By Jesse Russell

The State of Federal Education funding is not strong. The was the message from education leaders on Wednesday who participated in the first annual "State of Federal Education Funding address. The address was organized by the Committee for Education Funding, a nonpartisan organization that seeks to achieve adequate funding for the nation's education system. The federal appropriations bill for 2006 cut total education spending for the first time in ten years and deeper cuts are expected. Ellen Estomin works in the Pittsburgh Public School system and says faculty works hard to provide a decent education for students:

[Estomin]: For us to really be able to say that we are meeting the needs of all of our students, we really need some help with some federal monies.

Edward Kealy, executive director for the organization said on a college level, recent large cuts to student loans will have a negative impact on the ability of the United States to compete globally:

[Kealy]: That will force students to work more or borrow more privately, to reach their higher education goals--or, even worse,--forgo them completely.