E-Update for the Week of August 5, 2019

Highlights:

• On August 1, the Senate approved the two-year budget deal, which was approved by the House last week. The 67-28 vote was largely bipartisan, which is the result of whipping efforts by Senate leadership and the White House. The agreement was signed by President Donald Trump on August 2.
• On July 30, POLITICO reported that USED is opening a new review of the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) to determine if it meets federal requirements for recognition. USED Secretary DeVos previously reinstated ACICS as a federally recognized accreditor after the Obama administration had terminated the recognition.
• On July 29, House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Bobby Scott (D-VA) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue requesting information about the estimated impact of the Department’s proposed revisions to the Supplementary Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Budget and Appropriations:

Budget deal approved and signed: The Senate approved the two-year budget deal, which was approved by the House last week.  The 67-28 vote was largely bipartisan, which is the result of whipping efforts by Senate leadership and the White House. The leadership of the Senate Appropriations Committee will now determine topline spending limits for each of the 12 fiscal year (FY) 2020 appropriations bills. The Senate Appropriations Committee will then move forward with markup of its FY2020 appropriations bills, including the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (Labor/HHS) bill, potentially the week of September 9. Congress must still agree to and pass 12 FY2020 appropriations bills before the current fiscal year ends on September 30. It is unlikely they will be able to finalize all spending bills before this deadline, meaning a short-term continuing resolution may be needed.

Relatedly, a press release from Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby (R-AL) is here. A press release from Committee Ranking Member Patrick Leahy (D-VT) is here. A press release from House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) is here.
August 1 and 2, 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.

Senate:

Commissioner of USED Rehabilitative Services Administration confirmed: The Senate confirmed the nomination of Mark Schultz to serve as commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), a division of the U.S. Department of Education (USED) Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS). Schultz was confirmed via a voice vote. USED Secretary Betsy DeVos tweeted in response to Schultz’s confirmation stating his “knowledge & expertise will be a tremendous asset at RSA as we continue to #RethinkEducation.” The Secretary’s tweet is here.
August 1, 2019

Enzi releases proposals for improved congressional budget and spending cycles: Senate Budget Committee Chairman Mike Enzi (R-WY) released four proposals in attempts to improve the congressional budget and appropriations processes. “I am hopeful that through this process, we will be able to reach bipartisan agreement to end the current dysfunction and put our country on a path toward a more sustainable fiscal future,” stated the Chairman. Key features of his proposals include re-orienting the budget process around long-term planning and shifting to a two-year budget and spending cycle; increasing congressional budget enforcement; supporting the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and improving the agency’s estimating methods; and improving how budget resolutions are considered on the Senate floor. A press release is here.
July 30, 2019

House:

Scott requests internal USDA estimates for SNAP revisions’ impact on low-income children: House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Bobby Scott (D-VA) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue requesting information about the estimated impact of the Department’s proposed revisions to the Supplementary Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The Chairman is requesting the Department provide the internal estimate of how many low-income students will lose eligibility for free school meals due to the proposed changes. The Chairman has stated that he expects more than 500,000 students will be impacted. “In a phone briefing with House Committee on Education and Labor staff on July 22, 2019, your staff stated that the Department’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) estimates that the proposed rule will result in more than 500,000 children losing their automatic eligibility for free school meals,” wrote the Chairman. The letter is here. A press release is here. The proposed rule is here.
July 29, 2019

Cummings investigating USED earlier attempt to remove acting Inspector General: House Oversight Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings (D-MD) sent a letter to USED Secretary DeVos requesting information regarding the Department’s attempted removal of Acting Inspector General Sandra Bruce earlier this year. The Chairman originally requested information on February 19, 2019, according to the letter, and now seeks the information in addition to a transcribed interview with Special Assistant to the Secretary Eric Ventimiglia. The Chairman believes Ventimiglia played a substantial role in Bruce’s attempted removal. Further, the Chairman requested a transcribed interview with Deputy Secretary Mick Zais.
July 26, 2019

Administration:

U.S. Department of Education (USED):

USED reopening investigation into controversial for-profit college accreditor: POLITICO reported that USED is opening a new review of the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) to determine if it meets federal requirements for recognition. USED Secretary DeVos previously reinstated ACICS as a federally recognized accreditor after the Obama administration had terminated the recognition. The new review will focus on ACICS’s ability to fulfill requirements regarding financial and administrative capabilities. The notice of the new investigation came from Herman Bounds, director of the Department’s accreditation division, during a meeting with the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI). The Department has not provided any timeline for the new review of ACICS. A POLITICO article is here.
July 30, 2019

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

HHS launches new child care search tool: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Administration for Children and Families (ACF) announced the launch of ChildCare.gov, a website designed to assist parents in finding child care. “Some families want center-based care, some want home-based care, some want child care in the evenings or on weekends, so mothers and fathers can work different shifts. The website supports state efforts that empower families to find information quickly,” stated ACF Assistant Secretary Lynn Johnson. The site will allow zip code-based searches for child care, center-based care, family child care homes, and pre-k programs. Further, the site includes information about the providers as well as the financial assistance available to families. The site is intended to build upon existing state child care websites and centralize federally required information about child care providers. The website is here. A press release is here.
August 1, 2019

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS):

DHS central school safety clearinghouse meets for first time: POLITICO reported that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) held the first meeting of the central school safety clearinghouse. The meeting was attended by stakeholders such as parents, school safety experts, and advocates. The clearinghouse was a recommendation by the Federal Commission on School Safety, which released its final report in December 2018 and suggested there be a central body responsible for assessing, identifying, and sharing best practices related to school security, technology, and innovations to improve school safety. A POLITICO article is here.
July 30, 2019

Publications (Outside Organizations):

• On August 1, Third Way published a report titled, “Accountability for Institutions and Programs: Striking the Right Balance in HEA.” The report provides recommendations for how Congress can consider improving institutional accountability through a combination of evaluating student outcomes of individual programs in addition to student outcomes for the institution. Key recommendations of the report include strengthening institutional-level accountability with more robust federal guardrails; and, adding program-level accountability which will increase efficiency of federal financial aid dollars. The full report is here.
• On July 30, the Fordham Institute published a report titled, “Discipline Reform through the Eyes of Teachers.” The report is a summary of a survey of 1,200 teachers in grades three through 12 regarding their understanding of how student discipline reforms have impacted their classrooms. Key findings of the report include identifying that teachers in high-poverty schools report higher rates of verbal disrespect, physical fighting, and assault; that most teachers report that discipline is inconsistent or inadequate and that reduced suspensions are a result of a higher tolerance for misbehavior; and that many teachers report that there is value in suspensions or other exclusionary discipline practices. The full report is here.
• On July 29, the Center for American Progress (CAP) published a report titled, “Secretary DeVos is Failing to Protect the Civil Rights of LGBTQ Students.” The report is a summary of CAP’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to have access to Office of Civil Rights (OCR) data on gender-identity related complaints. Key findings of the report include identifying that transgender students were overrepresented in the complaints with 42.6 percent pertaining to gender identity; that 75.9 percent of complaints were alleging harassment; and that only 14.8 percent of complaints were resolved by a change to school policies or practices to benefit the student. 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.

Upcoming Events (Outside Organizations):

• On August 6 at 3:00pm, America’s Promise Alliance, Grad Nation, and The Yes Project are holding an event titled, “Closing the Youth Employment GAP.” The webinar will focus on the 1.5 million young people who are currently unable to secure a job and will discuss the importance of identifying and building skills that allow young people to thrive in the classroom, after graduation, and in the workplace. More information and registration are here.
• On August 7 at 3:00pm, the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) is holding an event titled, “Using Innovative Assessments to Promote Education Equity and Testing Efficiency.” The webinar will feature Abby Javurek, senior director of large-scale solutions for the Northwest Evaluation System (NWEA). Javurek will discuss the work in Georgia and Louisiana and their efforts to develop assessment solutions that increase testing efficiency, provide equitable opportunities for students, and yield more useful data for educators. More information and registration are here.
• On August 8 at 2:00pm, Attendance Works and the United Way are holding an event titled, “Open Doors: Create a Healthy School Climate.” The webinar will discuss school-wide strategies for creating an engaging, healthy school climate in both the elementary and secondary settings. More information and registration are here.

Legislation:

H.R.4098
A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for accreditation reform, to require institutions of higher education to publish information regarding student success, to provide for fiscal accountability, and to provide for school accountability for student loans.
Sponsor: Rep. Francis Rooney (R-FL)

H.R.4107
A bill to authorize funding for section 619 and part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
Sponsor: Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA)

H.R.4108
A bill to direct the Secretary of Education to make grants to support early college high schools and dual or concurrent enrollment programs.
Sponsor: Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY)

H.R.4113
A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for a percentage of student loan forgiveness for public service employment, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Kendra Horn (D-OK)

H.R.4119
A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to extend the interest-free grace period certain loans, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Al Lawson, Jr. (D-FL)

S.2307
A bill to authorize the Secretary of Defense to make grants to support the study of world languages in elementary schools and secondary schools.
Sponsor: Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ)

S.2331
A bill to amend the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to clarify the availability and appropriateness of training for local food service personnel, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Senator Patty Murray (D-WA)

S.2339
A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for accreditation reform, to require institutions of higher education to publish information regarding student success, to provide for fiscal accountability, and to provide for school accountability for student loans.
Sponsor: Senator Mike Lee (R-UT)

S.2358
A bill to amend the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to increase the age of eligibility for children to receive benefits under the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Senator Bob Casey (D-PA)

S.2367
A bill to support the preparation and retention of outstanding educators in all fields to ensure a bright future for children and youth in under-resourced and underserved communities in the United States, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Senator Tina Smith (D-MN)

S.2395
A bill to direct the Secretary of Education to make grants to support early college high schools and dual or concurrent enrollment programs.
Sponsor: Senator Ed Markey (D-MA)

S.2405
A bill to establish additional protections and disclosures for students and cosigners with respect to student loans, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ)