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E-Update for the Week of August 19, 2019

19 Aug

E-Update for the Week of August 19, 2019

E-Update

Highlights:

  • This week, USED Secretary DeVos visited two correctional facilities to tour the education programs each offer. On August 15, the Secretary visited Westville Correctional Facility in Indiana, which is an experimental site for the “Second Chance Pell” program. On August 14, she visited Pendleton Juvenile Correctional Facility in Indiana.
  • On August 14, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Patrick Leahy (D-VT) sent a letter to President Donald Trump. The Senators urged the president to withdraw his budget request with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) budget of $5 billion for border wall construction.
  • On August 13, DHS published a final rule regarding the inadmissibility of immigrants on “public charge” grounds, which refers to whether a person is likely to be dependent on certain public benefits programs. The final rule expands the public benefits programs that can be considered when determining admissibility. A proposed rule was originally published in October 2018 and received over 200,000 comments. The rule will take effect on October 13

Budget and Appropriations:

Schumer, Leahy urge Trump to give up on border wall, focus on gun violence, supporting schools: Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Patrick Leahy (D-VT) sent a letter to President Donald Trump. The Senators urged the president to withdraw his budget request with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) budget of $5 billion for border wall construction. Instead, the Senators urge the president to request the funds be used for “other pressing needs” including addressing gun violence, addressing white supremacist extremism, and supporting services in schools and communities, such as school counselors. A press release is here. The letter is here.
August 14, 2019

Congress:

Both the House and Senate have adjourned for August recess. Both the House and the Senate will return to session on September 9.

House:

House Chairs write DeVos on student loan servicers oversight: House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Bobby Scott (D-VA), House Financial Services Chairwoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), and House Oversight Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings (D-MD) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Education (USED) Secretary Betsy DeVos outlining their concerns with the Department’s oversight of student loan servicers. Specifically, the chairpersons expressed their concern that student loan servicers influenced the Department’s decision to block state agencies, including law enforcement, from overseeing servicers. The letter is here. A press release is here.
August 13, 2019

Administration:

U.S. Department of Education:

DeVos visits two correctional facility education programs, highlights Second Chance Pell pilot: This week, USED Secretary DeVos visited two correctional facilities to tour the education programs each offer. On August 15, the Secretary visited Westville Correctional Facility in Indiana, which is an experimental site for the “Second Chance Pell” program. The pilot program allows eligible incarcerated individuals to receive Pell grants to pursue postsecondary education while incarcerated. On August 14, she visited Pendleton Juvenile Correctional Facility in Indiana. The Pendleton program offers the chance for incarcerated students to learn coding while completing their sentences. Tweets from the Secretary’s account documenting her visits are here. A POLITICO article is here.
August 14-15, 2019

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS):

HHS announces proposed rulemaking on Head Start Designation Renewal System changes: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) regarding the Head Start Designation Renewal System (DRS). In this NPRM, the Office of Head Start (OHS) proposes changes to two of the seven conditions of DRS for Head Start Grantees: (1) the condition related to the Classroom Assessment Scoring System: Pre-K (CLASS) and the (2) fiscal condition related to audit findings. The DRS refers to the process of identifying grantees for re-competition if a grantee has not demonstrated that it is delivering high-quality and comprehensive services. OHS asserts that the proposed changes to the CLASS condition and the fiscal condition related to audit findings are necessary to ensure the identification of those communities where competition is the most warranted, more effectively hold grantees accountable, and increase the transparency of DRS. Comments on the NPRM will be accepted until September 28. The notice can be found here.
August 12, 2019

U.S. Department of Homeland Security:

Homeland Security releases final public charge rule, Democrats denounce rule and expanded consideration: DHS published a final rule regarding the inadmissibility of immigrants on “public charge” grounds, which refers to whether a person is likely to be dependent on certain public benefits programs. The final rule expands the public benefits programs that can be considered when determining admissibility to include cash benefits for income maintenance, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), most forms of Medicaid, Section 8 Housing Assistance under the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program, Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance, and certain other forms of subsidized housing. Previously, only cash assistance programs such as state and local programs, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and long-term institutional medical care (e.g. Medicaid) were considered when making a public charge determination. A proposed rule was originally published in October 2018 and received over 200,000 comments. The rule will take effect on October 13. The rule is here. A fact sheet from the White House is here.

Relatedly, multiple congressional members released statements denouncing the expansion of the programs included within the final public charge rule. A statement by House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Bobby Scott (D-VA) is here. A statement by Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) is here. A statement by Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) is here.
August 13, 2019

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB):

CFPB hires former student loan servicer for private student loan ombudsperson position: The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced Robert G. Cameron has been appointed to serve as the CFPB private education loan ombudsman. Cameron was previously with the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, a student loan servicer. According to the announcement, while at the agency Cameron was responsible for litigation, compliance, and risk mitigation efforts. The announcement is here.
August 16, 2019

Publications (Congressional and Administration):

  • On August 14, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) published a report titled, “2015 Survey Questionnaires Results: Classroom Instruction for Mathematics, Reading, and Science. The report summarizes information about the content, activities, and skills that grade 4 and 8 teachers emphasize in their classroom instruction. Key findings of the report include identifying that the emphasis on algebra content increased heavily in both grades 4 and 8; that low performing 8th graders engaged less often in certain reading comprehension activities; and that students who took biology, chemistry, and physics were more likely to report acceptance to a four-year college compared to those who did not. The full report is here.
  • On August 14, NCES published a report titled, “Trends in Undergraduate Nonfederal Grant and Scholarship Aid by Demographic and Enrollment Characteristics.” The report summarizes information from four administrations of the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS). Key findings of the report include identifying that the average amount of a nonfederal grant was $4,600 in 2003-04 and $6,900 in 2015-16; that the percentage of undergraduates who received state grant aid increased to 22 percent in 2015-16 from 16 percent in 2003-04; and that the percentage of undergraduates receiving employer aid decreased from 9 percent in 2003-04 to 6 percent in 2015-16. The full report is here.
  • On August 13, NCES published a report titled, “Characteristics of Public and Private Elementary and Secondary Schools in the United States.” The report summarizes information from the 2017-18 National Teacher and Principal Survey. Key findings of the report include identifying that 78 percent of all schools reported participating in the federal free or reduced-price lunch program; that 13 percent of all public school K-12 students had an individualized education plan (IEP), as required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and only 8 percent of private school K-12 students reported having an identified disability; and that 21 percent of public schools and 13 percent of private schools offered at least one course entirely online. The full report is here.

Upcoming Events (Congressional and Administration):

  • Both the House and Senate have adjourned for August recess. Both the House and the Senate will return to session on September 9.
  • On August 20 at 10:00am, House Oversight Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings (D-MD) will hold a community forum titled, “Preventing, Treating, and Healing Childhood Trauma in Baltimore City.” The forum will explore how the community has worked to mitigate the impact of trauma and will feature Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Baltimore Mayor Jack Young. More information and a webcast will be here.
  • On September 8-12, the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) will hold its annual HBCU Week Conference. The conference, titled, “Enhancing HBCU Competitiveness: Student Achievement, Quality Partnerships, and Institutional Performance,” will be held in Washington, DC. Registration and more information are here.
  • On September 10 at 10:00am, the House Financial Services Committee will hold a hearing titled, “A $1.5 Trillion Crisis: Protecting Student Borrowers and Holding Student Loan Servicers Accountable.” No witnesses have been announced. More information will be posted here.

 Upcoming Events (Outside Organizations):

  • On August 20 at 2:00pm, the Coalition for Community Schools will hold an event titled, “Powerful Learning: Deeper Learning Lessons for Community Schools.” The webinar will feature expert discussion on what deeper learning looks like in community schools, as related to access to 21st-Century jobs and civic life. More information and registration are here.
  • On August 21 at 2:00pm, the Forum for Youth Investment will hold an event titled, “Moving Toward Equity: A Thought Leadership Conversation with Hal Smith.” The webinar will feature Hal Smith, of the National Urban League, as he discusses access to high-quality, equitable learning environments, and the Urban League’s 12 equity indicators. More information and registration are here.

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