E-Update for May 10, 2023

The information covered below is from April 21, 2023, to May 4, 2023.

Highlights:

• On May 4, the White House announced new actions to further promote responsible American innovation in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and protect individual’s rights and safety.
• On April 26, the House voted to advance H.R. 2811, titled the, “Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023,” on a 217-215 party line vote. Specific to education, the Republican plan to address the debt ceiling prohibits the implementation of President Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan and the Biden Administration’s income-driven repayment plan. Additionally, the Republican plan includes a rescission of unobligated COVID relief funding.
• On May 3, the Institute for Education Sciences (IES) released results from the 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) for U.S. history and civics assessments, which are administered to eighth-graders and showed U.S. history scores decreased by five points since 2018 and civics scores decreased by two points since 2018.

Administration:

White House:

White House announces new actions to promote responsible AI innovation and hosts meeting with CEOs: On May 4, the White House announced new actions to further promote responsible American innovation in AI and protect individual’s rights and safety. Specifically, the White House announced $140 million in funding to launch seven new National AI Research Institutes. The Institutes, which will now total 25 across the country, support “collaborative efforts across institutions of higher education, federal agencies, industry, and others to pursue transformative AI advances that are ethical, trustworthy, responsible, and serve the public good.” The new Institutes will advance AI research and development to “drive breakthroughs in critical areas, including climate, agriculture, energy, public health, education, and cybersecurity.” Additionally, the White House announced an independent commitment from leading AI developers, including Anthropic, Google, Hugging Face, Microsoft, NVIDIA, OpenAI, and Stability AI, to participate in a public evaluation of AI systems consistent with responsible disclosure principles. The White House said, “This will allow these models to be evaluated thoroughly by thousands of community partners and AI experts to explore how the models align with the principles and practices outlined in the Biden-Harris Administration’s Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights and AI Risk Management Framework.” The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) also announced that it will be releasing draft policy guidance this summer on the use of AI systems by the U.S. government for public comment. The guidance will “establish specific policies for federal departments and agencies to follow in order to ensure their development, procurement, and use of AI systems centers on safeguarding the American people’s rights and safety.”

In conjunction with the announcement, the White House hosted a meeting with the CEOs of OpenAI, Anthropic, Microsoft, and Google and Alphabet. According to a White House readout of the meeting, the Biden Administration called on the CEOs “to model responsible behavior, and to take action to ensure responsible innovation and appropriate safeguards, and protect people’s rights and safety.” The readout also noted that the meeting included, “frank and constructive discussion on three key areas: the need for companies to be more transparent with policymakers, the public, and others about their AI systems; the importance of being able to evaluate, verify, and validate the safety, security, and efficacy of AI systems; and the need to ensure AI systems are secure from malicious actors and attacks.” 

Vice President Kamala Harris who attended the meeting issued a statement saying, “Advances in technology have always presented opportunities and risks, and generative AI is no different. AI is one of today’s most powerful technologies, with the potential to improve people’s lives and tackle some of society’s biggest challenges. At the same time, AI has the potential to dramatically increase threats to safety and security, infringe civil rights and privacy, and erode public trust and faith in democracy… President Biden and I are committed to doing our part – including by advancing potential new regulations and supporting new legislation – so that everyone can safely benefit from technological innovations. As I shared today with CEOs of companies at the forefront of American AI innovation, the private sector has an ethical, moral, and legal responsibility to ensure the safety and security of their products. And every company must comply with existing laws to protect the American people.”

President Biden and First Lady Biden emphasize the impact of educators at White House event with National Teachers of the Year: On April 24, President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden spoke at the 2023 National and State Teachers of the Year Celebration. First Lady Biden opened the event, stating, “So we’re here to take a moment on one of the biggest stages in the world, the White House, to say that teachers change lives.” She recognized the national discourse surrounding parent involvement in the classroom saying, “But that’s not what I’ve seen. As I’ve traveled this country, I’ve visited some pretty amazing programs where parents and teachers are working hand in hand to help kids overcome challenges and make our schools better for everyone.” Rebecka Peterson, the 2023 National Teacher of the Year, spoke about the power of the “American Dream” in becoming a teacher, and shared, “Teachers, you hold our democracy. You create spaces that insist we belong to each other.” President Biden concluded the event, congratulating the Teachers of the Year and calling attention to the impact of the Biden Administration’s investments in education, including the American Rescue Plan (ARP). He thanked the teachers at the event, stating, “As you get to school each day — often, many of you, before dawn — as you head home each night, weighed down with papers to grade, please know that we see you. Our children are our nation’s future; they are in your hands.”

First Lady Jill Biden speaks at International Summit on the Teaching Profession: On April 24, First Lady Jill Biden spoke at the International Summit on the Teaching Profession in Washington, DC, which welcomed more than 22 member countries, alongside the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and Education International (EI). The focus of the 2022 summit included elevating and enhancing the teaching profession, educating for global and cultural competence and civic engagement, and leveraging digital technologies to ensure equitable access and enhanced learning for all. During her speech at the summit, the First Lady highlighted President Biden’s education achievements saying he has been a “great education president.” She shared, “Joe is investing in our schools and teachers like never before. He understands that kids need an early start, as well as support after they graduate from high school.” Additionally, the First Lady drew attention to the Biden Administration’s education priorities, “start[ing] with high-quality universal preschool and continu[ing] through high school, preparing students for college and careers.” She concluded by emphasizing the impact of teachers, sharing, “To all of the educators with us now: Never underestimate the power of what you do.” Regarding the summit, U.S. Department of Education (USED) Secretary Miguel Cardona said, “Whether it’s building and supporting the next generation of incredible educators, preparing young people to engage globally in an increasingly interconnected world, or seizing the opportunities and managing the risks of digital transformation, our students are counting on governments and organizations alike to come together and invest in their future.  Together, we can—and we will—Raise the Bar in education.”  

White House hosts Asian American & Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) forum: On May 3, the White House hosted a forum on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders at George Washington University. The event highlighted the contributions of AANHPI individuals and communities, as well as celebrated Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Speakers at the forum included Vice President Kamala Harris, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra, and U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, among others. During her remarks, Vice President Harris highlighted the efforts that that Biden Administration is undertaking to “address the empowerment of communities.” The Vice President also went on call attention to the moment saying, “And when we think about where are we’ve been in the last few years in terms of everything from anti-Asian hate crime, to what we are looking at in terms of attacks on fundamental freedoms like those that — of a woman to make decisions and a person to make decisions about their body, to the attacks we’re seeing on voting rights, to the attacks we’re seeing on — on LGBTQ and trans folks, the attacks we’re seeing where there are literally — can you imagine, in this year of our Lord 2023, book bans…there are attempts that are happening right before our eyes to roll back all of the hard-won freedoms that we have collectively fought for. And this is a time for everyone to stand and to speak out and be very active.”

U.S. Department of Education (USED):

NAEP scores show decline in history and civics scores for eighth graders: On May 3, IES released results from the 2022 NAEP for U.S. history and civics assessments, which are administered to eighth-graders and showed U.S. history scores decreased by five points since 2018 and civics scores decreased by two points since 2018. The results marked the first time that civics scores decreased since assessments of civics began in 1998. The U.S. history results continued a decline since 2014, with scores decreasing by 9 points since that time. Additionally, for both U.S. history and civics scores the results were not significantly different from the first years the assessments were given in both subjects. U.S. history assessments were first administered in 1994.

In response to the results, USED Secretary Miguel Cardona commented, “The latest data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress further affirms the profound impact the pandemic had on student learning in subjects beyond math and reading.” House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) shared, “Today’s NAEP scores show that students are sorely deficient in understanding the basics of American history and government – an outright failure that should concern every parent across the country. Meanwhile, the Department of Education chooses to ignore this flashing red light and opts to shove wokeness down the throats of school districts and students.” Recently, Chairwoman Foxx raised concerns with the priorities being proposed by the Biden Administration for an open grant competition for the American History and Civics Education National Activities Program, including a competitive priority focused on promoting equity in student access to educational resources and opportunities. Chairwoman Foxx commented on USED’s history and civics’ grant priorities saying, “The Biden administration is creating incentives for schools to cater to narrow identity groups, promote radical gender theory, and adhere to leftist ideology under the guise of ‘civics,’ while explicitly excusing grantees from any obligation to educate students about the history and principles of the Constitution and Bill of Rights.” 

USED Secretary Cardona and House Education and Workforce Committee Chairwoman Foxx participate in Axios event on skilled-based training: On April 19, USED Secretary Miguel Cardona and House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) participated in an event hosted by Axios regarding skills-based training. Secretary Cardona shared how he wants students to know more about their options after high school, including both vocational education and skill-based programs. He stated, “You could do a paid internship, learning a skill, get a credential, choose to join the workforce, choose to go to a two-year school to hone those skills or maybe get a two-year degree on that, or choose to go to a four-year school and get an advanced degree in that. But there should be a pathway with ladders, with a ladder of upward mobility for these students, and options.” Chairwoman Foxx noted that the societal emphasis on baccalaureate degrees has been perceived as a vital role to achieving success yet, “Only 30% of the people in this country have baccalaureate degrees, and so the country’s being run by 70% of the people who don’t have baccalaureate degrees.” Chairwoman Foxx added her support for employers being a part of the education process saying, “This means that employers need to take an active role in education too. They should be involved in their community to seek out talent and collaborate with local schools, so students get an education that immediately leads to in-demand jobs and careers.”

USED’s Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) awards five new contracts for student loan servicing: On April 24, FSA announced five new contracts with loan servicers to “modernize and enhance” the student loan servicing process and “better serve borrowers.” The announcement stated that, “These awards are the first step toward implementing the Department’s new servicing environment next year, which will be FSA’s long-term loan servicing solution.” The five contracts – to Nelnet, Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority (MOHELA), Maximus Education, EdFinancial Services, and Central Research Inc. – total $80 million and is under a five-year initial contract with the option to extend for up to five more years. USED Under Secretary James Kvaal shared, “The contracts awarded today will combine more investment and more accountability to deliver higher levels of service to 37 million borrowers with federally managed loans, help them claim student loan benefits they have earned, and reduce the number of borrowers who fall into delinquency and default.” 

USED releases guidance for institutions of higher education (IHEs) aimed at creating more accessible postsecondary options for currently and formerly incarcerated individuals: On May 1, USED’s Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE) released a new guide for college and university leadership and admission professionals aimed at mitigating barriers to postsecondary education for currently and formerly incarcerated individuals. The guide includes an overview of education and criminal justice systems across the country, while calling attention to opportunities to increase access to higher education for individuals who have been involved in the system. The guide also makes recommendations to address barriers to enrollment and ensure persistence and completion, including recommending IHEs openly engage with system-involved individuals, assess the institution’s strengths and weaknesses in serving students, embrace the role of serving as an anchor for students, and commit to providing the services needed by students. 

Congress:

Bipartisan legislators reintroduce the College Transparency Act in Senate and House: On April 27, Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member Bill Cassidy (R-LA), and Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), along with 12 of their colleagues, reintroduced, S. 1349, the “College Transparency Act (CTA).” The CTA would modernize the college reporting system for postsecondary data by providing accurate reporting on student outcomes such as enrollment, completion, and post-college earnings across colleges and majors, while ensuring the privacy of students is securely protected. In a press release on the reintroduction of the bill, the bipartisan members asserted that, “This information will give students a clear understanding of the return on investment in higher education and help them to make better decisions as to which schools and programs of study are best suited to their unique needs and desired outcomes. It will also promote better outcomes by aiding institutions of learning and policymakers in their work to improve our country’s post-secondary education system, and assist businesses and other employers in finding potential employees best suited for a particular field.” In the House, H.R. 2957, a companion to the Senate bill, was also reintroduced on April 27, by Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Steve Stivers (R-OH), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Joe Wilson (R-SC), Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) and Bryan Steil (R-WI). A summary of the bill is available here. 

Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Murray and House Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member Scott reintroduce the Child Care for Working Families Act: On April 27, Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray (D-WA) and House Education and Workfore Committee Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) reintroduced in the House and Senate, H.R. 2976/S.1354, the Child Care for Working Families Act. The legislation is  intended to comprehensively address the national child care crisis and increase child care accessibility. Chairwoman Murray and Ranking Member Scott have introduced the legislation in every Congress since 2017, which they assert would allow for “the typical family in America [to] pay no more than $10 a day for child care—with many families paying nothing at all—and no eligible family will pay more than 7% of their income on child care.” The bill was introduced with 43 House and 38 Senate co-sponsors, including Senate HELP Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and House Appropriations Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT).

Specifically, the Child Care for Working Families Act would make child care affordable for working families by requiring that “families earning below 85% of state median income will pay nothing at all for child care;” improve the quality and supply of child care for all children; expand families’ child care options by providing grants to help open new child care providers in underserved communities and increase child care options for children who receive care during non-traditional hours; and support higher wages for child care workers by paying a living wage to achieve parity with elementary school teachers who have similar credentials and experience. Additionally, the bill would expand access to high-quality pre-K by providing funding to states to establish and expand a mixed-delivery system of high-quality preschool programs for 3- and 4-year-olds and require states to prioritize establishing and expanding universal local preschool programs within and across high-need communities. Finally, the bill would enhance support of Head Start programs by providing the funding necessary to offer full-day, full-year programming and increase wages for Head Start workers. A fact sheet on the bill is available here, a section-by-section summary is available here, and bill text is available here.

Senate:

Senate HELP Committee advances Julie Su’s nomination for U.S. Secretary of Labor: On April 26, the Senate HELP Committee advanced Julie Su’s nomination for U.S. Secretary of Labor in an 11-10 party line vote. Su has been serving as Acting Secretary since the departure of former Secretary Marty Walsh in March. Senate HELP Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-VT) voiced his enthusiastic support for Su during the executive session, sharing, “I strongly support Julie Su’s nomination…In her role in California and throughout her life, [she] has made it clear she’s prepared to stand up for working families.” Committee Republicans opposed the nomination, with Committee Ranking Member Bill Cassidy (R-LA) stating, “A qualified secretary of Labor needs to successfully handle negotiations, be a competent manager of a department and refrain from partisan activism. I’ve not seen evidence of Ms. Su’s ability to do any of these three.” 

Relatedly, House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) sent a letter on April 26, to Acting Secretary Su raising concerns with the “lack of responsiveness,” to a request to testify before the House Committee on May 17. Chairwoman Foxx stated, “I am troubled that you are more interested in protecting your record before the Senate acts on your nomination to become the Secretary of Labor than you are in fulfilling your obligation to answer questions posed by members of the Committee.” She concluded, “I ask you again: Will you confirm that you will appear before the Committee on May 17?”

Senate HELP Committee Ranking Member Cassidy leads letter to USED Secretary Cardona requesting information to ensure proper use of COVID-19 education funds: On May 4, Senate HELP Committee Ranking Member Bill Cassidy led a letter, which was signed by several other Republican members of the Committee, to USED Secretary Miguel Cardona requesting information on the Department’s oversight of the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) program to ensure proper protocols are in place to prevent abuse and mismanagement of federal funds. The Republican Committee members wrote, “As the deadlines for local education agencies (LEAs) to obligate Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) program funds appropriated under COVID-19 spending legislation approach, the latest being September 30, 2024, LEAs are reportedly spending federal funds at a dramatically accelerated rate…Given the size, scale, and pace of this unprecedented spending, it is critical to ensure that effective oversight mechanisms are in place to prevent waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement of taxpayer dollars.” The letter continued, “it is imperative that Congress have full and complete information to assess the effectiveness of the processes ED is using to conduct oversight of ESSER funding.” The Republican Committee members request a response from USED by no later than May 18.

Senate HELP Committee Chairman Sanders and Senator Murphy send letter to USED suggesting improvements to the Innovative Assessment Demonstration Authority (IADA): On May 2, Senate HELP Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) sent a letter to USED detailing ways in which the Department can improve implementation of the IADA to help states develop more innovative assessments that better allow students to demonstrate their learning in multiple ways. The letter comes in response to a request for information on the IADA. As part of their recommendations, the Senators expressed support for clarifying how “comparability” is defined in terms of IADA, extending the IADA timeline for participating states, and aligning efforts to improve the quality of assessments across Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) implementation. The Senators wrote, “we ask that an option be available to states that asks them to demonstrate that they will provide for a rigorous and valid comparison between a state’s innovative assessment and the state’s statewide assessment, such that the innovative assessment is demonstrated to be of equal or higher quality than the state assessment in terms of measurement of academic standards.” They continued, “States need time to develop, pilot, strengthen, and scale up new assessments…the Department should explicitly allow for a planning year.” 

Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee holds hearing on federal grants for underserved communities: On May 2, Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee held a hearing titled, “Improving Access To Federal Grants For Underserved Communities.” The hearing was held to “examine how government can update the federal grants process to help improve communities’ access to critical resources, increase transparency, reduce duplication, and streamline the federal grants process.” Witnesses included: Jeff Arkin, Director of Strategic Issues at the U.S. Government Accountability Office; Meagan Elliot, Ph.D., Deputy Chief Financial Officer and Director at the Office of Development and Grants for the City of Detroit; and Matthew Hanson, Associate Managing Director, Witt O’Brien’s LLC. 

In his opening remarks, Chairman Gary Peters (D-MI) emphasized the importance of smaller communities accessing federal funds, stating, “By ensuring communities have access to funding, we can also encourage the fair and efficient distribution of grants to states, cities, localities, and organizations with the greatest need, not just to those with the greatest capacity.” He continued, “I am working on legislation to increase accessibility to federal grants by simplifying grant announcements, and requiring announcements to use plain, easy to understand language. Other challenges, such as technical setbacks, a lack of leadership and coordination, and the burdensome nature of the grants application process, have prevented communities, from accessing federal grants.” Representing Republican members of the Committee, Senator James Lankford (R-OK) used the hearing to ask for an update on the implementation of the Grant Reporting Efficiency and Agreements Transparency (GREAT) Act, which he sponsored. The GREAT Act required that OMB create a comprehensive and standardized data structure to cover all data elements reported by recipients of federal awards. Senator Lankford also requested information on the ability of faith-based agencies to be able to compete for federal grants. Senator Lankford aligned with Chairman Peters on the critical need for underserved communities to be able to access federal grants and in raising concerns with the complexity of the current system saying, “we have 51 federal agencies that distribute grants to 131,000, recipient organizations, 1,900 grant programs, and the federal government in fiscal year 2022 spent over $1 trillion in taxpayer dollars in grants.”

House:

House Republicans send debt ceiling bill to the Senate; U.S. Secretary Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen says Congress has until June 1 to act before U.S. reaches debt limit: On April 26, the House voted to advance H.R. 2811, titled the, “Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023,” on a 217-215 party line vote. The Republican House leadership bill would cap federal discretionary spending at fiscal year (FY) 2022 levels, while allowing spending to grow by 1% through FY2033. Specific to education, the Republican plan to address the debt ceiling prohibits the implementation of President Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan and the Biden Administration’s income-driven repayment plan. On May 1, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen sent a letter to all members of Congressional leadership regarding the debt limit, writing that “our best estimate is that we will be unable to continue to satisfy all of the government’s obligations by early June, and potentially as early as June 1, if Congress does not raise or suspend the debt limit before that time.” Following passage of the Republican plan to address the debt limit in the House, Democratic leadership of the U.S. Senate Budget Committee called a hearing on May 4 on the bill, which Democrats refer to as the, “Default on America Act.” The hearing provided an opportunity for Democrats to call attention to their concerns with the Republican plan, which they assert would weaken GDP growth and result in the elimination of hundreds of thousands of jobs.

House Select Subcommittee on Coronavirus Pandemic holds a hearing with teachers union president: On April 26, the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability’s Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic held a hearing titled “The Consequences of School Closures, Part 2: The President of the American Federation of Teachers.” The Subcommittee’s only witness was Randi Weingarten, the President of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). This is the Subcommittee’s second hearing on COVID-19-related school closures. The first, titled, “The Consequences of School Closures: Intended and Unintended” was held on March 28. One of the stated goals of the hearing, according to Subcommittee Chairman Brad Wenstrup (R-OH), was to determine whether the AFT influenced Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for reopening schools. Chairman Wenstrup cited “opinions and suggested guidelines” from AFT President Weingarten influenced the CDC’s early 2021 reopening guidance titled, the “Operational Strategy for K-12 Schools Through Phased Prevention.” In his opening remarks, Chairman Wenstrup, referring to emails from Weingarten to CDC officials with recommendations for reopening schools, claimed that the “AFT’s support for these unscientific mitigation policies calls into question why it was offering scientific advice to the CDC in the first place, the scientific expertise of the AFT, and the high level of access and influence the AFT was provided by the CDC.” Chairman Wenstrup claimed that the AFT was overly influential in the guidance’s recommendations on testing, social distancing, and in using transmission levels in the community as an indicator of whether schools should hold in-person classes.

In her testimony, Weingarten refuted the premise of the hearing saying that “…the AFT sought to keep schools closed longer than necessary and that we had inappropriate influence over the [CDC’s] guidance for reopening schools—is patently false.” Weingarten argued that the AFT, along with nearly 50 other stakeholders, was asked to provide comments on the draft guidance and, “We did so. We did not draft the document, and we did not substantially revise the document. Nor did we have any ability to control whether the CDC would accept or reject the limited suggestions we made.” Moreover, she noted that, “It was not only appropriate for the CDC to confer with educators, it would have been irresponsible for them not to.” Chairman Wenstrup, in response, called the AFT’s involvement “a form of intimidation” and “more political than scientific.” Subcommittee Democrats claimed that the process of consulting with experts and interested parties in developing recommendations is common among federal agencies, and contrasted the hearing with what Subcommittee Ranking Member Raul Ruiz (D-CA) called, “the backdrop of the Republican extreme budget plan that makes reckless 22 percent cuts on critical education…that serve Americans’ children and families.” A link to the full hearing can be found here.

House Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Scott and Representative Fitzpatrick reintroduce bipartisan bill to expand apprenticeships: On April 25, House Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), along with a group of bipartisan legislators, reintroduced H.R. 2851, the “National Apprenticeship Act of 2023.” The legislation follows the National Apprenticeship Act of 2021, which was introduced in the last Congress and passed in the House by a bipartisan vote of 247-173. The legislation would increase investments in the national apprenticeship system, aiming to “bring America’s investments in apprenticeships in line with countries around the world.” Specifically, the bill authorizes $400 million for FY2025, increasing by $100 million annually to $800 million in FY2029; codifies and streamlines standards for registered apprenticeships, youth apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs, including requirements for apprenticeship agreements and program registration to ensure consistency in quality standards and worker protections; codifies the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship; and strengthens the connections between SED and the Labor Department through an interagency agreement to support the creation and expansion of youth apprenticeships, college consortiums, and data sharing agreements. Announcing the legislation, Ranking Member Scott shared, “The National Apprenticeship Act of 2023 is a clear win-win for workers and employers, and it will help grow the economy.” A fact sheet is available here.

House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Foxx and Subcommittee Chairman Owens request information from USED on Department’s preparedness to restart students loan repayments: On April 25, House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) and Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee Chairman Burgess Owens (R-UT) sent a letter to USED Secretary Miguel Cardona requesting information on the Department’s readiness to restart student loan repayments. The letter comes as the Department prepares to restart payments following the federal student loan repayment pause, which has been in place since March 2020. USED announced in November 2022 that, “If the [Biden Administration’s student loan forgiveness] program has not been implemented and the litigation has not been resolved by June 30, 2023 – payments will resume 60 days after that.” The letter asks a series of questions to Secretary Cardona, including information on whether USED has provided “an overall plan of action for the restart to loan servicers.” The letter also requests information on communications with loan servicers and funds designated to restart loan payments, among other topics. 

House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee holds sixth hearing on data privacy and creating a national standard: On April 27, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce held a hearing titled, “Addressing America’s Data Privacy Shortfalls: How a National Standard Fills Gaps to Protect Americans’ Personal Information.” As background, the Subcommittee acknowledged that, “consumer information provides opportunities for businesses to make informed decisions and develop products responsive to customer feedback,” including, “provid[ing] educational institutions ease of moving a child’s learning forward.” The focus of the hearing was to “provide an opportunity for members to analyze where the gaps in protections for consumers’ personal information are, how businesses navigate the compliance of sectoral privacy laws, and why Congress must enact a comprehensive privacy and data security law to fill these gaps.” The hearing featured testimony from the following witnesses: Morgan Reed, President at ACT – The App Association; Donald Codling, Senior Advisor for Cybersecurity and Privacy at REGO Payment Architectures, Inc.; Edward Britan, Head of Global Privacy at Salesforce, Inc.; and Amelia Vance, Founder and President at Public Interest Privacy Center. 

During her opening remarks at the hearing, full House Energy and Committee Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) noted that this was the sixth privacy and data security hearing this year and was aimed at discussing “efforts to enact a comprehensive national standard.” Chairwoman McMorris Rodgers emphasized the importance of national standards to protect children, stating, “I can’t emphasize enough. We need legislation like ours’ that protects children from having their information harvested—like geolocation data, …provides greater transparency over the algorithms these companies use to manipulate and amplify the information we see, and requires assessments for how algorithms harm children.” She continued, “It is our responsibility to ensure their data privacy and security, to provide even higher levels of protections for their kids, and to rein in Big Tech.” Full Democratic Ranking Member Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ) agreed with Chairwoman McMorris Rodgers, adding, “We need a bill that puts all Americans back in control of how their data is collected, used, and shared. Last Congress, this Committee overwhelmingly passed such a bill with broad bipartisan support. I’m committed to getting a bill over the finish line and look forward to continuing to work with Chair Rodgers on that effort.”

Congress holds hearings to examine the FY2024 President’s budget request for the National Science Foundation (NSF): On April 26, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing to examine the FY2024 President’s budget request for NSF. The hearing featured testimony from Dr. Sethuraman Panchanathan, Director of the National Science Foundation, and Dr. Dan Reed, Chair of the National Science Board. The Science, Space and Technology Committee’s hearing follows recent hearings held by both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees on the FY2024 President’s budget request for NSF. During the hearing on April 26, Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK) raised during his opening remarks that one of the goals of the CHIPS and Science Act was to improve the geographic diversity of our scientific workforce and ensure all Americans have opportunities to participate and excel in STEM education and employment. Specifically, the Chairman said, “CHIPS and Science authorized a number of activities to ensure that investments aren’t just happening in places like San Francisco and Boston, but also in places like Stillwater, Oklahoma. We’re ensuring funding isn’t just going to a handful of universities, but also to land-grant institutions like Oklahoma State and Historically Black Colleges and Universities like Langston University. I look forward to hearing about how NSF is working to improve geographic diversity in STEM.” Representative Max Miller (R-OH) noted during the hearing that NSF “plays an important role in workforce development and STEM education.” Specifically, he cited the importance of the Advanced Technical Education program and the experiential learning for emerging and novel technologies program, which is known as ExLENT. On the Democratic side of the aisle, Representative Jamaal Brown (D-NY) used the hearing to seek information regarding access and opportunity for historically marginalized groups in the STEM fields. 

Upcoming Events (Congress & Administration):

• On May 10 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm CT, the Employment and Training Administration’s (ETA) Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship (ACA) will host an open meeting in Chicago, IL. The May 2023 ACA meeting will focus on promoting equity in apprenticeship programs and highlight current innovations within traditional apprenticeship programs. Representatives from ETA and other apprenticeship stakeholders are expected to deliver remarks at the meeting. More information is here.
• On May 10 at 10:15 am, the House Education and the Workforce Committee will conduct a markup of H.J. Res. 45, which is a Congressional Review Act resolution providing for disapproval of President Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan. More information is here. A livestream of the markup will be available here. 
• On May 10 from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm, the President’s Advisory Commission on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics will hold an open meeting. The Commission is charged with advising the President on matters pertaining to educational equity and economic opportunity for the Hispanic and Latino community. The agenda for the meeting includes the swearing in of members of the Commission and presentations by leaders from the White House, USED, and other federal agencies. More information is here.
• On May 10 at 1:00 pm, USED’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) and the American Institute for Research (AIR) will host an event titled, “Expect, Engage, Empower: Successful Transitions for All!” The “3Es Initiative,” will focus on assisting students with disabilities and their families in transitioning from K-12 to postsecondary education. The initiative “​​will challenge the field to join OSEP to raise expectations, engage families earlier, and empower all who support transition services to measurably and significantly improve postsecondary outcomes for children and youth with disabilities and their families.” More information and registration are here.
• On May 11 at 10:00 am, the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor/HHS) Appropriations Subcommittee will hold a hearing to examine the FY2024 President’s budget request for USED. USED Secretary Cardona will testify. A livestream of the hearing will be available here.
• On May 11 at 10:15 am, the House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development will host a hearing titled, “Examining America’s Workforce Challenges: Looking For Ways To Improve Skills Development.” Witnesses have not yet been announced. More information is here.
• On May 15, USED’s Office of Educational Technology (OET) and Digital Promise will host a listening session on cultivating partnerships to support edtech evidence building activities in schools. Education leaders will discuss real-world examples of partnership work that led to evidence building in schools, benefits and challenges of evidence building partnership work, and basic steps educational organizations can take to secure partnerships. More information and registration are here.
• On May 16 at 10:15 am, the House Education and the Workforce Committee will hold a hearing titled, “Examining the Policies and Priorities of the Department of Education.” USED Secretary Miguel Cardona will testify at the hearing on the FY2024 President’s budget request. More information is here. A livestream of the hearing will be available here. 
• On June 5 from 1:00 to 5:00 pm and June 6 and 7 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, the Veterans’ Advisory Committee on Education will host an open meeting. The purpose of the Committee is to advise the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on the administration of education and training programs for veterans, servicepersons, reservists and dependents of veterans. During the meeting sessions, the Committee will hear reports from the Modernization, Veteran Vocational Education and Training Programs, and Distance Learning Subcommittees, as well as receive other updates and briefings that they will use for potential 2023 recommendations. More information is here.
• Throughout June and July 2023, the Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) will host the Better FAFSA, Better Future Webinar Series, which will cover guidance from the office on implementation of the FAFSA Simplification Act, the FUTURE Act, and what schools need to know about changes for the 2024-2025 award year. FSA staff will present 10 webinars in June and July. No registration is required, and participation will be first-come, first-served.  A video recording and transcript of the Q&A portion of the webinar will be available the week following each live event. More information and registration for each webinar are here.

Upcoming Events (Outside Organizations):

• On May 8 to 12, the National PTA will celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week. This year’s theme, Teachers Drive the Future, celebrates the idea that teachers are not just educators — they are one of the key drivers for every child’s journey to their future. USED and the Biden Administration will celebrate with a variety of activities. More information is here.

• On May 10 at 12:00 pm, Attendance Works and the Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL) will host a webinar titled, “Relationships All Year Round: Nurturing Showing Up.” The webinar is the second in a four-part series “focus[ing] on the importance of intentionally cultivating caring relationships with students and families, over time, as a crucial foundation for engagement.” Speakers include: Hedy Chang, Executive Director at Attendance Works; Kwesi Rollins, Vice President at IEL; Yolie Flores, CEO & President at Families In Schools; Shadae Harris, Chief Engagement Officer at Richmond Public Schools; Phyllis Jordan, Associate Director of FutureEd at Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy; and Aldo Ramirez, Associate Superintendent of Educational Services at Salinas City Elementary School District. More information and registration are here.

• On May 11 from 9:00 am to 10:00 am PST/12:00 pm to 1:00 pm EST, Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) is hosting a briefing titled, “Addressing the Mental Health Needs of Our Youth.” The webinar, which will take place on National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day, will convene policymakers, practitioners, and advocates to discuss local, state, and federal approaches to addressing the mental health needs of students. More information and registration are here.
• On May 19 at 11:00 am, the Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) will host a hybrid event titled, “Reducing Equity Gaps in Educational Attainment in and among the States: A Stakeholder Panel Discussion Featuring Black and Hispanic State Legislators.”  The event will feature findings from a recent publication, “Equity Indicators Historical Trend Report,” and discuss how reducing equity gaps in educational attainment can help close achievement gaps, boost economic growth, foster a more inclusive society, and improve the quality of life. More information and registration are here.

Publications (Congress & Administration):

• On April 27, the Institute for Education Sciences (IES) released a new report titled, “Evaluating the Federal Innovative Assessment Demonstration Authority: Early Implementation and Progress of State Efforts to Develop New Statewide Academic Assessments.” Congress established the Innovative Assessment Demonstration Authority (IADA) program to offer states temporary flexibility from certain federal testing requirements, so that they may more easily make progress toward replacing their current assessments with more innovative ones. This report describes the progress of the first five IADA systems through the 2020-2021 school year. Key findings demonstrated that all five IADA systems sought to increase the usefulness of assessment data for classroom teaching, but few were ready to test their assessments within a year of starting IADA—both of which are program goals. Additionally, after two or three years of participation, the IADA systems had made limited progress and may not be on track to meet the program’s five-year statewide scale-up goal. States reported challenges impacting assessment development and implementation activities, with the COVID-19 pandemic causing major disruptions.
• On April 28, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) released new results from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) of 2021. The report noted that YRBSS data from 2021 provided the first opportunity since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic to compare youth health behaviors using long-term public health surveillance. Results showed that nearly one third of female students considered suicide, and 22 percent of students experienced bullying. The data also studied students’ connectivity at school, which indicated that nearly 62 percent of students felt connected at school, and that adults and peers cared about them.

Publications (Outside Organizations):

• On May 2, the Data Quality Campaign released a new resource titled, “What Now? A Vision to Transform State Data Systems to Inform People’s Pathways through Education and the Workforce.” The resource presents a vision for state leaders to connect student data through statewide longitudinal data systems (SLDSs) to the people with the information they need to make decisions at key transition points along educational and workforce timelines. The resource includes “four use cases in which SLDSs are necessary to support decision-making and describes clear ways that state and federal leaders can take action to make this vision a reality.”
• On April 5, the RAND Corporation published a new report titled, “Supporting the Mental Health Needs of Community College Students.” The report shares results from a study of eight community colleges implementing different approaches to supporting student mental health, as well as key facilitators for and barriers to their success. Key findings indicated that even though the community colleges were implementing multi-level approaches (a combination of prevention, early intervention, and treatment services) and expanded their reach of services, they lacked a clear organizing framework in doing so. Additionally, they found that implementation was best supported by strong leadership and buy-in from staff. The report recommended that “community colleges consider adopting and formalizing a strategic plan or framework grounded in research evidence to improve coordination and collaboration across efforts, reduce redundancies, and guide decision-making on allocating resources.” The authors also noted that financial resources would be necessary for long-term student support, and that community colleges should identify consistent funding sources to create sustainable, comprehensive mental health supports for students.
• On April 17, the University of Chicago Consortium on School Research published a new report titled, “Investing in Adolescents: High School Climate and Organizational Context Shape Student Development and Educational Attainment.” The study asked multiple questions on school climate, including the impact of attending an effective school and what matters most for students’ short- and long-term trajectories. Key findings showed that high schools that fostered eighth- to ninth-grade student growth across multiple dimensions positively influenced students’ social and academic trajectories. Additionally, students’ long-term trajectories were most strongly influenced by fostering socioemotional development of students. The study also found that high schools that supported students’ development on all dimensions of growth were characterized by strong culture and climates.
• On April 17, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation published a new report titled, “The Need to Make Math More Relevant and Engaging for K-12 Students.” The research aimed to “understand how parents and teachers in the U.S. think about the state of math education today – what’s working, what isn’t, and what would they want to see changed?” The findings showed that 56 percent of adults thought math was both the most important subject that students will take, and a subject that needs updating and improvement on how it is taught in schools. Additionally, more than 50 percent of both adults and teachers agreed that, “when students succeed in math, they are more likely to succeed later in life.”
• In April, the Annenberg Institute at Brown University released findings from a study titled, “Inequality Beyond Standardized Tests: Trends in Extracurricular Activity Reporting in College Applications Across Race and Class.” Using nearly 6 million postsecondary applications submitted through the Common Application, the study found that White, Asian American, high-socioeconomic status, and private school students held “substantially” more activities and leadership roles, including accomplishments like honors and awards. Findings showed that Black, Latinx, Indigenous and low-income students held a similar proportion of leadership positions and activities. The report also considers, “reducing the number of activities that students report and increasing training for admissions staff as measures to strengthen holistic review.”

Legislation:

Introduced in the House of Representatives:

H.R. 2641
A bill to allow students to claim the tax credit for retirement savings contributions.
Sponsor: Rep. Colin Allred (D-TX)

H.R. 2649
A bill requiring the Department of Justice and the Department of Education to conduct and submit to Congress a survey of the assignment of school resource officers at public elementary and secondary schools.
Sponsor: Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA)

H.R. 2650
A bill directing the Department of Justice to develop, disseminate, and publish best practices for occupation-specific education for school resource officers.
Sponsor: Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA)

H.R. 2690
A bill to reduce exclusionary discipline practices in schools, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA)

H.R. 2715
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: Rep. Susie Lee (D-NV)

H.R. 2722
A bill to establish a grant pilot program to provide child care services for the minor children of law enforcement officers to accommodate the shift work and abnormal work hours of such officers, and to enhance recruitment and retention of such officers.
Sponsor: Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA)

H.R. 2728
A bill to make certain farmers or ranchers eligible for student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.
Sponsor: Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-PA) 

H.R. 2777
A bill to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to establish a waiver under such Act to address certain school closures, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN)

H.R. 2802
A bill to add suicide prevention resources to school identification cards.
Sponsor: Rep. Luis Correa (D-CA)

H.R. 2820
A bill to provide financial assistance to schools impacted by radioactive contaminants, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO)

H.R. 2821
A bill to establish a grant program in the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection to fund the establishment of centers of excellence to support research, development and planning, implementation, and evaluation of effective programs in financial literacy education for young people and families ages 8 through 24 years old, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Andre Carson (D-IN)

H.R. 2836
A bill to prohibit States from utilizing a funding formula for public schools that is based on calculating the average daily attendance of students over a State-determined period of time.
Sponsor: Rep. Mike Garcia (R-CA)

H.R. 2840
A bill to amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to provide funding, on a competitive basis, for summer and year-round employment opportunities for youth ages 14 through 24.
Sponsor: Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL)

H.R. 2845
A bill to direct the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to establish a School Cybersecurity Improvement Program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA)

H.R. 2851
A bill to amend the Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly referred to as the “National Apprenticeship Act”) to expand the national apprenticeship system to include apprenticeships, youth apprenticeships, and pre-apprenticeships registered under such Act and to promote the furtherance of labor standards necessary to safeguard the welfare of apprentices, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA)

H.R. 2869
A bill to require the Secretary of Education, in consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to publish an annual report on indicators of school crime and safety that includes data on school shootings, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL)

H.R. 2874
A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to increase the Federal student loan limits for students in flight education and training programs.
Sponsor: Rep. Colin Allred (D-TX)

H.R. 2889
A bill to ensure that students in schools have a right to read, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ)

H.R. 2900
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. 2943
A bill to establish a competitive grant program to increase financial literacy instruction in elementary schools and secondary schools.
Sponsor: Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI)

H.R. 2949
A bill to ensure that borrowers who have performed qualifying public service are eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
Sponsor: Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA)

H.R. 2957
A bill to establish a postsecondary student data system.
Sponsor: Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL)

H.R. 2967
A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish an emergency grant aid program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Joe Morelle (D-NY)

H.R. 2976
A bill to increase the quality and supply of child care and lower child care costs for families.
Sponsor: Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA)

H.R. 2981
A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide a student loan allowance calculation for purposes of determining the student aid index.
Sponsor: Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI)

H.R. 2991
A bill to eliminate the prohibition on training teachers with effective defensive tools, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Andrew Ogles (R-TN)

H.R. 2992
A bill to reauthorize title II of the Higher Education Act of 1965, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Alma Adams (D-NC)

H.R. 3001
A bill to require the Secretary of Education to implement corrective measures for a local educational agency or institution of higher education that prohibits or constrains fossil fuel sector employment recruitment, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL)

H.R. 3006
A bill to direct the Secretary of Education to carry out a grant program to support the placement of students and licensed professional social workers in public libraries, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-TX)

H.R. 3028
A bill to direct the Secretary of Education to establish a program to facilitate the transition to tuition-free community college in certain States, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA)

H.R. 3046
A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a grant program to award grants to accredited public institutions of higher education, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK)

H.R. 3055
A bill to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to include certain mental health professionals as specialized instructional support personnel.
Sponsor: Rep. Josh Harder (D-CA)

H.J.Res. 60
A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to require the United States and the States to jointly ensure a high-quality education to all persons within the United States.
Sponsor: Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA)

H.Res. 298
A resolution providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 734) to amend the Education Amendments of 1972 to provide that for purposes of determining compliance with Title IX of such Act in athletics, sex shall be recognized based solely on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth, and providing for consideration of the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 42) disapproving the action of the District of Columbia Council in approving the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022.
Sponsor: Rep. Erin Houchin (R-IN)

H.Res. 324
A resolution expressing support for the staff of this nation’s public, school, academic, and special libraries and the essential services they provide to our communities, recognizing the need for funding commensurate with the broad scope of social services and community supports provided by libraries, preserving the right of all citizens to freely access information and resources in their communities, supporting a strong union voice for library workers, and defending the civil rights of library staff.
Sponsor: Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA)

H.Res. 325
A resolution supporting the goals and ideals of Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month.
Sponsor: Rep. Young Kim (R-CA)

H.Res. 331 
A resolution supporting the designation of the week of April 24 through April 28, 2023, as “National Specialized Instructional Support Personnel Appreciation Week”.
Sponsor: Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-CT)

H.Res. 334
A resolution recognizing the significance of “Community College Month” as a celebration of more than 1,000 institutions throughout the United States supporting access to higher education, workforce training, and more broadly sustaining and advancing the Nation’s economic prosperity.
Sponsor: Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT)

Introduced in the Senate:

S. 1202
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: Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)

S. 1207
A bill to ensure that students in schools have a right to read, and for other purposes. 
Sponsor: Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI)

S. 1213
A bill to require the Secretary of Labor to implement the industry-recognized apprenticeship program process, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. John Thune (R-SD)

S. 1236
A bill to add suicide prevention resources to school identification cards.
Sponsor: Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA)

S. 1237
A bill to restore the exemption of family farms and small businesses from the definition of assets under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965.
Sponsor: Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA)

S. 1268
A bill to amend the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 and the Educational Technical Assistance Act of 2002 to strengthen research in adult education.
Sponsor: Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI)

S. 1270
A bill to amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to provide funding, on a competitive basis, for summer and year-round employment opportunities for youth ages 14 through 24.
Sponsor:  Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL)

S.1273
A bill to require a study on Holocaust education efforts of States, local educational agencies, and public elementary and secondary schools, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

S. 1285
A bill to direct the National Center for Education Statistics to produce an annual report on indicators of school crime and safety, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) 

S. 1291
A bill to require that social media platforms verify the age of their users, prohibit the use of algorithmic recommendation systems on individuals under age 18, require parental or guardian consent for social media users under age 18, and prohibit users who are under age 13 from accessing social media platforms.
Sponsor: Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI)

S. 1292
A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to increase the Federal student loan limits for students in flight education and training programs.
Sponsor: Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)

S.1309
A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve how the Department of Veterans Affairs discloses to individuals entitled to educational assistance from the Department risks associated with using such assistance at particular educational institutions and to restore entitlement of students to such assistance who are pursuing programs of education at educational institutions that are subject to Federal or State civil enforcement action, and for other purposes. 
Sponsor: Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI)

S.1331
A bill to ensure that borrowers who have performed qualifying public service are eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
Sponsor: Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ)

S. 1333
A bill to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, to award grants for providing evidence-based caregiver skills training to family caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental disabilities or delays, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ)

S. 1341
A bill to reauthorize title II of the Higher Education Act of 1965, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI)

S. 1344
A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish an emergency grant aid program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN)

S. 1349
A bill to establish a postsecondary student data system.
Sponsor: Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA)

S. 1353
A bill to amend section 455(m) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 in order to allow adjunct faculty members to qualify for public service loan forgiveness.
Sponsor: Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL)

S. 1354
A bill to increase the quality and supply of child care and lower child care costs for families.
Sponsor: Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA)

S. 1397
A bill to modify the Federal TRIO programs.
Sponsor: Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME)

S. 1403
A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a grant program to award grants to accredited public institutions of higher education, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK)

S. 1409
A bill to protect the safety of children on the internet.
Sponsor: Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)

S. 1418
A bill to amend the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 to strengthen protections relating to the online collection, use, and disclosure of personal information of children and teens, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA)

S.Res. 181
A resolution supporting the designation of the week of April 24 through April 28, 2023, as “National Specialized Instructional Support Personnel Appreciation Week”.
Sponsor: Sen. Maggie Wood Hassan (D-NH)