The economic stimulus plan that Congress has scheduled for a vote on Wednesday would shower the nation\u2019s school districts, child care centers and university campuses with $150 billion in new federal spending, a vast two-year investment that would more than double the Department of Education\u2019s current budget.<\/p>\n
The proposed emergency expenditures on nearly every realm of education, including school renovation, special education, Head Start and grants to needy college students, would amount to the largest increase in federal aid since Washington began to spend significantly on education after World War II.<\/p>\n
Critics and supporters alike said that by its sheer scope, the measure could profoundly change the federal government\u2019s role in education, which has traditionally been the responsibility of state and local government.<\/p>\n