E-Update for February 26, 2016
Highlights
- Acting Secretary of Education John King’s February 25 nomination hearing in the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee was collegial, and the committee expressed that more information on the nomination would be issued on March 9.
- In hearings in the House Education and the Workforce Committee on February 24 and 25, Acting Secretary King fielded questions from Republicans on how the U.S. Department of Education (USED)’s policies and proposed budget would serve to implement the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) in a faithful manner with respect to both the letter of the law and Congressional intent. Democrats questioned King regarding his plans to ensure that ESSA lives up to its history as a civil rights bill as more authority and flexibility is transferred to states and districts.
- USED released a set of frequently asked questions (FAQs) on transitioning to ESSA that compiles recently issued guidance into an accessible format. The document is available here.
- EducationCounsel published a blog entitled, ESSA: Opportunities and Risks in Assessment, written by Senior Legal and Policy Advisor Dan Gordon, which highlights areas of the law that allow states to advance their development of innovative, high-quality systems of assessment. This is part of a series of blog posts unpacking ESSA and highlighting next steps for states and local school districts.
U.S Congress
Senate Education Committee Holds Hearing on Nomination of Dr. John King to Serve as Secretary of Education: The Senate HELP Committee held a hearing entitled, “Nomination of Dr. John King to Serve as Secretary of Education.” Acting Secretary John King addressed Committee members’ questions and comments about issues such as federally mandated testing under ESSA, rising college debt loads for students, the security of information technology within the Department, and the Office of Civil Rights’ practices related to sexual assault on college campuses. Acting Secretary King’s testimony is available here.
February 25, 2016
House Education Committee Holds Hearing on USED’s Implementation of ESSA: Acting Secretary King testified before the House Education and the Workforce Committee at a hearing entitled, “Next Steps for K-12 Education: Upholding the Letter and Intent of the Every Student Succeeds Act.” Acting Secretary King expressed to the Committee USED’s commitment to supporting state and local flexibility, while also ensuring states’ compliance with ESSA by promulgating regulations and guidance, along with technical assistance. Acting Secretary King’s opening statement is available here. Chairman Kline’s (R-MN) opening statement is available here. Ranking Member Scott’s (D-VA) statement is available here.
February 25, 2016
House Education Committee Holds Hearing on the Policies and Priorities of USED: The House Education and the Workforce Committee held a hearing entitled, “Examining the Policies and Priorities for the U.S. Department of Education.” Acting Secretary John King provided to the Committee information on USED’s goals as reflected in the FY2017 budget, including advancing equity for all students; elevating the teaching profession; and increasing college access, completion, and affordability. Chairman John Kline’s (R-MN) opening statement is available here. Ranking Member Scott’s (D-VA) opening statement is available here. Acting Secretary King’s opening statement is available here.
February 24, 2016
Senate Education Committee Holds Hearing to Hear Perspectives from State and Local Education Leaders on ESSA Implementation: The HELP Committee held a hearing entitled, “ESSA Implementation in States and School Districts: Perspectives from Education Leaders.” Committee members questioned panelists about topics including the ESSA implementation timeline, federal versus state and local roles in ESSA implementation, stakeholder engagement, and resource equity. Chairman Lamar Alexander’s (R-TN) opening statement is available here.
February 23, 2016
House LHHS Appropriations Subcommittee Holds Hearing to Review HHS FY 2017 Budget: The House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee (LHHS) held a hearing to review the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2017. HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell provided comments to the Subcommittee on various issues, including how Preschool Development Grant funds may be used by HHS.
February 25, 2016
Administration
USED Proposes New Rule to Address Disciplinary Disparities for Students with Disabilities: USED proposed a new rule aimed at addressing discipline disparities among students with disabilities. The proposed rule, Equity in IDEA, would require states to implement a standard approach to compare racial and ethnic groups, with reasonable thresholds for determining when disciplinary disparities have become significant. Once significant disciplinary disproportionality has been discovered, the district must set aside 15% of its IDEA Part B funds to provide comprehensive early intervention services and must review and revise, as needed, policies, practices, and procedures to comply with IDEA. Senate HELP Committee Ranking Member Murray (D-WA) applauded USED’s proposed rule here.
February 23, 2016
Administration Announces Creation of Campaigns Addressing Chronic Absenteeism: The White House and USED announced the creation of two campaigns aimed at eliminating chronic absenteeism. The My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) Success Mentors Initiative will include districts in 10 communities, and mentors will work with students over the next two years to eliminate chronic absenteeism. The Ad Council will also launch a multi-million dollar parent engagement campaign to tackle the issue.
February 19, 2016
USED Names RI Commissioner Ken Wagner to National Assessment Governing Board: USED announced that Rhode Island Commissioner for Elementary and Secondary Education Ken Wagner would be named to the National Assessment Governing Board. Wagner will help to set policy for the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), or The Nation’s Report Card.
February 19, 2016
Events
On March 2, House Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) will host a forum on reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA). The listening session will feature speakers from civil rights groups, policy think tanks, advocacy groups, and other stakeholder groups. The forum will take place from 2:00pm-4:30pm in 2203 Rayburn House Office Building.
On March 3, the Senate LHHS Appropriations Subcommittee will conduct a hearing to review the FY 2017 budget request for the Department of Health and Human Services. HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell is set to testify.
New Legislation
H.R.4594 : Making College Affordable and Accessible Act of 2016
Sponsor: Rep Polis, Jared [CO-2] (introduced 2/23/2016) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Education and the Workforce
H.R.4617 : To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to require that the Buy American purchase requirement for the school lunch program include fish harvested within United States waters, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep DelBene, Suzan K. [WA-1] (introduced 2/25/2016) Cosponsors (7)
Committees: House Education and the Workforce
S.2560 : Making College Affordable and Accessible Act of 2016
Sponsor: Sen Peters, Gary C. [MI] (introduced 2/22/2016) Cosponsors (2)
Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
S.2572 : A bill to make demonstration grants to eligible local educational agencies or consortia of eligible local educational agencies for the purpose of increasing the numbers of school nurses in public elementary schools and secondary schools.
Sponsor: Sen Tester, Jon [MT] (introduced 2/24/2016) Cosponsors (3)
Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
S.2580 : A bill to establish the Indian Education Agency to streamline the administration of Indian education, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Barrasso, John [WY] (introduced 2/25/2016) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Indian Affairs
Publications
NAEP Technical Documentation: This section of the NAEP website, technical documentation on the web (TDW), is written for researchers and assumes knowledge of educational measurement and testing. TDW contains information about the technical procedures and methods of NAEP. The TDW site is organized by topic (from Instruments through Analysis and Scaling) with subtopics, including information specific to a particular assessment.
February 25, 2016
Better Tests, Fewer Barriers: Advances in Accessibility through PARCC and Smarter Balanced: This report from the Center for American Progress, found that the new PARCC and Smarter Balanced assessments have made significant progress in providing accessibility and accommodation features for students with disabilities and English Language Learners (ELLs).
February 25, 2016