E-Update for the Week of January 6, 2020

Highlights:

• On January 3, the Senate returned to session after its Winter Recess. The House returns to session today.
• On December 26, the U.S. Department of Education (USED) published in the Federal Register a notice for public comment titled, “Study of District and School Uses of Federal Education Funds.” The proposed information collection will examine the allocation and use of federal funds in 400 nationally representative school districts. The study is intended to determine how funds are distributed related to program goals and students.
• On December 23, USED published a revised version of the federal student aid website, StudentAid.gov. The revised website, according to the Department, now consolidates information from StudentLoans.gov, fsaid.ed.gov, and nslds.ed.gov.

Administration:

U.S. Department of Education (USED):

USED to study local uses of federal education funding, largest study by Department in nearly a decade: The U.S. Department of Education (USED) published in the Federal Register a notice for public comment titled, “Study of District and School Uses of Federal Education Funds.” The proposed information collection will examine the allocation and use of federal funds in 400 nationally representative school districts. The study is intended to determine how funds are distributed related to program goals and students. Federal education programs that will be examined include Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), including school improvement grants allocated under this title; Title II, Part A of ESEA; Title III, Part A of ESEA; Title IV, Part A of ESEA; and, Title I, Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). According to the notice, information collected from the sample districts will include budgets, plans, expenditure data, personnel data, and payroll data. In addition, the study will include surveys of district and school leaders to examine how resources are coordinated across programs and how leaders leverage flexibility afforded through the law. Nine site visits will also be conducted as part of the survey. Public comments on the proposed study must be submitted by February 24. The notice is here. Comments can be submitted here.
December 26, 2019

USED revamps federal student aid website: USED published a revised version of the federal student aid website, StudentAid.gov. The revised website, according to the Department, now consolidates information from StudentLoans.gov, fsaid.ed.gov, and nslds.ed.gov. With the new website, student borrowers can identify needed information for their application or repayment, as well as complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). “By centralizing the information they need on one website, providing one singular phone number to call, and continually improving our mobile app, we can better serve students and cut down on the confusion of navigating the federal student aid process,” stated USED Secretary Betsy DeVos. A press release is here. The new website is here.
December 23, 2019

Upcoming Events (Congressional and Administration):

• The Senate returned to session after its Winter Recess on January 3, 2020. The House returns to session this morning. The House 2020 legislative calendar is here. The tentative Senate 2020 legislative calendar is here.

Upcoming Events (Outside Organizations):

• On January 9 at 2:00 pm, the Brookings Institution will host an event titled, “Strengthening and Reinvigorating Congress: Findings from the APSA Task Force on Congressional Reform.” The event will discuss the American Political Science Association (APSA) report on congressional reform and the challenges that face Congress to become a transformational legislature. More information and registration are here.