Doug Ward, Author at EducationCounsel

E-Update for May 1, 2015

E-Update for May 1, 2015
Events
On May 6, the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee will hold a hearing entitled, “Reauthorizing the Higher Education Act: The Role of Consumer Information in College Choice.” Witnesses have not yet been announced. More information here.
On May 7, New America Foundation and Howard University will host a discussion entitled, “The Criminalization of Black Youth in the Classroom.” The event will focus on a report from the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights, which reveals data about school discipline policies around the country. RSVP here.
U.S Department of Education
Final School Improvement Grant Requirements Announced: The initial list of evidence-based, whole school reform models under the School Improvement Grants (SIG) final requirements has been posted for consideration by districts as they apply to their states for funds.April 30, 2015
USED Invites Applications for Enhanced Assessment Instrument Grants Program: The U.S. Department of Education (USED) published a notice in the Federal Register inviting applications for new awards for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 Enhanced Assessment Instruments Grants Program. The purpose of the Enhanced Assessment Instruments Grant program, also called […]

May 1, 2015 E-Update

E-Update for April 24, 2015

E-Update for April 24, 2015
Events
On April 27, Results for America (RFA) and American Enterprise Institute will host a bipartisan discussion on how to revamp federal education policies and programs to help lawmakers spend public funds more effectively and efficiently. Rick Hess and Bethany Little will present a set of principles and policy recommendations for making better use of data, evidence, and evaluation to improve student outcomes. Other speakers will include: Emma Vadehra, Chief of Staff to the U.S. Secretary of Education, and John Bailey, Vice President of Policy at the Foundation for Excellence in Education. RSVP here.
On April 28, the Center for American Progress will host a conversation about a new report that highlights school districts throughout the country that are empowering teachers to lead the way to successful implementation of the Common Core. The report, “Teacher Leadership: The Pathway to Common Core Success,” demonstrates how teachers are assuming significant leadership roles and engaging in key decisions about how to implement the standards each day,and, in doing so, paving the way to a smooth transition to the Common Core. […]

April 24, 2015 E-Update

E-Update for April 17, 2015

E-Update for April 17, 2015
The Senate HELP Committee held a markup of the Every Child Achieves Act to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) that spanned April 14th through 16th this week. After consideration of a total of 59 amendments (including the Manager’s amendment), the Committee adopted 30 amendments (5 Republican, 24 Democratic, and the Manager’s amendment). In addition, 8 amendments were defeated and 21 amendments were discussed and then withdrawn. The Committee ultimately passed the Every Child Achieves Act by a unanimous vote, 22-0. The bill will now move to the Senate floor for consideration over the coming weeks.
Events
On April 20, Invest in Us will host a webinar on School-Community Partnerships to Build Strong Early Learning Communities. The webinar will examine ways in which school districts can help build access to high-quality early childhood programming in their community. Participants will include: Roberto Rodriquez, Assistant to the President for Education, White House; Dr. Libby Doggett, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Early Learning, U.S. Department of Education; Linda Smith, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Early Childhood Development, U.S. […]

April 17, 2015 E-Update

E-Update for April 10, 2015

E-Update for April 10, 2015
On April 7, Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Patty Murray (D-WA), Chairman and Ranking Member, respectively, of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released a bipartisan draft bill to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). The “Every Child Achieves Act of 2015” will be marked up by the Senate HELP Committee beginning April 14, with a number of amendments expected. The HELP Committee’s press release is available here.
Events
On April 14, the House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) Subcommittee will hold a hearing on early childhood education. Witnesses will include: Dr. Walter S. Gilliam, Director, The Edward Zigler Center at Yale School of Medicine; Diana Mendley Rauner, President, Ounce of Prevention Fund; and Debra Andersen, Executive Director, Smart Start Oklahoma. Details here.
On April 14, Achieve will host a webinar titled, “Towards a Better Test: Communicating Assessment Results to Families and Educators.” Achieve has developed sample student assessment reports to help states, districts, and schools better communicate student assessment results to teachers, school leaders, and families. This webinar […]

April 10, 2015 E-Update

E-Update for March 27, 2015

E-Update for March 27, 2015
Updates
Following House passage of a Fiscal Year 2016 Budget Resolution by a vote of 228-199 on March 25, the Senate followed suit and passed their Fiscal Year 2016 Budget Resolution by a vote of 52-46 in the early hours of March 27. The Senate considered dozens of amendments to the budget as part of the “vote-a-rama” section of the budget process, including a number of education amendments. Notably, Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) offered an amendment to increase taxes to fund pre-school programs, which failed by a roll call vote of 54-46. In addition, Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) offered an amendment, the “Local Control of Education Act,” which would prohibit the federal government from mandating, incentivizing, or coercing states to adopt specific academic standards, including the Common Core standards, curriculum, or assessments. Sen. Vitter’s amendment was adopted by a vote of 52-46. It is important to note that amendments to a budget resolution are essentially statements of policy and thus would require further legislative action.
Events
On March 31, the Alliance for Excellent Education and the Center for […]

March 27, 2015 E-Update

E-Update for March 20, 2015

E-Update for March 20, 2015
Events
On March 22 through 25, the National Association of Federal Education Program Administrators is hosting its annual conference. The conference theme is “Charting the Course: Celebrating 50 Years of ESEA.” Keynote speakers will include Jack Jennings, founder of the Center on Education Policy; Reyna Grande, author of The Distance Between Us: A Memoir, and Dr. Tammy Pawloski, Director of the Center of Excellence to Prepare Teachers of Children of Poverty and Professor of Early Childhood Education. Register here.
On March 23, the College and Career Readiness and Success Center at AIR (CCRS Center) and American Youth Policy Forum (AYPF) will host a webinar on “Strengthening Measures of College and Career Readiness and Success: State Longitudinal Data Systems.” The webinar will discuss the progress of state longitudinal data systems and the governance structures developed to ensure proper use. A panel of national experts and state leaders will provide an overview of the successes and challenges of building cross-system longitudinal data systems and discuss the critical role that governance plays to ensure appropriate use and alleviate privacy concerns. Register […]

March 20, 2015 E-Update

E-Update for March 6, 2015

E-Update for March 6, 2015
Updates
On February 27, Republican leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives decided to postpone a vote on H.R. 5, the “Student Success Act,” the Republican bill to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Meanwhile, Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) continue negotiations to develop a bipartisan ESEA reauthorization bill for Committee markup. Though the markup was initially slated for the week of March 9, it is now expected to take place the week of March 16 at the earliest. No formal announcement on the markup has been made at this time.
EducationCounsel News
EducationCounsel has published a white paper on the challenges of creating an effective, efficient regulatory approach for the American higher education system. The paper, Getting Our House in Order: Transforming the Federal Regulation of Higher Education as America Prepares for the Challenges of Tomorrow, assesses the state of regulation today and examines how it should evolve, with a special focus on accountability for institutions of higher education. Download […]

March 6, 2015 E-Update

E-Update for February 27, 2015

E-Update for February 27, 2015
Updates
This week, the House of Representatives took up the House Republican Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) reauthorization, H.R. 5, the “Student Success Act.” On Thursday and Friday, the House considered a total of 44 amendments to H.R. 5, including nine Republican amendments, nine bipartisan amendments, and 26 Democratic amendments. Of particular note, the House approved Rep. Bob Goodlatte’s (R-VA) amendment, which provides States with the authority to allow local education agencies to administer their own, locally designed academic assessment system, in place of a State-designed academic system. In addition, the House approved an amendment offered by Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-MI); this amendment allows state education agencies and eligible entities to use Local Academic Flexible Grant funds to audit and streamline assessment systems, eliminates unnecessary assessments, and improves the use of assessments. Roll call votes for several amendments were postponed Thursday night and into Friday. Late Friday afternoon, House leaders decided to postpone a vote on H.R. 5.
EducationCounsel News
On February 24, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a hearing on “Recalibrating […]

February 27, 2015 E-Update

E-Update for February 23, 2015

E-Update for February 23, 2015
Updates
The House will take up Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) reauthorization this week, along with several other education bills. The House will consider H.R. 5, the Republican bill known as the “Student Success Act, on Wednesday and Thursday, with a final vote expected on Friday. In addition, the House will take up the “STEM Education Act” and the “Strengthening Education Through Research Act” (SETRA) this week. Both bills passed the House last Congress and are expected to pass the House again this week.
On the Senate side, the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee will host a hearing this Tuesday entitled, “Recalibrating Regulation of Colleges and Universities” to examine the report from the Task Force on Government Regulation of Higher Education. Hearing information will be available here.
Events
On February 25, the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) will host a webinar on “Advancing Career Pathways with the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014.” The webinar will focus on how to realize the promise of career pathways under Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) […]

February 23, 2015 E-Update

E-Update for February 13, 2015

E-Update for February 13, 2015
Updates
On February 11, the House Education & the Workforce Committee held a markup of H.R. 5, the “Student Success Act,” the Republican draft bill to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). The markup comes just one week after Chairman Kline reintroduced H.R. 5 on February 3. Nearly all amendment votes fell along strict party lines, with all Republican amendments accepted or withdrawn and all Democratic amendments rejected or withdrawn. Following deliberation on 26 amendments (including both the Republican and Democratic Substitute Amendments), the Committee voted to report H.R.5 to the House Floor by a party line vote of 21-16. The Democratic Substitute Amendment was also rejected by a vote of 21-16. The House is expected to vote on H.R. 5 the last week in February. Statements from Committee Republicans, Committee Democrats, and the Secretary of Education on the markup are below.
EducationCounsel News
On February 12, a bipartisan group of Senators on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee (including Sens. Alexander, Mikulski, Burr, and Bennet) announced a report detailing ways Congress and the […]

February 13, 2015 E-Update