E-Update for the Week of February 1, 2021
Highlights:
- On February 3 at 10:00 am, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee will hold a confirmation hearing for Dr. Miguel Cardona to serve as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education (USED).
- On January 29, the U.S. Department of Education (USED) Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) sent a Dear Colleague Letter to financial aid administrators informing them of their ability to exercise professional judgement when determining eligibility of students for federal student aid.
- On January 28, House Education and Labor Committee Democrats introduced three bills focused on supporting school reopening and recovery.
Biden Administration:
Cardona hearing scheduled for Wednesday: On February 3 at 10:00 am, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee will hold a confirmation hearing for Dr. Miguel Cardona to serve as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education (USED). Cardona previously served as the Connecticut Commissioner of Education and has experience as a teacher, principal, and superintendent. Following the hearing, it is expected that the Senate HELP Committee will consider Cardona’s nomination in the coming days. If the committee favorably reports the nomination, the full Senate will then consider the nomination for approval as USED Secretary. The hearing will be streamed live here.
February 3, 2021
Budget and Appropriations:
Congress:
Democrats move forward with reconciliation as open to advance next COVID relief bill: Roll Call reported that congressional Democrats are drafting a fiscal year (FY) 2021 budget resolution that is likely to include budget reconciliation instructions for key committees to develop a legislative package to provide additional coronavirus relief based on major components of President Joe Biden’s proposed American Rescue Plan, which would provide an additional $1.9 trillion in relief funding. It is expected that the budget resolution could receive consideration in the House and Senate as early as the week of February 1. Of note, a package developed in line with the budget reconciliation instructions would only require a simple majority for passage rather than the typical 60-vote threshold to pass the Senate. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has expressed that he intends to keep negotiating with Senate Republicans to attempt to achieve a bipartisan bill but is open to using the budget reconciliation process to move forward without them. “We’re keeping all options open on the table, including using budget reconciliation,” the Majority Leader stated. The Roll Call article is here.
Relatedly, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) released an updated House vote schedule for the year. The updated schedule instructs Members that the House will be in session the week of February 1, which would allow the House to consider a FY2021 budget resolution – including budget reconciliation instructions – following passage in the Senate. According to the House, the following two weeks will be used to allow for the relevant House Committees to develop a legislative package to provide additional coronavirus relief based on the budget reconciliation instructions expected to be included in the budget resolution. This could allow the House to vote on the legislative package, including coronavirus relief funding, the week of February 22. “I believe that this updated schedule will help us do our jobs for the people and make us a more effective partner to the Democratic Senate and the Biden Administration as we work together to make the soul of America whole again and build back better and stronger from these challenges that confront us,” wrote the Majority Leader. The updated schedule is here. A Dear Colleague Letter is here.
January 26, 2021
House:
Appropriations Committee announces Subcommittee leadership, new Members: House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Kay Granger (R-TX) announced the Ranking Members for the House Appropriations Subcommittees and Republican Subcommittee membership. Ranking Member Tom Cole (R-OK) will continue as the Republican leader on the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (Labor/HHS) Subcommittee. Joining him will be returning Subcommittee Members Reps. Andy Harris (R-MD), Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA), and John Moolenaar (R-MI). New additions to the Labor/HHS Subcommittee include Reps. Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN) and Ben Cline (R-VA). A press release is here.
Relatedly, House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) announced the Chairs of the Appropriations Subcommittees and their membership. The Chairwoman will once again chair the Labor/HHS Appropriations Subcommittee and will be joined by Reps. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Katherine Clark (D-MA), Lois Frankel (D-FL), Cheri Bustos (D-IL), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Brenda Lawrence (D-MI), and Josh Harder (D-CA). A press release is here.
January 25 & 28, 2021
Coronavirus Updates (as related to education):
Congress:
Scott, Murray introduce workforce investment bill to support pandemic recovery efforts: House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Bobby Scott (D-VA) and incoming Senate HELP Committee Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) introduced H.R.602, the “Relaunching America’s Workforce Act,” which would authorize funding to provide essential career services and help workers attain additional skills and credentials. The legislation would invest $15 billion in the nation’s workforce training system, which is intended to help support millions of workers who have lost their jobs or are under-employed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “The Relaunching America’s Workforce Act will make smart investments to help dislocated and vulnerable workers transition to new careers,” stated Chairman Scott. “By passing this legislation, we will take long-overdue steps to strengthen our workforce development system and help both employers and workers benefit from our economic recovery.” A press release is here.
January 28, 2021
House:
Education Committee releases package of bills to support school reopening, teacher workforce, learning recovery: House Education and Labor Committee Democrats introduced three bills focused on supporting school reopening and recovery. The Committee introduced H.R.604, the “Rebuild and Reopen America’s Schools Act,” which would provide $130 billion to help public schools reopen by improving their infrastructure; H.R.542, the “Save Education Jobs Act,” which would support state and local governments by providing $261 billion over 10 years to spend toward education and school-based jobs which are often cut due to budget constraints in state and local governments; and the “Learning Recovery Act,” which would provide $75 billion to local education agencies over two years to address learning loss by investing in extended learning time and afterschool programs. Funding for the “Learning Recovery Act” would be delivered to districts based on Title I formula allocations and would require districts to develop a plan for how they will reengage students and monitor their progress, including reporting disaggregated data. “The package of bills introduced today reflects our commitment to helping students, educators, and parents overcome the pandemic, reopen our schools, and finally access a quality, public education,” stated House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Bobby Scott (D-VA). A press release is here. A fact sheet on the “Rebuild and Reopen America’s Schools Act” is here and a summary is here. A fact sheet on the “Save Education Jobs Act” is here and a summary is here. A fact sheet of the “Learning Recovery Act” is here and a summary is here.
January 28, 2021
Administration:
U.S. Department of Education:
Student aid administrators encouraged to use ‘professional judgement’ to increase aid for students impacted by pandemic: The U.S. Department of Education (USED) Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) sent a Dear Colleague Letter to financial aid administrators informing them of their ability to exercise professional judgement when determining eligibility of students for federal student aid. The letter notes that administrators should use their professional judgement to determine eligibility based on a student’s special circumstances, including for “recently unemployed individuals who may not know that their changed circumstances could make them eligible for Federal Pell Grants.” The letter also notes that documentation of unemployment, including receipt of unemployment benefits, may be used to reduce or adjust to zero the income earned from work for a student and/or a parent. A press release is here. The full letter is here.
January 29, 2021
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
CDC reports that school reopening unlikely to spread COVID-19, mitigation dependent on community intervention efforts: Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) finding that COVID-19 transmission in the classroom is “minimal,” and advocating for schools to reopen for in-person instruction. In the article, the researchers said that it is up to communities to make sure they are implementing policies that control spread, like restricting indoor dining at restaurants and social gatherings if transmission rates are high. School sports should be monitored as well, as they could increase transmission risk. According to the researchers, however, classroom learning has not been identified as high-risk for spreading COVID-19. “As many schools have reopened for in-person instruction in some parts of the U.S. as well as internationally, school-related cases of COVID-19 have been reported, but there has been little evidence that schools have contributed meaningfully to increased community transmission,” the researchers wrote. The full article is here.
January 26, 2021
Non-Coronavirus Updates:
Congress:
House:
Scott reintroduces Apprenticeship Act reauthorization bill: House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Bobby Scott (D-VA) introduced H.R.447, the National Apprenticeship Act of 2021,” which would reauthorize the National Apprenticeship Act and invest nearly $3.5 billion over five years to scale-up apprenticeship opportunities, streamline access to apprenticeships for workers and employers, and expand apprenticeships into new in-demand industry sectors and occupations. “Registered Apprenticeships remain one of our most successful tools for connecting workers with in-demand skills and good-paying jobs,” said Chairman Scott in a statement. “This bipartisan bill – which passed the House will overwhelming support last year – will create nearly 1 million new apprenticeships and expand these opportunities to include a more diverse group of workers and a wider array of industries.” A press release is here.
January 25, 2021
Foxx announces 11 new Republicans added to Education Committee: House Education and Labor Committee Ranking Member Virginia Foxx (R-NC) released the list of new Republican Members who were selected by the Republican Steering Committee to serve on the House Education and Labor Committee. The new Members include Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Burgess Owens (R-UT), Bob Good (R-VA), Lisa McClain (R-MI), Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), Diana Harshbarger (R-TN), Mary Miller (R-IL), Victoria Spartz (R-IN), Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI), Madison Cawthorn (R-NC), and Michelle Steel (R-CA). A press release is here.
January 25, 2021
Scott, Foxx reintroduce CAPTA reauthorization bill: A bipartisan group of Members from the House Education and Labor Committee, including Chairman Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Ranking Member Virginia Foxx (R-NC) introduced H.R.485, the “Stronger Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act,” which strengthens federal efforts to prevent and treat child abuse and neglect. The legislation would provide greater funding and establish new tools to combat the rising rates of child maltreatment over the past decade, including building the capacity of child protective services agencies that are overburdened with increased caseloads, and supporting evidence-based strategies to treat and prevent child abuse and neglect. A press release from Chairman Scott is here. A press release from Ranking Member Foxx is here.
January 25, 2021
Upcoming Events (Congressional and Administration):
- On February 2 at 2:00 pm, the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans will hold an event titled, “Embracing the Black Family in Schools: Cultural Competency, Teacher Diversity, and Family Engagement.” The webinar is part of the African American Education Connector Virtual Roundtable series. Registration is here.
- On February 3 at 10:00 am, the Senate HELP Committee will hold a confirmation hearing for Dr. Miguel Cardona to serve as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education (USED). The hearing will be streamed live here.
Upcoming Events (Outside Organizations):
- On February 2 at 3:00 pm, the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) will hold an event titled, “The next conservative early childhood education agenda.” The webinar will discuss what early childhood education policies that conservatives should champion and what principles should motivate their agenda. The webinar will feature a panel discussion featuring Cara Candal of ExcelinEd, Elliot Regenstein of Foresight Law + Policy, Chris Strauz-Clark of Third Sector Intelligence, and Celia Hartman Sims of KinderCare Education. More information and registration are here.
- On February 3 at 3:00 pm, AEI will hold an event titled, “How should student-athletes be compensated?” The webinar will discuss recent legal rulings related to college student athletes and the upcoming Supreme Court case of NCAA v. Alston and American Athletic Conference v. Alston. More information and registration are here.
Publications (Congressional and Administration):
- On January 27, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) published a report titled, “IRS and Education Could Better Address Risks Associated with Some For-Profit College Conversions.” The report identified 59 for-profit college conversions that occurred from January 2011 through August 2020, almost all of which involved the college’s sale to a tax-exempt organization, and found that former owners or other officials were insiders to the conversion in about one-third of the conversions. Key recommendations include having the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) assess USED internal controls for reviewing for-profit college applications for tax-exempt status; and for the Department to improve the review process to ensure that staff appropriately apply agency guidance on assessing potential improper benefit to insiders. The full report is here.
- On January 27, the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) published a report titled, “Drawing across school boundaries: How federally funded magnet schools recruit and admit students.” The report summarizes a study of the Magnet Schools Assistance Program (MSAP), specifically how schools supported by MSAP recruit and admit their students. Key findings of the report include identifying that almost all MSAP-funded schools provided both print and digital materials about the school for prospective students; that MSAP-funded schools cited recruiting challenges due to the perception that their academic quality is poor; and that most MSAP-funded schools are part of their districts common application system. The full report is here.
- On January 26, the IES What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) published a report titled, “Rapid Evidence Review of Distance Learning Programs.” The report is a summary of a meta-analysis of 36 studies of distance learning programs and interventions. Key findings of the report include identifying that 11 studies met the WWC standards without reservations; four of the studies met Tier 1 rating requirements under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA); and there are not enough high-quality program evaluations conducted in the field of distance learning. The full report is here.
Publications (Outside Organizations):
- On January 29, the First Five Years Fund (FFYF) published a new national poll titled, “Voters Agree: Child Care & Early Learning is Smart Policy and Smart Politics.” The national polling data shows that a broad coalition of national and swing state voters overwhelmingly support several specific proposals related to early learning and care, many of which have been discussed in recent months by policymakers on both sides of the aisle. Key findings from the poll include identifying that there is overwhelming support (over 85% of respondents) for increased subsidies to make child care more affordable; support for increased salaries for early educators and caretakers along with more opportunities to increase their skills through ongoing training and certification; and support for the creation of a tax credit to businesses that help their employees access and afford quality child care. The full report is here.
- On January 26, the Community College Research Center (CCRC) at Columbia University’s Teachers College published a report titled, “Community College Graduates and the COVID-19 Pandemic.” The report looks at how the pandemic has affected community college graduates out in the workforce, and found that, as with most recessions, the effects of the pandemic have not been uniform across workers and sectors. Key findings from the report include that while the pandemic hasn’t changed the earnings gap between community college graduates and high school graduates, unemployment rates have risen four-fold for both community college and high school graduates to 15% and 17.3%, respectively, in April 2020. Overall, unemployment gaps have widened slightly, showing that the impact was worse for high school graduates and that their recovery was slower. The full report is here.
- On January 26, the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) published a working paper titled, “Hungry for Success? SNAP Timing, High-Stakes Exam Performance, and College Attendance.” The paper analyzed SAT scores linked to national college enrollment data and state-level data to study how the availability of SNAP benefits impacts students’ academic achievement. Key findings from the report include identifying that taking the SAT in the last two weeks of the SNAP benefit cycle reduces test scores and lowers the probability of attending a 4-year college for low-income high school students. Additionally, the paper estimates that this relative performance loss results in over 1,150 students not initially enrolling in a 4-year college in the subset of seven states plus Washington, D.C. that the researchers studied. The full report is here.
Legislation:
H.R.447
A bill to reauthorize the National Apprenticeship Act.
Sponsor: Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA)
H.R.465
A bill to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to require a school food authority to make publicly available any waiver of the Buy American requirement, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA)
H.R.485
A bill to reauthorize the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA)
H.R.499
A bill to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to allow parents of eligible military dependent children to establish Military Education Savings Accounts, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN)
H.R.505
A bill to expand opportunity for Native American children through additional options in education, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ)
H.R.513
A bill to allow a State to submit a declaration of intent to the Secretary of Education to combine certain funds to improve the academic achievement of students.
Sponsor: Rep. Ted Budd (R-NC)
H.R.514
A bill to provide that the Executive order entitled “Establishing the President’s Advisory 1776 Commission” shall have the force and effect of law, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Ted Budd (R-NC
H.R.518
A bill to direct the Secretary of Labor to award grants to eligible entities to carry out or expand youth apprenticeship programs.
Sponsor: Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX)
H.R.540
A bill to assist States in carrying out projects to expand the child care workforce and child care facilities in the States, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Josh Harder (D-CA)
H.R.542
A bill to authorize the establishment of an Education Jobs Fund to retain and create education jobs in communities most impacted by COVID-19, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-CT)
H.R.549
A bill to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to establish a grant program that will support efforts at the State level to establish anti-bullying task forces to study, address, and reduce bullying in elementary and secondary schools, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL)
H.R.557
A bill to allow a State to submit a State management decision to the Secretary of Education to combine certain funds to improve the academic achievement of students.
Sponsor: Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-AZ)
H.R.564
A bill to provide paid family and medical level to Federal employees, and for others purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY)
H.R.566
A bill to amend section 105(a) of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award a grant to a nonprofit entity for a national child abuse hotline.
Sponsor: Rep. Lucy McBath (D-GA)
H.R.573
A bill to amend the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to ensure that child protective services systems do not permit the separation of children from parents on the basis of poverty, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI)
H.R.578
A bill to promote registered apprenticeships, including registered apprenticeships within in-demand industry sectors, through the support of workforce intermediaries, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Donald Norcross (D-NJ)
H.R.586
A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide best practices on student suicide awareness and prevention training and condition State educational agencies, local educational agencies, and tribal educational agencies receiving funds under section 520A of such Act to establish and implement a school-based student suicide awareness and prevention training policy.
Sponsor: Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA)
H.R.594
A bill to advance STEM education, provide for improved worker training, retention, and advancement, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH)
H.R.602
A bill to provide State and local workforce and career and technical education systems with support to respond to the COVID-19 national emergency.
Sponsor: Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA)
H.R.604
A bill to provide for the long-term improvement of public school facilities, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA)
H.R.614
A bill to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to create a demonstration project to fund additional secondary school counselors in troubled title I schools to reduce the dropout rate.
Sponsor: Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA)
S.44
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permit kindergarten through grade 12 educational expenses to be paid from a 529 account.
Sponsor: Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX)
S.45
A bill to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to strengthen school security.
Sponsor: Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX)
S.52
A bill to establish a career pathway grant program.
Sponsor: Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH)
S.72
A bill to require full funding of part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
Sponsor: Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)
S.74
A bill to expand opportunity through greater choice in education, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Senator Tim Scott (R-SC)
S.106
A bill to allow a State to submit a declaration of intent to the Secretary of Education to combine certain funds to improve the academic achievement of students.
Sponsor: Senator Steve Daines (R-MT)
S.121
A bill to amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to establish demonstration and pilot projects to facilitate education and training programs in the field of advanced manufacturing.
Sponsor: Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
S.127
A bill to support library infrastructure.
Sponsor: Senator Jack Reed (D-RI)
S.133
A bill to assist States in carrying out projects to expand the child care facilities in the States, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-NM)