E-Update for September 16, 2016
Highlights
- On September 16, the U.S. Department of Education (USED) released guidance to support the use of evidence-based activities, strategies, and interventions at the state, district, and school levels, particularly during implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).
- On September 14, the House passedR. 5587, the “Strengthening Career and Technical Education (CTE) for the 21st Century Act,” by a vote of 405-5. On September 21, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee is scheduled to markup the Senate’s CTE reauthorization bill.
- EducationCounsel Principal Sandi Jacobs penned this LatestCounsel blog entitled “Want Your ESSA Plan to Ensure Equal Access to Effective Teachers? Targeted Strategies Are Your Best Bet!” The post explains how ESSA places increased focus on the equitable distribution of teachers and offers guiding examples for states to consider when developing their ESSA plans to ensure that all students have great teachers.
U.S. Congress
New Democrat Coalition Releases Higher Education Priorities: The New Democrat Coalition in the House (which includes over 50 Democratic members), led by its 21st Century Education, Immigration, and Workforce Taskforce Co-Chairs Jared Polis (D-CO), Joaquin Castro (D-TX) and Elizabeth Esty (D-CT), released its higher education priorities for the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA). Priorities include issues such as: restoring year-round Pell Grants, supporting dual and concurrent enrollment programs, expanding programs such as TRIO, and easing the process for colleges to offer and students to complete three-year degree programs. The full list of priorities can be found here.
September 15, 2016
Senate Democrats Pen Letter Supporting USED’s Decision to End Federal Student Aid to ITT Tech: 24 Senate Democrats, including Ranking Member of the Senate HELP Committee Patty Murray (D-WA) and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) sent a letter to USED Secretary John King commending the Department for its decision to stop providing federal student aid to the now-defunct ITT Educational Services, Inc. (ITT Tech). The Senators also encouraged USED to provide increased debt relief and support to former ITT Tech students, including veterans. The letter states, “Postsecondary education should be a pathway to the middle class, and predatory colleges that damage these dreams by targeting and exploiting our neediest students must be held accountable.”
September 15, 2016
House Passes Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act: The House passed H.R. 5587, the “Strengthening Career and Technical Education (CTE) for the 21st Century Act,” by a vote of 405-5. In response to the passage of the Act, Chairman of the House Education and the Workforce Committee John Kline (R-MN) released a statement applauding the bill for delivering more flexibility to states to use federal resources, improving alignment with in-demand jobs, and streamlining performance measures to ensure that CTE programs deliver results. Ranking Member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee Bobby Scott (D-VA) also released a statement in which he reinforced the importance of the law, noting that the reauthorization will improve program quality and services for students most in need. Chairman Kline’s statement can be found here. Ranking Member Scott’s statement is available here.
September 14, 2016
House Education and the Workforce Committee Approves H.R. 5963, the “Supporting Youth Opportunity and Preventing Delinquency Act”: The House Education and the Workforce Committee approved unanimously by voice vote H.R. 5963, the “Supporting Youth Opportunity and Preventing Delinquency Act.” This bipartisan legislation would reauthorize the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) to help state and local leaders better serve at-risk youth and juvenile offenders. The bill was introduced by Representative Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) and House Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) to enhance support for prevention services, prioritize evidence-based strategies for addressing juvenile delinquency, and improve accountability and oversight of the juvenile justice system, among other reforms. The bill can be found here.
September 14, 2016
Representative Foxx Confirms Interest in Becoming Chair of the House Education and the Workforce Committee: In interviews with Politico and CQ, Representative Virginia Foxx (R-NC) confirmed her candidacy to be the next chair of the House Education and the Workforce Committee after current Chairman John Kline’s retirement at the end of this Congress. Representative Foxx noted that higher education reauthorization will be one of her top priorities, should she become Chairwoman, and she pledged to do as much as possible to roll back the role of the federal government in education.
September 13, 2016
House Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee Holds Hearing on College and University Endowments: The House Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee held a hearing to examine tax-exempt college and university endowments. Witnesses testified on the rising cost of higher education and how institutions are using their tax-exempt endowments to reduce costs for students and fulfill their charitable purposes. During the hearing, Subcommittee Chairman Peter Roskam (R-IL) noted that the tax code should encourage donors to directly support student aid and scholarships at colleges and universities. Chairman Roskam’s statement is available here.
September 13, 2016
Administration
K-12 Education:
USED Releases Guidance to Support Evidence-Based Decision-Making: USED released non-regulatory guidance to support the use of evidence-based activities, strategies, and interventions by states, districts and schools, in particular as they implement the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The guidance describes key steps for using evidence as a part of a larger decision-making process, which also includes a focus on identifying local needs, engaging stakeholders, and continuous improvement. The guidance also includes recommendations on how to identify the level of evidence for various interventions. Regarding the guidance, USED Secretary King explained, “Relevant, rigorous evidence must be an essential part of a strong framework for decision-making.” The guidance can be found here.
September 16, 2016
USED Awards Grants to Promote Student Resilience in Three School Districts: USED awarded a total of over $5 million to the St. Louis, Baltimore, and Chicago school districts to promote student resilience after these communities experienced civil unrest. The grants will help the school districts offer school-based mental-health, counseling, and behavioral programs for students who have experienced trauma as a result of the unrest. USED Secretary King stated, “Violence tears at the fabric of a school community, and the long-term effects can be devastating.” He also expressed USED’s commitment to ensuring a safe and supportive learning environment for all students.
September 15, 2016
Commission for Evidence-Based Policymaking Requests Comments: The Commission for Evidence-Based Policymaking published a notice requesting comments on initial feedback from a broad range of stakeholders on questions that will contribute to the Commission’s future activities and fulfillment of its duties, potentially including any findings and recommendations. Comments are due on November 14, 2016. The full notice is available here.
September 14, 2016
IES Launches New What Works Clearinghouse Website: The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) launched a new website for the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC), which includes an updated “Find What Works” tool. The tool will help educators and policymakers find programs and interventions that are supported by evidence that shows that they have had a positive impact on student outcomes. Users can search for programs and interventions in multiple categories, including literacy and English learners, and can also download practice guides with evidence-based recommendations for improving teaching and learning.
September 13, 2016
Postsecondary Education:
USED Releases Fact Sheet on the Importance of Pursuing a College Degree: USED released a fact sheet describing the opportunities that can come from pursuing a high-quality postsecondary education. The fact sheet outlines numerous resources for students, schools, and communities to increase college completion rates, including specific toolkits and guides for African American and Hispanic students, foster youth, and homeless students. The fact sheet also highlights the Obama Administration’s investments in postsecondary education, such as the expansion of Pell Grant awards and student aid, as well as investments to make college more affordable for all students.
September 16, 2016
61 Institutions Commit to Supporting Students Previously Involved in the Criminal Justice System: USED announced that 61 higher education institutions have committed to ensuring that people who have been in contact with the criminal justice system have a fair chance at postsecondary educational opportunities. Institutions that signed the Fair Chance Higher Education Pledge committed to adopting fair chance admissions practices, empowering professors and students who want to teach in correctional facilities, and ensuring internships and job training opportunities are available to individuals with criminal records. In response, USED Secretary King stated, “We are better off as a country if we help those who have gotten off track get back on a pathway to success by giving them a fair chance to successfully reintegrate and lead productive lives in our society.”
September 14, 2016
USED Releases New College Scorecard Data: USED announced the release of new College Scorecard data to help students and their families gain a deeper understanding of their college choices. The new data includes graduation rates, debt amounts, and repayment rates from the 2014-15 school year. Analysis of the data showed that fewer than half of for-profit borrowers make progress on paying down their student debt within three years, as opposed to 80% of non-profit college borrowers.
September 14, 2016
USED Releases the America’s College Promise Playbook: USED released the America’s College Promise Playbook, a guide to provide practitioners with information on how to expand access to affordable, high-quality postsecondary education. The playbook outlines key steps that communities can take to create America’s College Promise programs, which offer tuition free community college. The playbook emphasizes the importance of ensuring community involvement in designing a high-quality and sustainable program and provides a variety of case studies of Promise programs as models. The Playbook can be found here.
September 13, 2016
Upcoming Events
On September 19, the White House Council on Women and Girls will host a conference on “Trauma-Informed Approaches in School: Supporting Girls of Color and Rethinking Discipline.” USED Secretary King and USED Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Catherine Lhamon will participate in the event.
On September 21, the Senate HELP Committee is scheduled to markup the Senate’s CTE reauthorization bill. More information and video of the markup will be available here.
On September 21, the House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education is holding a hearing entitled, “Supplanting the Law and Local Education Authority Through Regulatory Fiat.” More information, including a link to the live webcast, can be found here.
On September 21, The Atlantic is holding a discussion entitled, “The ABC’s of Early Childhood: An Atlantic Politics and Policy Briefing,” to discuss the growing demand for access to high quality and affordable early childhood education programs. First Five Years Fund is underwriting this event. More information can be found here.
Publications
NCES Releases Annual “Education at a Glance”: USED’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) released “Education at a Glance,” the annual publication produced by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The report provides data on the structure, finances, and progress of education systems in the 35 OECD countries, including the U.S. The report finds that the U.S. is above the average on some measures, such as postsecondary educational attainment, but lags behind in others, including the size of the gender gap in earnings. The report can be found here.
September 15, 2016
The Learning Policy Institute Releases Report on the Teacher Deficit: The Learning Policy Institute released a research analysis, as well as three related policy briefs, on the developing teacher deficit. The report finds that the current shortage of roughly 60,000 teachers could nearly double by 2018. The policy briefs offer potential solutions to addressing the teacher shortage, such as more equitable compensation packages, better working conditions, and improved support for beginning teachers. In response to the report, Former USED Secretary and Former Governor of South Carolina Richard Riley stated, “It’s time for a national conversation on the most effective ways to create a strong profession that attracts and retains a talented and diverse teaching force.” The report can be found here.
September 14, 2016
Former USED Secretary Richard Riley Articulates Vision for Accreditation Reform: Former USED Secretary Richard Riley and Jamie Merisotis, CEO of Lumina Foundation, wrote an article for Roll Call entitled, “Crafting a Vision for Accreditation Reform.” The article offers a framework for accreditation reform to improve the quality of higher education and includes ideas such as reducing regulatory burdens, focusing on student outcomes when assessing quality, and enhancing data collection and analysis. The article states, “Building on effective and long-standing elements of the higher education accreditation process, this framework for accreditation reform would focus federal oversight on student outcomes and better deploy time, resources, and attention to those institutions that need it most.”
September 13, 2016
Legislation
H.R.6064 – 114th Congress (2015-2016)
To direct the Secretary of Labor to establish a competitive pilot program for STEM education or career training programs
Sponsor: Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33) (Introduced 09/15/2016) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce
S.3349 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)
A bill to amend the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 to improve career and technical education opportunities for adult learners, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI] (Introduced 09/15/2016) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
S.3347 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)
A bill to amend the Truth in Lending Act and the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require certain creditors to obtain certifications from institutions of higher education, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard [D-IL] (Introduced 09/15/2016) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: Senate – Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
S.3344 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)
A bill to amend the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 to encourage innovation, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT] (Introduced 09/15/2016) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
H.R.6021 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)
Jobs, On-the-Job `Earn While You Learn’ Training, and Apprenticeships for African-American Young Men Act
Sponsor: Rep. Scott, David [D-GA-13] (Introduced 09/14/2016) Cosponsors: (6)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce
H.Res.864 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)
Expressing support for the designation of September 2016 as “National Campus Sexual Assault Awareness Month”.
Sponsor: Rep. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (Introduced 09/13/2016) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Oversight and Government Reform
S.3316 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)
A bill to maximize land management efficiencies, promote land conservation, generate education funding, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM] (Introduced 09/13/2016) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Energy and Natural Resources