Biden Administration Eliminates Federal Funding To Schools With Hunter Ed And Archery Programs

The National Archery in Schools Program has been approved as a physical education program in Georgia since 2003.

The Biden Administration has announced that it will eliminate federal funding for schools that offer hunter education and archery programs. That has school systems across Georgia, and the U.S., in a tizzy.

The decision was a result of the Biden administration’s interpretation of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. That act has language that prohibits federal funding from providing “training in the use of a dangerous weapon.”

U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R – Texas) and Thom Tillis (R – North Carolina) co-wrote the bill that became law in 2022. They have written Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona to say that was not how the bill intended.

Their letter said that the Department of Education misinterpreted the act to defund schools that provide hunter education and archery programs. The letter said those “longstanding educational and enrichment programs” are used by “thousands of students to develop life skills, learn firearm safety, and build self-esteem.”

Jennifer Pittman is DNR’s hunter development program manager and the Georgia National Archery in Schools Coordinator.

“This is new legislation, and we don’t know a lot,” she said. “We’re waiting to hear from the Department of Education. It is our plan as of right now to continue both programs. Both programs are funded by Pittman-Roberson and receive no money from the federal government.”

Marisa Futral, who serves the same dual roles as Jennifer Pittman does in Georgia, says it’s the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources belief that because those programs receive no federal funding, schools should not be held responsible for offering them. Alabama, too, will continue both programs unless told differently.

The National Archery in Schools Program has been approved as a physical education program in Georgia since 2003. It is open to students in the 4-12 grades. Teams that compete in regional and state tournaments must have 12 to 24 members and four of those members must be of the opposite sex.

Archery is a sport that boys and girls can compete on equal footing. NASP officials say that for the most part, the participants don’t have the size or skills to participate in traditional high school sports like football, basketball and baseball. A 6-5 boy has no advantage over a 4-11 girl in archery. All archers use the same designated equipment. Over-zealous parents can’t buy expensive equipment to give their child an advantage. Most importantly, the program gives students a sense of belonging. They proudly wear uniforms touting their schools just like football players do. Thousands of fans attend the state championships. They cheer their child’s team. Students must sustain a high grade-point average to participate, and officials speculate that has kept many from dropping out of school before graduation. NASP has all-state academic awards for each state. At the state championship, Georgia gives out scholarship to the top individual performers. Should they qualify for the national championship, they compete for more than $50,000 in scholarships.

How big is the program nationwide? It should be noted that since its inception in 2002, more than 18 million students have participated in the NASP.

The hunter education program in schools is voluntary. No one is required to take the course. The purpose is to teach students to be safe, responsible, conservation-minded hunters. They learn to obey hunting laws, how to hunt fairly and practice safety rules.

The Sportsmen’s Alliance, a national nonprofit that fights to protect the interests of hunters and anglers, has issued an Action Alert, saying, “Your Congressman and U.S. Senator hold the key. Tell them you are counting on them to do three things: Immediately restore educational funding for programs that support the outdoors, conservation, and hunting. Immediately commit to overturning Biden’s hunter education ban. Announce your support publicly to help build momentum throughout Congress to get this done.” GON reached out to the two Senators from Georgia for comment, but Sen. Raphael Warnock and Sen. Jon Ossoff did not respond.

Rep. Austin Scott, an avid sportsman from Tifton who once qualified and competed in the Truck-Buck Shoot-Out, said, “Biden is intentionally misinterpreting legislation so he can push his anti-gun agenda and withhold funding from schools with hunting and archery programs. This is a direct attack on rural America and the Second Amendment.”

Click here to see more from the Sportsmen’s Alliance and to contact your legislators.

For more on Georgia’s NASP program, go to georgiawildlife.com/NASP.