E-Update for the Week of June 8, 2020

Highlights:

• On June 5, POLITICO reported that the U.S. Department of Education (USED) is considering issuing a regulation to restrict the eligibility of students to receive emergency grants from the Higher Education Emergency Relief (HEER) Fund, which was authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
• On June 4, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions (HELP) Committee held a full Committee hearing titled, “COVID-19: Going Back to College Safely.” The hearing focused on how higher education institutions can prepare for a fall reopening and what changes and supports are needed to ensure the safety of students, faculty, and staff.
• On June 4, House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) sent a Dear Colleague Letter to all House Appropriations Committee Members. In her letter, the Chairwoman outlined that all subcommittee and full committee markups will be held the weeks of July 6 and July 13.

Coronavirus (as related to education issues):

Note that all information related to the coronavirus (or COVID-19) is up to date as of 1:00 pm on June 5, 2020. Given the fast-moving nature of congressional and Administrative actions to address the growing pandemic, we will do our best to update this information as quickly as possible.

Congress:

Senate:

HELP explores reopening colleges, universities; Members push for more details on plans: The Senate Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions (HELP) Committee held a full Committee hearing titled, “COVID-19: Going Back to College Safely.” The hearing focused on how higher education institutions can prepare for a fall reopening and what changes and supports are needed to ensure the safety of students, faculty, and staff. Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) focused on the need for expanded testing and urged institutions to plan in coordination with their states. Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) called on institutions to pay particularly close attention to students and faculty who have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, including people of color, campus workers, and students facing homelessness. Chairman Alexander’s opening remarks are here. Ranking Member Murray’s opening remarks are here. A recording of the hearing is here.
June 4, 2020

House:

Energy and Commerce Republicans urge Democrats to examine digital, homework divides: The House Energy and Commerce Committee Republicans sent a letter to Committee Democrats requesting the full Committee hold a hearing focused on the digital divide and the homework gap. “The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified the need for connectivity, as millions of Americans transition to working remotely. Children need broadband to be able to do their schoolwork from home,” wrote the Committee Republicans. A press release is here. The full letter is here.
June 4, 2020

Appropriators explore CDC respond to COVID; Cole wants to know how schools can reopen safely: The House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education (LHHS) Appropriations Subcommittee held a hearing titled, “COVID-19 Response.” The hearing featured testimony from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Robert Redfield and focused on the federal government’s response to the pandemic. During the hearing, Members expressed their interest in how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted communities of color and the health disparities being amplified by the virus. Subcommittee Ranking Member Tom Cole (R-OK) asked how businesses and schools can safely reopen given the continued impacts of the pandemic. A recording of the hearing is here.
June 4, 2020

Administration:

U.S. Department of Education (USED):

USED mulling regulation on student eligibility for CARES Act higher education funding: POLITICO reported that the U.S. Department of Education (USED) is considering issuing a regulation to restrict the eligibility of students to receive emergency grants from the Higher Education Emergency Relief (HEER) Fund, which was authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The Department had previously issued guidance outlining that only students who are eligible for Title IV of the Higher Education Act (HEA) may receive emergency grants from their institutions. The guidance has caused some institutions to not provide emergency grants to certain populations of students, including undocumented students. A POLITICO article is here.
June 5, 2020

Non-Coronavirus Updates:

Budget and Appropriations:

Lowey outlines marathon markup schedule for FY21 spending bills: House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) sent a Dear Colleague Letter to all House Appropriations Committee Members. In her letter, the Chairwoman outlined the tentative schedule for consideration of fiscal year (FY) 2021 appropriations bills. Chairwoman Lowey outlined that all subcommittee and full committee markups will be held the weeks of July 6 and July 13. She goes on to explain that she expects final bills will be considered on the House floor the weeks of July 20 and July 27. There is no indication of when specific subcommittees will markup their respective bills. The full letter is here.
June 4, 2020

 Congress:

Senate:

Murray, Senate Democrats call on DeVos to rescind Title IX rule: Senate HELP Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) led a Democratic letter sent to USED Secretary Betsy DeVos. The letter called for the Secretary to rescind her recently published final rule on Title IX, as related to sexual assault and harassment on campuses. “We urge you to prioritize students’ safety, revoke the final rule, and instead work to help make schools across the country safer for all students, whether the threat is sexual assault and harassment or COVID-19,” wrote the Senators. A press release is here. The full letter is here.
June 4, 2020

Administration:

U.S. Department of Education (USED):

18 attorneys general challenge legality of DeVos Title IX rule: POLITICO reported that 17 states and the District of Columbia have filed a lawsuit against USED Secretary DeVos regarding her recently published final rule on Title IX, as related to sexual assault and harassment on campuses. The 18 Democratic attorneys general filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and argued that the rule is unlawful and would impose substantial direct costs on State-sponsored institutions. A POLITICO article is here.
June 4, 2020

Publications (Congressional and Administration):

• On June 4, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) published a report titled, “School Districts Frequently Identified Multiple Building Systems Needing Updates or Replacements.” The report summarizes a review of public-school districts around the country and their infrastructure health. Key findings of the report include identifying that 54 percent of districts need to update or replace multiple buildings or features in their schools; that 40.9 percent of districts need updates or replacements to their HVAC systems; and that 27.7 percent of districts need updates or replacements to their buildings’ roofs. The full report is here. A statement by House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Bobby Scott (D-VA) is here.

Publications (Outside Organizations):

• On June 4, the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) published a report titled, “Does attending a more selective college equal a bigger paycheck?” The report summarizes an analysis of post-graduation earnings of those who attend more prestigious higher education institutions compared to those who attend less prestigious institutions. Key findings of the report include identifying that four-years after graduation, median earnings for college graduates from less selective four-year institutions appear similar to those graduates from more selective institutions; and that four-years after graduation, earnings of graduates from less selective institutions appeared to increase more rapidly compared to those from more selective colleges between 1993 and 2008. The full report is here.

Upcoming Events (Congressional and Administration):

• On June 9 at 2:30 pm, the U.S. Department of Education (USED) Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) will hold an event titled, ” Practical Application of Virtual Education – Innovation Strategies, Best Practices, Testimonials.” The webinar will feature Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education Frank Brogan and will focus on information and resources to establish or develop innovative virtual learning capabilities. Registration is here. (NOTE: As of June 4, the event had reached capacity, but the Department will publish a recording in the future).
• On June 10 at 10:00 am, the Senate HELP Committee will hold a full Committee hearing titled, “COVID-19: Going Back to School Safely.” Witnesses will include Dr. Penny Schwinn, Commissioner of Education, Tennessee Department of Education; Dr. Matthew Blomstedt, Commissioner of Education, Nebraska Department of Education; Ms. Susana Cordova, Superintendent, Denver Public Schools; The Honorable John B. King, Jr., former U.S. Secretary of Education, and President and CEO, Education Trust. The hearing will be streamed here.
• On June 10 at 10:00 am, the House Judiciary Committee will hold a full Committee hearing titled, “Oversight Hearing on Policing Practices and Law Enforcement Accountability.” No witnesses have yet been announced. More information is here.

Upcoming Events (Outside Organizations):

• On June 9 at 4:00 pm, Public Funds Public Schools will hold a webinar titled, “Education Savings Account Vouchers Explained.” The webinar will go over what vouchers are, how they are used, and how they impact public school funding. More information and registration are here.
• On June 11 at 3:00 pm, In the Public Interest will hold an event titled, “Getting Back to School: Is There Peril or Promise in Online Learning?” The webinar will focus the limitations and possibilities of online learning in public education in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. More information and registration is here.
• On June 12 at 10:00 am, the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) will hold an event titled, “A century of working women and the future of family child care.” The webinar will focus on the benefits of home-based child care and causes for its decline over the last 15 years. More information and registration is here.
• On June 12 at 12:00 pm, the Heritage Institute will hold an event titled, “Weathering the Fiscal Storm: How Colleges and Universities Can Survive in the Post-COVID-19 Era.” The webinar will focus on endowments, tuition revenues, charitable contributions, and state appropriations as options for institutions to consider when exploring how they will survive financially in light of the pandemic. More information and registration are here.
• On June 23 at 3:00 pm, the Learning Policy Institute (LPI), EducationCounsel, and Education First will hold an event titled, “Performance Assessment in College Admissions: How Students Show What They Know and Can Do.” The webinar will address the use of performance assessments for equitable admissions and college success and will focus on examples from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Wheaton College. More information and registration are here.

Legislation:

H.R.7114
A bill to extend and clarify relief to Federal student loan borrowers, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Steve Stivers (R-OH)

S.3874
A bill making additional supplemental appropriations for disaster relief requirements for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, and for other purposes, known as the “Child Care is Essential Act.”
Sponsor: Senator Patty Murray (D-WA)