E-Update for August 19, 2016
Highlights
- The U.S. Department of Education (USED) announced partnerships this week to allow students to access federal student aid while enrolling in innovative higher education programs (such as coding bootcamps). More information is available here.
- USED announced a Preschool Pay for Success Feasibility Pilot aimed at improving early learning outcomes. More information here.
Congress
Secretary King Joins Sens. Murphy and Blumenthal for Diversity Roundtable: Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) were joined by U.S. Secretary of Education John King for a roundtable discussion in Hartford, CT, on the importance of diversity and equity in education. The discussion focused on strategies and best practices to ensure an excellent education for all students.
August 17, 2016
Administration
USED Announces New Pay for Success Grant Competition for Preschool: USED announced the availability of $2.8 million in funding for a Preschool Pay for Success grant competition for state, local, and tribal governments to explore the feasibility of Pay for Success to expand and improve early learning. The Pay for Success model involves a government or other entity entering into a contract to pay a service provider for the achievement of measurable outcomes for specific people or communities with payments contingent upon achievement of the agreed-upon outcomes. The feasibility studies will determine if this model is an effective strategy to implement preschool programs that are high-quality and yield meaningful results.
August 19, 2016
USED Announces Partnerships under the Educational Quality through Innovation Partnerships (EQUIP) Initiative: USED announced eight partnerships between institutions of higher education and non-traditional providers under the EQUIP initiative. The program enables students, particularly low-income students, to access federal aid to enroll in programs such as coding bootcamps, online courses, and employer organizations offered by non-traditional providers in partnership with colleges and universities.
August 16, 2016
USED Awards Grants Under TRIO Educational Opportunity Centers Program: USED awarded $48 million in grants aimed at promoting college readiness for adults under the TRIO Educational Opportunity Centers (EOC) Program. The Educational Opportunity Centers program provides counseling and information on college admissions to qualified adults who want to enter or continue a program of postsecondary education.
August 15, 2015
USED and HHS Announce New Investment to Address Issues of Implicit Bias and Uneven Discipline in Early Learning Programs: USED and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a $1 million investment in the Technical Assistance (TA) Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) to implement the Pyramid Equity Project, which will provide assistance to early learning educators to ensure that young learners are supported and nurtured. Specifically, the Departments will partner with Preschool Development Grantees in NJ and TN to develop national models for addressing issues of implicit bias and uneven disciplinary practices in early learning programs. An overview of the Pyramid Equity Project is available here; an overview of the Pyramid Model is available here.
August 15, 2016
Publications
Midyear Update on Student Loan Complaints: Income-Driven Repayment Plan Application Issues: This report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) analyzes complaints submitted by consumers over the last year regarding accessing lower student loan payments tied to their income. The complaints centered on prolonged processing delays and wrongful rejections by student loan servicers, which can result in increased interest charges and lost eligibility for certain federal benefits and protections. The CFPB has published a “Fix it Form” to help servicers improve their practices to avoid creating these issues for borrowers.
August 18, 2016