E-Update for October 9, 2015
News
- On October 8, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) abandoned his bid for Speaker of the House immediately prior to the scheduled election. McCarthy’s withdrawal prompted the current speaker, Rep. John Boehner (R-OH), to postpone the Republican conference.
- The U.S. House of Representatives continued with hearings on education issues, including juvenile justice, Head Start, and higher education; and the U.S. Department of Education and Senate Democrats held a roundtable to discuss accountability issues in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
U.S Congress
USED and Senate Democrats Hold Roundtable on ESEA Accountability: U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, John King – who has the duties of Deputy Secretary of Education, Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) hosted a roundtable on accountability measures in the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Participants shared their perspectives on how the next reauthorization bill could best serve states, districts, schools, and students. Roundtable participants included government officials,advocacy group leaders, educators, and students.
October 8, 2015
House Education and Workforce Committee Holds Hearing on Juvenile Justice: On October 8, the House Education and the Workforce Committee held a hearing entitled, “Reviewing the Juvenile Justice System and How It Serves At-Risk Youth.” The committee discussed ways to better serve at-risk youth and juvenile offenders through education and rehabilitation. Chairman Kline (R-MN) said, “keeping our communities safe and supporting at-risk youth requires more than an adjudication system and a detention facility. It requires education, rehabilitation, and family participation…” Chairman’s statement.
October 8, 2015
House Education and Workforce Committee Holds Hearing on Head Start: On October 7, the House Education and the Workforce Committee held a hearing entitled, “Strengthening Head Start for Current and Future Generations.” Members of the committee discussed the importance of Head Start and how to improve the program for current and future generations. Chairman Kline said, “Head Start is an important program, but it’s also a program that faces a number of challenges. By working toward a legislative solution, I am confident we can provide low-income children the strong head start they deserve.” Ranking Member Scott (D-VA) emphasized that “early childhood education helps close not only the achievement gap, but future employment and income gaps.” Chairman’s full statement; Ranking Member’s full statement.
October 7, 2015
House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Oversight Holds Hearing on Costs in Higher Ed: The House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Oversight held a hearing entitled, “The Rising Costs of Higher Education and Tax Policy.” The committee focused on the rising cost of college and its connection to national tax policies examining topics such as federal aid, school spending decisions, executive compensation rates, and endowments. Chairman’s statement.
October 7, 2015
STEM Education Act of 2015 Signed into Law: The president signed into law the STEM Education Act of 2015 (H.R. 1020), bipartisan legislation introduced by Science, Space, and Technology Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX). The bill aims to strengthen science, technology, engineering, and math education and expands the definition of STEM to include computer science. The bill was approved unanimously in both chambers.
October 8, 2015
Creating Quality Technical Educators Act Introduced in the Senate: The Co-Chairs of the Senate Career and Technical Education (CTE) Caucus, Senators Time Kaine (D-VA), Rob Portman (R-OH), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), along with Senator Shelley Capito (R-WV) introduced the Creating Quality Technical Educators Act (S. 2174). The bill would expand the Higher Education Act’s teacher residency grant program to help schools recruit and train high-quality CTE teachers, in part by fostering partnerships between high-needs secondary schools and post-secondary institutions.
October 8, 2015
Education Committee Leaders on Duncan’s Announcement: Following the announcement that U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will step down in December, the leaders of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee and House Education and Workforce Committee released statements concerning his departure. Their statements can be found here: Chairman Alexander’s statement, Ranking Member Murray’s statement, Chairman Kline’s statement, and Ranking Member Scott’s statement.
October 2, 2015
U.S Department of Education
Administration Launches Initiative to Eliminate Chronic Absenteeism: The Administration launched Every Student, Every Day: A National Initiative to Address and Eliminate Chronic Absenteeism. Led by the White House, USED, and the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and Justice (DOJ), the Administration announced new steps to combat chronic absenteeism and called on states and local communities across the country to join in taking immediate action to address and eliminate chronic absenteeism by at least 10 percent each year.
October 7, 2015
Secretary Duncan Names National Assessment Governing Board Appointees: Secretary Duncan named seven leaders to the National Assessment Governing Board to serve four-year terms. The appointees will help set policy for the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), and include a Florida school superintendent, a Tennessee school board chief, a national business and education policy leader, an Indiana high school teacher, an Oregon professor, a Washington state assessment expert, and a longtime California educator and curriculum expert.
October 6, 2015
USED Awards $50 Million to Support Evidence-Based Training and PD for Teachers and Principals: USED awarded more than $50 million in 12 new grants to support teachers and principals with evidence-based training and professional development (PD) through the Supporting Effective Educator Development (SEED) program, which creates learning and career growth opportunities for aspiring and current educators serving students in high-need schools.
October 5, 2015
USED Awards $20 Million to Make Technology More Accessible for Individuals with Disabilities: Through the Disability Innovation Fund’s Automated Personalization Computing Project (APCP), USED awarded a $20 million grant to the University of Wisconsin. The grant is designed to improve broadband infrastructure so that devices automatically adjust into a format based on the user’s preferences and abilities.
October 9, 2015
USED Announces Grants to Improve the Outcomes of Individuals with Disabilities: USED’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) announced over $12.6 million in grants which aim to promote inclusion, equity, and opportunity for individuals with disabilities so that all individuals can be successful in college, careers, and life.
October 9, 2015
Reach Higher Initiative and USED Launch Mobile App Competition: First Lady Michelle Obama’s Reach Higher Initiative and the U.S. Department of Education (USED) launched a $225,000 mobile app competition to promote the development of mobile app solutions to help students navigate education and career pathways, including career and technical education (CTE).
October 7, 2015
Secretary Duncan on Learning Disabilities, Dyslexia, and ADHD Awareness Month: Secretary Duncan issued a statement on Learning Disabilities, Dyslexia, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Awareness Month, celebrating the academic accomplishments of students with ADHD and learning disabilities such as dyslexia while recognizing that there is more to do to ensure that these students have every opportunity to fulfill their potential.
October 5, 2015
Events
On October 13, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee will hold two full committee field hearings entitled, “Developmental Perspective on Testing for Dyslexia” and “The Educational Milestones of Dyslexia,” at the University of New Orleans and Louisiana State University, respectively. There will not be a webcast of these hearings. More information is available here and here.
New Legislation
S.2174 : A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for the preparation of career and technical education teachers.
Sponsor: Sen Kaine, Tim [VA] (introduced 10/8/2015) Cosponsors (3)
Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
H.R.3721 : To expand the use of open textbooks in order to achieve savings for students.
Sponsor: Rep Hinojosa, Ruben [TX-15] (introduced 10/8/2015) Cosponsors (2)
Committees: House Education and the Workforce
S.2176 : A bill to expand the use of open textbooks in order to achieve savings for students.
Sponsor: Sen Durbin, Richard [IL] (introduced 10/8/2015) Cosponsors (2)
Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
H.R.10 : Scholarships for Opportunity and Results Reauthorization Act
Sponsor: Rep Boehner, John A. [OH-8] (introduced 10/5/2015) Cosponsors (13)
Committees: House Oversight and Government Reform
H.R.3675 : Student Borrower Fairness Act
Sponsor: Rep DeSaulnier, Mark [CA-11] (introduced 10/1/2015) Cosponsors (5)
Committees: House Ways and Means; House Education and the Workforce
H.R.3684 : Preserving Teacher Loan Forgiveness for Military Spouses Act of 2015
Sponsor: Rep Chabot, Steve [OH-1] (introduced 10/6/2015) Cosponsors (4)
Committees: House Education and the Workforce
H.R.3695 : To simplify and improve the Federal student loan program through income-contingent repayment to provide stronger protections for borrowers, encourage responsible borrowing, and save money for taxpayers.
Sponsor: Rep Zeldin, Lee M. [NY-1] (introduced 10/6/2015) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Education and the Workforce; House Ways and Means
H.RES.456 : Expressing support for designation of October 2015 as “National Principals Month”.
Sponsor: Rep Davis, Susan A. [CA-53] (introduced 10/1/2015) Cosponsors (5)
Committees: House Education and the Workforce
S.2132 : A bill making appropriations for financial services and general government, Department of the Interior, environment, and Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2016, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Cochran, Thad [MS] (introduced 10/5/2015) Cosponsors (2)
S.2134 : A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to provide educational assistance to certain former members of the Armed Forces for education and training as physician assistants of the Department of Veterans Affairs, to establish pay grades and require competitive pay for physician assistants of the Department, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Tester, Jon [MT] (introduced 10/5/2015) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs
S.2149 : A bill to amend the Higher Education Opportunity Act to add disclosure requirements to the institution financial aid offer form and to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to make such form mandatory.
Sponsor: Sen Grassley, Chuck [IA] (introduced 10/7/2015) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
S.2150 : A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to make technical improvements to the Net Price Calculator system so that prospective students may have a more accurate understanding of the true cost of college.
Sponsor: Sen Grassley, Chuck [IA] (introduced 10/7/2015) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Publications
Comprehensive Summaries of NCSER-Funded Research: The National Center for Education Research (NCSER) has been funding research in on a variety of topics relevant to special education and early intervention since its first grant competition in 2006. NCSER staff has summarized the work on a number of these topics to provide comprehensive overviews of the ongoing and completed projects to date. This is an ongoing endeavor, with more summaries to follow.
October 9, 2015
Career Paths of Beginning Public School Teachers Results From the First Through Fifth Waves of the 2007-08 Beginning Teacher Longitudinal Study: This report presents 5-year longitudinal data on attrition and mobility for public school teachers (e.g., percentages teaching all years, teaching in the same school, returning or expected to return to teaching), by selected teacher characteristics using data from the first through fifth Waves of the 2007–08 Beginning Teacher Longitudinal Study.
October 1, 2015