Left Behind and $14.4 billion for Title I grants to high-poverty schools, Spellings said in a news release.

"The budget process is one where we must balance process and priorities and I believe this budget does that for education," Spellings said.

Pell Grant funding also was increased in the budget proposal to provide students with a maximum of $4,800, which Spellings said was the largest maximum grant ever.

"Higher education is more expensive and more necessary for future success than ever before. For most families, a college degree is one of the most important investments they'll ever make," Spellings said.

The budget also includes $300 million for Pell Grants for Kids, a new program that would offer scholarships to low-income children in struggling schools. Bush spoke of the program during his State of the Union address last week, saying the money could be used to defray costs of attending an out-of-district public school or nearby private or faith-based schools.