E-Update for March 4, 2016
Highlights
- On March 4, the U.S. Department of Education (USED) announced the list of Negotiated Rulemaking committee members who will work to draft regulations for two areas of Title I, Part A of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA): assessments under Title I, Part A, and the requirement that Title I, Part A funds be used to supplement, and not supplant, non-federal funds. Negotiators include various stakeholders such as teachers, principals, state and local administrators, civil rights advocates, parents, and students. The full list of negotiators and issue papers are available here.
- On March 9, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee is set to vote on Acting Secretary John King’s nomination to be Secretary of Education, following his hearing in that committee on February 25.
U.S Congress
Senate LHHS Appropriations Subcommittee Holds Hearing Examining the FY2017 Budget Request: The Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and other Related Agencies (LHHS) Appropriations Subcommittee held a hearing to examine the Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 budget request for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Committee members questioned HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell on issues such as the ways in which HHS will collaborate with USED on early childhood education programs, and the level of discretionary versus mandatory spending in the HHS FY2017 budget request.
March 3, 2016
Sens. Murray, Warren, Blumenthal, and Durbin Demand Help for Military Borrowers Overcharged on Student Loans: Following the release of a report showing USED’s review of student loan servicers compliance with the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) was flawed, inaccurate, and invalid, Senate HELP Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) joined Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Richard Durbin (D-IL) in sending a letter to Acting Secretary John King urging him to take action. Specifically, the letter requests that USED conduct a full review and issue all military borrowers who were overcharged a refund of their money.
March 3, 2016
Reps. Scott and Hinojosa Hold Forum on HEA Reauthorization: House Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Rep. Rubén Hinojosa (D-TX), accompanied by Reps. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Katherine M. Clark (D-MA), and Jared Polis (D-CO), held a forum on the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA). Panelists spoke about what they viewed as critical opportunities around access, affordability, and completion as Congress considers reauthorizing HEA, and about the importance of stemming state divestment in public institutions of higher education.
March 2, 2016
Administration
USED Announces Negotiators for Negotiated Rulemaking Committee: USED announced the list of Negotiated Rulemaking committee members who will work to draft regulations for two areas of Title I, Part A of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA): assessments under Title I, Part A, and the requirement that Title I, Part A funds be used to supplement, and not supplant, non-federal funds. Negotiators include various stakeholders such as teachers, principals, state and local administrators, civil rights advocates, parents, and students. The committee will convene on March 21-23, April 6-8, and for an optional session on April 18-19.
March 4, 2016
USED Expands Grants to Help Native American Youth Become College and Career Ready: USED announced an increase in funding for grants to help Native American youth become college- and career-ready. USED expects to make approximately 19 awards ranging from $500,000-$1 million to tribal communities before September 30. Grants will support coordinated, focused approaches to achieving college- and career-readiness.
February 29, 2016
USED Announces Inaugural State Commitments to Use and Support Openly Licensed Educational Resources: USED announced the launch of the inaugural 14 state and 40 district commitments to the #GoOpen initiative, which will support school districts and educators to transition to the use of openly-licensed educational resources in their schools.
February 26, 2016
Events
On March 7, the National Network for State Teachers of the Year (NNSTOY) will release its new study, Teacher Advancement Initiatives: Lessons Learned from Eight Case Studies. The release event will include presentations and discussion on components of successful, sustainable teacher career continuums with positive impacts on teacher recruitment, retention, job satisfaction, and student achievement. The event will begin at 3:00pm in room 124 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. Register here.
On March 7, New America will hold a discussion entitled, “Beyond Ratings? ESSA and What’s Next for State Teacher Evaluation Systems.” The panel discussion will focus on states’ teacher evaluation efforts to date and predictions for their future within the context of ESSA. The event will take place from 10:00am-11:30am at 740 15th St. NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC. Register here.
On March 9, the Senate HELP Committee will hold an executive committee meeting on the nomination of Acting Secretary John King. The meeting will begin at 10:00am in room 106 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. More information and video of the meeting is available here.
On March 10, the Senate LHHS Appropriations Subcommittee is expected to hold a hearing to examine the FY2017 USED budget request. Acting Secretary John King is expected to testify. Hearing information is not yet available.
On March 11, NNSTOY and its partners will hold a release event for their report, “Great to Influential,” which offers insights on the ways that teacher leaders can support instructional improvement. The report was informed by focus groups with State and National Teachers of the Year and finalists. The event will begin at 8:30am in the Marriot Wardman Park Hotel. Register here.
New Legislation
H.R.4643 : Families Learning and Understanding English Together Act of 2016
Sponsor: Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-3] (introduced 2/26/2016) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Education and the Workforce
H.R.4644 : PRIDE Act (Providing Resource to Improve Dual Language Education Act of 2016)
Sponsor: Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-3] (introduced 2/26/2016) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Education and the Workforce
H.R.4652 : Clarity in Lending for Education and Repayment Act
Sponsor: Rep Takai, Mark [HI-1] (introduced 2/29/2016) Cosponsors (17)
Committees: House Education and the Workforce; House Ways and Means
H.R.4661 : Parent PLUS Loan Improvement Act of 2016
Sponsor: Rep Fudge, Marcia L. [OH-11] (introduced 3/2/2016) Cosponsors (9)
Committees: House Education and the Workforce
H.R.4666 : Protecting Students from Sexual and Violent Predators Act
Sponsor: Rep Blackburn, Marsha [TN-7] (introduced 3/2/2016) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Education and the Workforce
H.R.4681 : To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide greater support to students with dependents, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Duckworth, Tammy [IL-8] (introduced 3/3/2016) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Education and the Workforce
H.R.4691 : To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to require local educational agencies to implement a policy on allergy bullying in schools.
Sponsor: Rep Cartwright, Matt [PA-17] (introduced 3/3/2016) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Education and the Workforce
S.2626 : A bill to authorize the operation of unmanned aircraft systems by institutions of higher education for educational and research purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Peters, Gary C. [MI] (introduced 3/3/2016) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Publications
Teacher Evaluation and Professional Learning: Lessons from Early Implementation in a Large Urban District: REL Northeast and Islands examined the alignment of teacher evaluation and professional learning in a large urban district in the Northeast. REL researchers examined the types of professional learning activities teachers reported they participated in, the alignment of the reported activities with what evaluators prescribed, and whether evaluation ratings improved from one academic year to the next. The study found that teachers received written feedback across all standards of the evaluation rubric. Teachers reported participating in more professional activities for the instruction-based standards than for the non-instruction-based standards. For all standards, less than 40 percent of teachers reported participating in all the activities their evaluator recommended. While further work may be needed to strengthen the connection between teacher evaluation and a comprehensive system of teacher support and development, this study takes the first step in illustrating the need for coherence among these related systems.
March 1, 2016