E-Update for November 20, 2015
News
- The House and Senate will be in recess next week for Thanksgiving. We will not publish an e-update next week. The House and Senate will reconvene on November 30.
- On November 18-19, the House and Senate convened a joint Conference Committee to resolve differences between H.R. 5, “The Student Success Act,” and S. 1177, “The Every Child Achieves Act,” as they seek to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Following debate on amendments, the Conference Committee approved the recommendations for the Conference Report by a vote of 38-1. The nay vote came from Senator Paul (R-KY). Prior to a final vote on the compromise agreement, the Conference Committee debated a range of amendments, including notable amendments related to permissible State caps on testing (adopted) and a reduction in the overall authorization levels for the Conference Report (rejected).
- On November 17, National Network of State Teachers of the Year (NNSTOY) released their report, conducted in partnership with EducationCounsel and Clowder Consulting, entitled, “The Right Trajectory: State Teachers of the Year Compare State Assessments.” The report describes findings from a study where excellent teachers examined and compared new consortia assessments (PARCC and Smarter Balanced) to prior state assessments in four states. The findings were clear: there was consensus across participating teachers that the new consortia assessments represent an improvement and the right trajectory. Find out more about the study and findings in the full report, available here.
U.S Congress
Members of Congress Urge Appropriations Committee to Restore Funding for Preschool Development Grants: Members of the House, including three Republican Representatives, wrote a letter requesting the restoration of funding for the Preschool Development Grant Program during upcoming negotiations on the FY 2016 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill. In the letter, representatives emphasized that every dollar spent on high-quality prekindergarten saves seven to ten dollars because of reductions in remedial education, juvenile delinquency, and teen pregnancy, and an increase in workforce readiness.
November 19, 2015.
House Education Subcommittee Holds Hearing Reviewing the Office of Federal Student Aid: The House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training and the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform jointly hosted a hearing entitled, “Federal Student Aid: Performance-Based Organization Review.” Committee members discussed the U.S. Department of Education’s (USED) Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) status as a Performance-Based Organization (PBO) and its interactions with various stakeholders, including institutions, contractors, and students. Additional information and video of the hearing can be found here.
November 18, 2015
House Oversight Committee Holds Hearing to Review USED’s Information Security: The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hosted a hearing entitled, “U.S. Department of Education: Information Security Review.” The committee discussed the Department’s efforts to secure personally-identifiable information (PII), reviewed findings from a recent GAO study and the Inspector General’s audits. Additional information and full video of the hearing can be found here.
November 17, 2015
U.S Department of Education
USED Releases Quarterly Student Aid Report: USED released its Quarterly Student Aid Report, with updates on USED’s student loan portfolio including repayment status and plan information, and new data on FAFSA completion. New data indicated that 68% of freshmen FAFSA applicants listed only one school.
November 19, 2015
USED Approves Nine States Educator Equity Plans: USED approved nine states’ educator equity plans to ensure all students have access to a high-quality education. The majority of the states’ plans will work to support or strengthen teacher preparation programs, increasing data-driven decision-making, and providing incentives for teachers to remain in high-need schools.
November 18, 2015
USED and California’s Attorney General Announce Findings from Investigation of Corinthian College Programs: USED and California Attorney General Kamala Harris released the findings from a joint investigation on Corinthian College’s reported job placement rates. The investigation concluded that the college’s Wyotech and Everest programs misrepresented their placement rates to enrolled and prospective students.
November 17, 2015
USED Releases Guidance on IEPs for Students with Disabilities: USED released new guidance to improve access for students with disabilities. The guidance clarified that students with disabilities should have individualized education programs (IEPs) that are aligned with state academic standards for the student’s grade in which they’re enrolled. USED also provided resources for parents and educators to help students with disabilities succeed in school and life.
November 17, 2015
DOJ Reaches Settlement with For-Profit College Company Over Claims of Illegal Recruiting, Consumer Fraud, and Other Violations: USED announced a $95.5 million settlement between a for-profit college company, Education management Corp. (EDMC), and the Department of Justice (DOJ). The settlement resolved claims that EDMC had unlawfully recruited students and falsely certified that it was in compliance with Title IV of the Higher Education Act (HEA).
November 16, 2015
Events
On December 1, the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), Learning First Alliance (LFA), and National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) are hosting a webinar entitled, “Early Learning Communities and the Common Core: Collaborative Approaches to Standards Alignment and Developmentally Appropriate Practice.” The webinar will focus on addressing how principals and educators can balance alignment of college and career ready standards with developmentally appropriate practice. Register here.
New Legislation
H.R.4004 : Stopping Unfair Collateral Consequences from Ending Student Success Act
Sponsor: Rep Bass, Karen [CA-37] (introduced 11/16/2015) Cosponsors (3)
Committees: House Education and the Workforce
H.R.4013 : Equity and Excellence in American Education Act of 2015
Sponsor: Rep Honda, Michael M. [CA-17] (introduced 11/16/2015) Cosponsors (12)
Committees: House Education and the Workforce; House Oversight and Government Reform
H.R.4020 : Next Generation High Schools Act
Sponsor: Rep Wilson, Frederica S. [FL-24] (introduced 11/16/2015) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Education and the Workforce
H.R.4021 : Enhancing Education Through Technology Act of 2015
Sponsor: Rep Wilson, Frederica S. [FL-24] (introduced 11/16/2015) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Education and the Workforce
H.R.4028 : To amend the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to direct the Secretary to provide additional funds to States to establish and make disbursements from high cost funds.
Sponsor: Rep Huffman, Jared [CA-2] (introduced 11/17/2015) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Education and the Workforce
H.R.4041 : To establish a task force to share best practices on computer programming and coding for elementary schools and secondary schools, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Cardenas, Tony [CA-29] (introduced 11/17/2015) Cosponsors (8)
Committees: House Education and the Workforce
H.R.4042 : To provide grants for high-quality prekindergarten programs.
Sponsor: Rep Castro, Joaquin [TX-20] (introduced 11/17/2015) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Education and the Workforce
H.R.4043 : To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to improve the financial aid process for homeless children and youths and foster care children and youth.
Sponsor: Rep Clark, Katherine M. [MA-5] (introduced 11/17/2015) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Education and the Workforce
H.R.4054 : To revise the 90-10 rule under the Higher Education Act of 1965 to count veterans’ education benefits under such rule, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Waters, Maxine [CA-43] (introduced 11/17/2015) Cosponsors (2)
Committees: House Education and the Workforce; House Armed Services; House Veterans’ Affairs
H.R.4098 : To amend title III of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to strengthen minority-serving institutions.
Sponsor: Rep Chu, Judy [CA-27] (introduced 11/19/2015) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Education and the Workforce
H.R.4101 : To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 regarding proprietary institutions of higher education in order to protect students and taxpayers.
Sponsor: Rep Cohen, Steve [TN-9] (introduced 11/19/2015) Cosponsors (2)
Committees: House Education and the Workforce
H.R.4102 : To provide for the establishment of a mechanism to allow borrowers of Federal student loans to refinance their loans, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the exclusion for employer-provided educational assistance to employer payment of interest on certain refinanced student loans, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Comstock, Barbara [VA-10] (introduced 11/19/2015) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Education and the Workforce; House Ways and Means
H.R.4109 : To amend the Higher Education Opportunity Act to restrict institutions of higher education from using revenues derived from Federal educational assistance funds for advertising, marketing, or recruiting purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-3] (introduced 11/19/2015) Cosponsors (7)
Committees: House Education and the Workforce
H.R.4120 : To amend the Head Start Act to authorize block grants to States for prekindergarten education, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Salmon, Matt [AZ-5] (introduced 11/19/2015) Cosponsors (2)
Committees: House Education and the Workforce
H.RES.527 : Supporting the goals and ideals of American Education Week.
Sponsor: Rep Joyce, David P. [OH-14] (introduced 11/16/2015) Cosponsors (5)
Committees: House Oversight and Government Reform
S.2290 : A bill to amend the Head Start Act to authorize block grants to States for prekindergarten education, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Lee, Mike [UT] (introduced 11/17/2015) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
S.2304 : A bill to provide for tribal demonstration projects for the integration of early childhood development, education, including Native language and culture, and related services, for evaluation of those demonstration projects, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Tester, Jon [MT] (introduced 11/18/2015) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: Senate Indian Affairs
S.2310 : A bill to allow a State to submit a declaration of intent to the Secretary of Education to combine certain funds to improve the academic achievement of students.
Sponsor: Sen Daines, Steve [MT] (introduced 11/19/2015) Cosponsors (8)
Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
S.2317 : A bill to amend title III of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to strengthen minority-serving institutions.
Sponsor: Sen Hirono, Mazie K. [HI] (introduced 11/19/2015) Cosponsors (2)
Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Publications
Teaching Vacancies and Difficult-to-Staff Teaching Positions in Public Schools: This brief from the Institute for Education Sciences describes the percentages of public schools that reported that they had teaching vacancies and subject areas with difficult-to-staff teaching positions in the 1999–2000, 2003–04, 2007–08, and 2011–12 school years. A major finding was that the percentage of all public schools that had vacant teaching positions decreased from the 1999-2000 school year to the 2011-12 school year by 15%.
November 19, 2015