E-Update for April 29, 2016
Highlights
- On Monday, the U.S. Department of Education (USED) requested feedback regarding guidance for the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). USED is specifically seeking comments on areas such as: ways to expand early learning; strategies to recruit, develop, and retain teachers and leaders (Title II); clarification of fiscal requirements; student support services (Title IV); and other areas where state and local agencies could benefit from guidance. USED also formally announced its intent to issue guidance regarding homeless children and youth, students in foster care, and English Learners (Title III). Comments must be submitted to guidance@ed.gov by May 25, 2016.
- EducationCounsel’s Senior and Legal Policy Advisor Dan Gordon shared his musings from sitting in on the Negotiated Rulemaking Committee meetings in this LatestCounsel blog. Also, USED released the consensus regulatory language on assessments earlier this week, here.
U.S. Congress
House Passes Reauthorization of D.C. School Voucher Program: The House voted to approve the Scholarships for Opportunity and Results (SOAR) Reauthorization Act, H.R. 4901, by a vote of 224-181. The SOAR Act currently provides scholarships to approximately 1,250 low-income students to attend private schools. The bill is opposed by President Obama, but supported by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser.
April 28, 2016
House Democrats Introduce College Affordability Legislation: House Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA), Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Rep. Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX), and Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT) introduced a companion bill to the Senate’s college affordability bill, S.2677, the “In the Red Act.” The House bill includes provisions to allow borrowers to refinance their student loans to lower interest rates and various other provisions to increase college affordability. The bill is available here.
April 27, 2016
Sen. Murray Urges Senate to Pass “In the Red” Act: The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) delivered remarks this week on the Senate floor urging the Senate to pass the “In the Red Act.” Ranking Member Murray shared her personal student debt story, in addition to highlighting the challenges of student loan debt for students across the country.
April 27, 2016
Sens. Gillibrand and McCaskill Call for Support of Bipartisan Campus Sexual Assault Bill: Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Claire McCaskill (D-MO) held a press conference to urge more Senators to back S.590, the “Campus Accountability and Safety Act.” The Senators are aiming to refocus attention on the campus sexual assault bill, which has bipartisan support. Notably on the Republican side, Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and Senator Lindsay Graham (R-SC) also spoke at the press conference.
April 26, 2016
Senate Democrats Urge USED to Strengthen Accrediting System: Senate Democrats, including HELP Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray and 23 other Senators urged USED to strengthen its review process for accreditors. The letter argues for a strong accrediting system in order to ensure higher education institutions are providing students the tools they need for success.
April 22, 2016
Administration
USED Requests Feedback on Guidance for ESSA: USED issued a call for stakeholder feedback regarding guidance for ESSA. USED is specifically seeking comments on areas such as: ways to expand early learning; strategies to recruit, develop, and retain teachers and leaders (Title II); clarification of fiscal requirements; student support services (Title IV); and other areas where state and local agencies could benefit from guidance. USED also formally announced its intent to issue guidance regarding homeless children and youth, students in foster care, and English Learners (Title III). Comments must be submitted to ESSA.guidance@ed.gov by May 25, 2016.
April 25, 2016
USED Releases Consensus Regulatory Language on Assessments: The Negotiated Rulemaking Committee reached consensus on the consensus regulatory language relating to Title I, Part A assessments at the end of their final meeting on April 19. USED released the consensus language this week. Also, for an insider’s take on the Negotiated Rulemaking process, see EducationCounsel’s Senior Legal and Policy Advisor Dan Gordon’s musings on our website.
April 28, 2016
Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Announces New Funding to Increase Duration of Head Start Program: ACF announced the availability of $294 million in previously appropriated funding to allow all Head Start communities access to full school year and full school day programming, a move supported by evidence that shows children are better prepared for school upon receiving extended high-quality learning experiences.
April 25, 2016
USED, Treasury, and CFPB Announce Joint Effort to Support Student Loan Borrowers: USED, the U.S. Department of Treasury, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced a joint effort to support student loan borrowers. The announcement includes an initiative to modernize credit reporting for student loans, new borrower repayment rights, a CFPB prototype Student Loan Payback Playbook for borrowers – on which CFPB is seeking public comments, and the launch of studentloans.gov/Repay. CFPB Request for Information is available here.
April 28, 2016
White House Announces Major Grant Competition to Connect Community Colleges to Employers: The White House announced that the Administration will launch an H-1B funded $100 million grant competition by the Department of Labor to create and expand innovative regional and sector partnerships between community colleges and other training providers, employers, and the public workforce system. The goal of the partnerships is to provide more dynamic tuition-free education and training programs for middle- and high-skilled jobs.
April 25, 2016
Secretary King Speaks on 12th Grade Math NAEP Scores: U.S. Secretary of Education John King issued a statement on the release of the 12th grade math scores for the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Secretary King noted the continued work to be done to improve student achievement and lessons to be learned from the newly released data. NAEP data is available here. In comparison to 2013, the national average mathematics score in 2015 for twelfth-grade students was lower and the average reading score was not significantly different. In comparison to the first year of the current trendline, 2005, the average mathematics score in 2015 did not significantly differ. In comparison to the initial reading assessment year, 1992, the 2015 average reading score was lower.
April 27, 2016
USED Launches Final Round of i3 Grant Competition: USED launched the final Investing in Innovation (i3) Development competition. This year’s competition focuses on encouraging innovation to maximize student learning by transforming the school environment and school climate, in addition to fostering racial and socioeconomic diversity. The Federal Register notice is available here.
April 26, 2016
USED and DOJ Announce Grants to Support Students Involved in Criminal Justice System: USED and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency announced $5.7 million in new grants to improve outcomes for students who have been involved in the criminal justice system. The program focuses on career and technical education programs, reentry services, and employment training opportunities for students.
April 25, 2016
Events
The House and Senate will be in recess next week.
New Legislation
H.R.5072 : To provide for tribal demonstration projects for the integration of early childhood development, education, including Native language and culture, and related services, for evaluation of those demonstration projects, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Torres, Norma J. [CA-35] (introduced 4/26/2016) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Education and the Workforce
H.R.5074 : To prohibit the provision of Federal funds to any State or local educational agency that denies or prevents participation in constitutional prayer in schools.
Sponsor: Rep Ellmers, Renee L. [NC-2] (introduced 4/27/2016) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Education and the Workforce
H.R.5096 : To amend the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 to establish the American Technical Training Grant Program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Esty, Elizabeth H. [CT-5] (introduced 4/28/2016) Cosponsors (3)
Committees: House Education and the Workforce
H.R.5106 : To make college more affordable, reduce student debt, and provide greater access to higher education for all students of the United States.
Sponsor: Rep Duckworth, Tammy [IL-8] (introduced 4/28/2016) Cosponsors (3)
Committees: House Education and the Workforce; House Ways and Means; House Natural Resources
S.2859 : A bill to establish a competitive grant program to incentivize States to implement comprehensive reforms and innovative strategies to significantly improve postsecondary outcomes for low-income and first generation college students, including increasing postsecondary enrollment and graduation rates, to reduce the need of postsecondary students for remedial education, to increase alignment of high school and postsecondary education, and to promote innovation in postsecondary education, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Franken, Al [MN] (introduced 4/27/2016) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
S.2873 : A bill to require studies and reports examining the use of, and opportunities to use, technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity building models to improve programs of the Department of Health and Human Services, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Hatch, Orrin G. [UT] (introduced 4/28/2016) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Publications
Summary of Research on the Association Between State Interventions in Chronically Low-Performing Schools and Student Achievement: This report summarizes the research on the association between state interventions in chronically low-performing schools and student achievement. Most of the research focused on one type of state intervention: working with a turnaround partner. Few studies were identified that examined other types of interventions, such as school closure, charter conversion, and school redesign. Most studies were descriptive, which limits the conclusions that can be drawn about the effectiveness of the interventions. Results of studies of turnaround partner interventions were mixed and suggested that student achievement was more likely to improve when particular factors—such as strong leadership, use of data to guide instruction, and a positive school culture characterized by trust and increased expectations for students—were in place in schools.
April 27, 2016
Money, Race and Success – How Your School District Compares: The New York Times released this interactive report exploring the relationships between economic gaps, race, and academic performance in districts across America.
April 29, 2016