The information covered below is from September 13, 2024, through September 26, 2024.

Highlights:

• On September 25, President Biden signed H.R. 4797, a Continuing Resolution to provide funding for the federal government through December 20, 2024, at current spending levels.
• On September 23, the U.S. Department of Education (USED) issued a letter regarding actions the Department is taking to rollout the 2025-2026 FAFSA, as well as addressing the challenges that students, families, and institutions faced during the implementation of the 2024-2025 FAFSA.
• On September 19, the House passed H.R. 3274, the “End Woke Higher Education Act,” by a vote of 213-201, which revises the requirements for an accrediting agency to be recognized by the USED as a reliable authority on the quality of higher education.

Administration:

White House:

President Biden signs bipartisan Continuing Resolution (CR) extending federal government funding through December 20: On September 25, President Biden signed H.R. 4797, a CR to provide funding for the federal government through December 20, 2024, at current spending levels. H.R. 4797 passed the House by a vote of 341 to 82 and in the Senate by a vote of 78 to 18. The bill prevents a government shutdown that would otherwise have occurred if the fiscal year (FY) 2025 appropriations bills had not been enacted by October 1, 2024. The CR did not include the Biden Administration’s $2.4 billion request to support the U.S. Department of Education’s (USED) Office Federal Student Aid (FSA). In a statement on the bill, President Biden shared his support for Congress to pass full-year funding bills by the end of this year, noting, “My Administration will work with Congress to ensure these bills deliver for America’s national defense, veterans, seniors, children, and working families, and address urgent needs for the American people.”

President Biden delivers remarks at the 2024 National Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Week Conference, while the Biden Administration announces new awards for HBCUs: On September 17, President Biden spoke at the 2024 National HBCU Week Conference. Throughout his remarks, President Biden reflected on his early career as an attorney and his call to service, particularly as the area where he grew up was being desegregated. President Biden said, “I got involved in desegregating movie theaters, those kinds of things,” adding that work to advance racial equity still continues, “I’m telling you this story because I think this is going to be a significant extension, what we’re doing.” USED Secretary Miguel Cardona also spoke at the Conference, emphasizing the Week’s theme, “Raising the Bar: Where Excellence and Opportunity Meet,” which aligns with the Secretary’s own vision for USED for this past year titled the, “Raise the Bar: Lead the World” initiative.

In conjunction with the HBCU Week Conference, the White House announced $1.3 billion in new awards to HBCUs. Specifically, $188 million in competitive grants will be awarded to HBCUS to support R&D capacity building and $1.1 billion in funding will support students at HBCUs directly through need-based grants and other federal programs, including Pell Grants. Separately, the USED announced new awards to HBCUs through the Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence Program (Hawkins) and the Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program (MSEIP). The announcement also included the establishment of a National Technical Assistance Center to Diversify the Workforce Serving Children with Disabilities, which will, in part, support HBCUs, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) in improving and developing high-quality programs/

President Biden delivers remarks at Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s 47th Annual Awards Gala: On September 19, President Biden spoke at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s 47th Annual Awards Gala. President Biden’s noted how the Administration’s work on child care has impacted the Latino Community, saying, “we put checks in pockets that cut Latino child poverty in half. We increased childcare subsidy funding by 50%, providing families with peace of mind and still growing the economy.” Additionally, President Biden shared his support for investments in Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), stating, “we’re investing over $15 billion — the largest investment in history — in Hispanic-Serving Institutions.” President Biden continued, “We also announced the first-ever White House Initiative and President’s Board of Advisers for Hispanic-Serving Institutions to Advance Equity, Excellence, and Opportunity.” The President also highlighted the Biden Administration’s proposed expansion of the Federal TRIO Program to provide DREAMers with college access services, including counseling and tutoring.

Additionally, the USED announced nearly $50 million for HSIs to support Hispanic and Latino students. The awards span four programs, including:

• $11 million for the Promoting Postbaccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans (PPOHA) program to support increasing the number of Hispanic students prepared for the STEM workforce, as well as the number of Hispanic educators.
• $28 million for the Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (DHSI) program to assist HSIs in expanding educational opportunities and improving the attainment of Hispanic students.
• $9.5 million for the Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence Program to increase the number of, and retain, well-prepared teachers from diverse backgrounds in underserved elementary and secondary schools.
• $1 million for the Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program (MSEIP), to support long-range improvement to science and engineering education to increase the participation of underrepresented minorities, particularly minority women, in STEM careers.

On September 18, at the White House Hispanic Heritage Month Reception for Latino Leaders, USED Secretary Cardona also delivered remarks emphasizing the Administration’s investments in HSIs. Secretary Cardona said, “We’ve intentionally invested in improving educator diversity through grants to HSIs and other minority-serving institutions. We are the first administration in history to secure federal funding … $15 million … for the Augustus Hawkins program to recruit and train more teachers of color and bilingual educators.”

U.S. Department of Education (USED):

USED Secretary Cardona delivers remarks on book bans at the MLK Library “Shelved Voices” Symposium: On September 23, USED Secretary Miguel Cardona gave remarks at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library in Washington, DC during the “Shelved Voices” Symposium. In his speech, Secretary Cardona expressed concern regarding the more than four million students that have had their reading censored through book bans, saying, “Most of these bans are cynical, hateful efforts to censor stories of, and by, people or color or LGBTQ Americans.” The Secretary went on to note that book bans “prevent students from learning about the history, arts and culture, and contributions of marginalized communities.” Secretary Cardona added, “Make no mistake: these bans are nothing short of an attempt to erase American history in all of its complexity.”

USED issues update on upcoming rollout of the 2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form: On September 23, the USED issued a letter regarding actions the Department is taking to rollout the 2025-26 FAFSA, as well as addresses the challenges that students, families, institutions, and secondary staff faced during the rollout of the 2024-25 FAFSA. In the letter, USED Secretary Cardona emphasizes, “we are leaving no stone unturned to learn lessons, fix problems, and improve processes – responding directly to the needs and concerns raised with the Department by students, families, institutions, and partners.” In conjunction with the letter, USED also released a white paper outlining ten actions that the Department is taking to improve the 2025-26 FAFSA process, as well as the steps the Department is making progress on to support increased FAFSA submissions. Among the actions that the Department is taking are providing early and predictable timelines and launching core functions at the same time; ensuring the form functions as intended when broadly launched; increasing transparency; improving resources for students and families to assist them in navigating the form; and providing additional resources to counselors, institutions, states, and other critical partners. Additionally, USED is ensuring the call center has sufficient capacity; improving the user experience for students and families; providing additional outreach and support for students and families who need the most help completing the form; addressing the ongoing issues experienced by mixed-status families; and helping alleviate the additional burden on institutions, among other actions. The update also confirms that the Department will implement as planned the October 1 FAFSA testing period followed by a complete launch of the FAFSA for all students on December 1.

Thomas N. Flagg Appointed U.S. Department of Education’s Chief Information Officer: On September 20, the USED announced the appointment of Thomas N. Flagg as the Department’s Chief Information Officer. Most recently, Flagg served as director of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Directorate of Business Application Services. Flagg has over two decades of experience in business and information technology in both the government and private sectors, including more than ten years at the Department of Labor. Recently, the turnover of the CIO position within the USED was raised as one of the challenges to ongoing implementation and rollout of the FAFSA by the General Accountability Office and during a House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee hearing on September 24 (See more information below).

Congress:

Joint Economic Committee Democrats release report on benefits of investments in school infrastructure: On September 22, Democratic Members of the Joint Economic Committee released a report titled, “Improving School Infrastructure Benefits Students, The Economy, And The Environment.” The report asserts that many public school buildings are in significant need of renovations, “as the average age of U.S. school buildings is approximately 49 years, and an estimated 53% have never undergone any major renovations.” Additionally, the report connects investments in school infrastructure to improve students’ health and academic outcomes, as well as investing in resilient school infrastructure to save schools money and safeguard them against extreme weather events. House Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) released a statement on the report and his support for H.R. 5049, the “Rebuild America’s Schools Act,” which would invest $130 billion in “physical and digital infrastructure, improve students’ academic recovery efforts, and create more than 2 million jobs over the next five years.”

Senate:

Senate HELP Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety holds hearing on preparing the workforce for AI: On September 26, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety held a hearing titled, “Reading the Room: Preparing Workers for AI.” In his opening remarks, Subcommittee Chairman John Hickenlooper (D-CO) discussed the need for a workforce trained in AI and the need for widely available AI literacy training. Ranking Member Mike Braun (R-IN) similarly highlighted the increasing prevalence of AI in the workplace, the potential to impact work, and the need for safe implementation.

Among the witnesses at the hearing, Alex Kotran, CEO of aiEDU, spoke on the need for AI literacy and AI readiness for all students, defining AI literacy as, “the skills and knowledge that a person needs to confidently understand, ethically use, and critically evaluate artificial intelligence in a world in which AI is becoming more and more ubiquitous.” Kotran also noted that education systems should be prepared to implement AI readiness and “include an expanded focus on durable skills that will be critical to enabling people to augment AI tools that are certain to become increasingly commonplace in the workplace.”

Other witnesses included Dr. Karin Kimbrough, Chief Economist at LinkedIn, who highlighted the heightened demand for workers with AI skills in the US. Witness Denzel Wilson, Grassroots Program Manager for SeedAI, emphasized the need for equitable access to AI education, particularly in institutions of higher education, such as HBCUs and community colleges. Ken Meyer, Senior Director of Human Resources at Ryan Health, providing testimony as a representative for the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) spoke on the need “to create a regulatory landscape that enables workers and businesses to achieve the benefits of AI, responsibly and consistent with our shared values.” Additionally, Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) raised S. 5152, the “AI Civil Rights Act of 2024,” which he introduced on September 24, to “prevent discriminatory algorithms from being used in critical decisions, including employment, because we cannot prepare our workforce without protecting our workers simultaneously.”

Senate Judiciary Subcommittee holds hearing on Artificial Intelligence (AI): On September 17, the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law held a hearing titled, “Oversight of AI: Insiders’ Perspectives.” During the hearing, Subcommittee Chairman Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) discussed his bipartisan legislative framework with Ranking Member Josh Hawley (R-MO), which, according to Chairman Blumenthal, “is a milestone—the first tough, comprehensive legislative blueprint for real, enforceable AI protections.” In his opening remarks, Chairman Blumenthal referenced the CEO of OpenAI, Sam Altman, who testified before the Subcommittee in May 2023, and argued, “We have heard from industry leaders responsible for innovation and progress in AI and they share their excitement for the future but they also warned about serious risk. Sam Altman…shared his worst fear that AI could ‘cause significant harm to the world.’ Despite those self-professed fears…Big Tech companies and leading AI companies are rushing to put sophisticated products into the market.” Similarly, Ranking Member Hawley, made the case for legislation to “protect Americans from the harms artificial intelligence has proven to pose.” Specifically, Ranking Member Hawley questioned one of the witnesses, Helen Toner, from the Center for Security and Emerging Technology at Georgetown University and former board member of OpenAI, whether the company is “doing enough, in terms of its safety procedures and protocols, to adequately vet its own products and to protect the public?

In addition to Ms. Toner, other witnesses included Margaret Mitchell, former Staff Research Scientist at Google AI; William Saunders, Former Member of Technical Staff at OpenAI; and David Evan Harris, Senior Policy Advisor at the California Initiative for Technology and Democracy and Chancellor’s Public Scholar at UC Berkeley. Mitchell, formerly of Google AI, noted in her remarks, four “gaps” where the federal government could play a role in AI development that “must be addressed for AI to be more beneficial: (1) Research on the relationship between model inputs and model outputs; (2) Rigorous quantification of data, models, and systems; (3) Implementing due diligence and foresight, including before development; (4) Operationalizing transparency in the AI lifecycle, including after deployment.” Saunders, a former employee of OpenAI, said, in his testimony, “If any organization builds technology that imposes significant risks on everyone, the public and the scientific community must be involved in deciding how to avoid or minimize those risks.

Senate Banking Committee holds hearing on private student lending and servicing market: On September 17, the Senate Banking Subcommittee on Financial Institutions And Consumer Protection held a hearing titled, “Back to School: Shedding Light on Risks and Harm in the Private Student Lending and Servicing Market.” The Subcommittee heard from three witnesses: Ms. Aissa Canchola Bañez, Policy Director at the Student Borrower Protection Center; Dr. Beth Akers, Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute; and Ms. Dalié Jiménez, Professor of Law and Director of the Student Loan Law Initiative at the University of California, Irvine School of Law.

In his opening remarks, Subcommittee Chairman Raphael Warnock (D-GA) shared that his office conducted an analysis of privately held student loans and some related complaints, stating that “private lenders and servicers routinely misled or deceived borrowers.” Chairman Warnock added that while private student loans only make up 7% of all student loans, they make up 25% of loan complaints. Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), sitting for Subcommittee Ranking Member Thom Tillis (R-NC), used her opening statement to call attention to the Biden-Harris Administration’s federal student loan forgiveness actions. Senator Lummis also defended private student lending, stating, “demonizing private lending ignores the reality that loan servicers offer tailored solutions for borrowers when federal programs fall short.”

During the hearing, witness Aissa Canchola Bañez shared that the private student loan industry lacks comprehensive data gathering and management, adding, “students attending for profit schools are more likely to rely on private student loans, more likely to face poor labor market outcomes, and more likely to struggle in repayment.” Witness Beth Akers expressed similar concerns as Senator Lummis for the Biden Administration’s student loan relief efforts, stating, “The federal student loan program and the associated portfolio of outstanding loans are in complete disrepair due to efforts from the Biden Administration … But the private student loan industry is a well-functioning consumer credit market.”

House:

House passes End Woke Higher Education Act: On September 19, the House passed H.R. 3274, the “End Woke Higher Education Act,” by a vote of 213-201, which revises the requirements for an accrediting agency to be recognized by the USED as a reliable authority on the quality of higher education. Specifically, an accrediting agency must confirm that its standards do not require, encourage, or coerce an institution to: (1) support, oppose, or commit to supporting or opposing specific partisan, political, or ideological viewpoints or beliefs or specific viewpoints or beliefs on social, cultural, or political issues; or (2) support or commit to supporting the disparate treatment of any individual or group on the basis of any protected class under federal civil rights law. All present Republicans voted in support of the bill, as well as four Democratic Representatives, including Donald Davis (D-NC), Jared Golden (D-ME), Mary Sattler Peltola (D-AK), and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA).

As background, H.R. 3724 was combined with H.R. 7683, the “Respecting the First Amendment on Campus Act,” by the House Rules Committee before coming to the floor. H.R. 7683 amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to make free speech on campus a condition of receiving Title IV funds and ensure students are educated on their First Amendment rights. House Education and the Workforce Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) issued a fact sheet and bill summary when H.R. 7683 was introduced. Additionally, a fact sheet for the combined bill is here.

During the House’s consideration of the bill, Chairwoman Foxx offered her support on the floor, stating, “I support H.R. 3724. Not only does H.R. 3724 aim to protect politically disfavored speech, but all speech.” Conversely, House Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) spoke in opposition, stating that the bill “attempts to circumvent the First Amendment to establish a whole new scheme to regulate speech and association rights on campus outside of established precedents and practices.” Ranking Member Scott asserted in his remarks that the legislation “creates a license for religious student organizations at public institutions to discriminate against LGBTQ+ and other students by allowing these organizations to avoid nondiscrimination requirements that apply to all other student clubs funded by student activity fees.” Ranking Member Scott also issued a fact sheet, calling on his colleagues to vote against the bill. Separately, the Biden Administration released a Statement of Administration Policy stating their opposition to the bill, saying, “H.R. 3724 would micromanage both public and private institutions, undermining their ability to recognize and promote diversity.”

Additionally, the House adopted by voice vote three amendments when the bill came to the floor:

• Amendment No. 1 was offered by Rep. Marcus Molinaro (R-NY) and adds “religion” to the definition of political test in the bill.
• Amendment No. 2 was offered by Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) and expresses the sense of Congress that acts of violence committed on the campus of an institution of higher education are not protected under the First Amendment to the Constitution.
• Amendment No. 3 was also offered by Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) and specifies that the prohibition on discrimination by public universities against religious student organizations based on their leadership standards includes leadership standards regarding religious identity, belief, or practice.

House passes bipartisan legislation to address campus hazing: On September 24, the House unanimously passed by voice vote, H.R. 5646, the “Stop Campus Hazing Act.” The bipartisan legislation was led by Reps. Lucy McBath (D-GA) and Jeff Duncan (R-SC) and requires that institutions report hazing incidents. A fact sheet for the bill states that it also creates a clear and consistent definition for hazing statistics across all postsecondary institutions, and mandates the establishment of research-based campus hazing prevention programs. Following the bill’s passage, House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) and Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) issued statements in support, with Chairwoman Foxx emphasizing the importance of “increased transparency and improved reporting processes at educational institutions across the nation.” Senate HELP Committee Ranking Member Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) have introduced a companion bill in the Senate.

House passes bipartisan legislation requiring notification with respect to individualized education program teams: On September 24, the House unanimously passed by voice vote, H.R. 4259, the “Think Differently about Education Act,” which would require schools or state education agencies to notify parents of children with disabilities that they have a right to bring an advocate or personnel to individualized education program meetings. Representative Marc Molinaro (R-NY), who first introduced the legislation, highlighted the importance of this legislation: “Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, parents have the right to bring a third-party advocate, such as a therapist, lawyer, or knowledgeable family member, to these meetings. However, most parents are not aware of this right.” Rep. Molinaro added, “The Think DIFFERENTLY About Education Act guides and empowers students with disabilities to access the resources they need to get a quality education.”

House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee holds a hearing on innovative teacher preparation models: On September 25, the House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education held a hearing titled, “Innovative Teacher Preparation: Properly Equipping America’s Educators.” The purpose of the hearing was for the Subcommittee to explore potential reforms to the current teacher preparation pipeline, including innovative teacher preparation efforts. Witnesses for the hearing included: Dr. Carole Basile, Dean, Mary Lou Fulton Techers College, Arizona State University; Dr. Melba Spooner, Dean, Reich College of Education, Appalachian State University; Mr. Sharif El-Mekki, CEO, Center for Black Educator Development; and Dr. Greg Mendez, Principal, Skyline High School, Mesa Public Schools.

During the hearing, Subcommittee Members called attention to teacher shortages across the country and identified shortcomings in the current teacher preparation system, as well as sought to hear from witnesses on suggestions to address these challenges. Specifically, Subcommittee Chairman Aaron Bean (R-FL) expressed support for “more affordable, accessible pathways into the classroom,” including alternative certification programs, which he said, “are gaining traction as a more efficient, cost-effective way to get talented individuals into the classroom.” Additionally, witnesses representing Appalachian State University and Arizona State University spoke to their innovative approaches, which center around team-based education models rather than traditional one-teacher, one-classroom model.

In her opening statement, Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) expressed that she is optimistic that the Subcommittee can have, “a meaningful, bipartisan conversation about the importance of growing and supporting a diverse and dynamic educator workforce that meets the complex needs of our country’s students.” However, she emphasized her concerns with any effort aimed at “deprofessionalizing” the job, whether that be by removing certifications or reducing educational requirements. Ranking Member Bonamici also spoke to the need to support Title I schools, strengthen Title II funding, expand teacher loan forgiveness, and fund “Grow Your Own,” programs that support high-need schools and subject areas, as well as improve diversity within the teacher workforce.

House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee holds a hearing on Biden Administration’s rollout of Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): On September 24, the House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development held a hearing titled, “GAO Uncovers Biden-Harris FAFSA Failures.” The hearing follows months-long delays in the rollout and implementation of the 2024-2025 FAFSA form and the recent announcement of a delay in the release of the 2025-2026 FAFSA form. Witnesses at the hearing included: Melissa Emrey-Arras, Director of Education, Workforce, and Income Security Issues at the Government Accountability Office (GAO), and Marisol Cruz Cain, Director of the Information Technology and Cybersecurity Team at the GAO.

During his opening statement, Subcommittee Chairman Burgess Owens (R-UT) explained the background and effort by Congress to streamline the FAFSA completion process through the FAFSA Simplification Act in 2020. Chairman Owens continued, calling attention to the decrease in 2024-2025 FAFSA submissions: “Over 430,000 fewer students submitted a FAFSA last year, leaving them and countless others unsure if they could afford postsecondary education.” Chairman Owens also connected the timeline of the FAFSA challenges with the Biden Administration’s “reallocation of valuable time and resources to push a radical political agenda: the unconstitutional student loan forgiveness scheme.” Ranking Member Frederica Wilson (D-FL) expressed similar sentiments about the delays from the Department, sharing anecdotes from students and families in her district struggling to complete the form, adding, “And most of all, I'm most upset that the delays and ongoing setbacks with FASFA have meant that some of our students have just decided not to go to college at all.”

Throughout the hearing, the witnesses from the GAO drew on their findings from their September 24 report on how the rollout affected students, including an examination on how the USED communicated with both students and institutions during the rollout. Witness Melissa Emrey-Arras stated that the most significant decrease in submissions was among high school seniors and other first-time applicants, a 9% decline in submissions, and added that “declines in submissions were particularly pronounced among lower income students and families.” Witness Marisol Cruz Cain detailed the timelines by which USED’s Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) knew of the technical issues and resultant delays in the FAFSA’s rollout. Specifically, Cruz Cain shared that FSA first realized in August 2022 that the October 2023 FAFSA release date would be missed, though representatives from the USED did not inform the public until March 2023. When asked about FSA’s plans to avoid last year’s FSA rollout challenges, Cruz Cain responded, “We've heard a lot of testimonial evidence about their plans, but haven't received any documentation to back those up.”

House Education and the Workforce Chairwoman issues letter to the USED regarding information on loan servicers: On September 20, House Education and the Workforce Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) sent a letter to the USED regarding previously-issued Congressional subpoenas of five student loan servicers. In August, the Committee issued subpoenas to the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority (MOHELA), Nelnet Servicing, LLC, Maximus dba Aidvantage, Edfinancial Services and Central Research, Inc. to receive documents and communications related to the Department’s plans to finalize the student debt relief rule. The USED then sent a letter to the Committee on September 5, stating that the “loan servicers’ responses to the subpoenas ‘must receive prior approval from the Department’s contracting officer (or his or her designee).” Chairwoman Foxx contends that the Department is obstructing the Committee’s timeline for receiving documents from the loan servicers and urges release of the materials.

Democratic Whip Katherine Clark reintroduces two child care investment bills: On September 25, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA) reintroduced two bills aimed at increasing investments in child care: H.R. 9810, the “Child Care Workforce Development Act,” and H.R. 9811, the “Child Care Infrastructure Act.” Announcing the bills in a press conference, Whip Clark stated, “This pair of bills will build out child care facilities across the country while recruiting talented Americans to pursue careers in early education.” The Child Care Workforce Development Act would authorize the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to administer a student loan repayment program of up to $6,000 annually for five years for early childhood educators working for providers eligible to receive Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) funding, as well as establish a program to provide up to $4,000 annually to eligible individuals pursuing an associate’s degree or a certificate in early childhood education. The Child Care Infrastructure Act would establish a grant program to award grants to states for the purpose of constructing new or renovating existing child care facilities, as well as authorize $10 billion over five years to invest in our nation’s child care infrastructure. Additionally, H.R. 9811 would set aside a minimum of 10% and a maximum of 15% of the authorized funds to award grants of up to $10 million to intermediary organizations, including development financial institutions or other organizations that have demonstrated experience in developing or financing early care and learning facilities.

House Oversight Committee Democrats hold roundtable on the long-term toll of gun violence on schools and youth: On September 23, the House Oversight Committee Democrats held a roundtable titled, “The Real Facts of Life: The Long-Term Effects of Gun Violence on Young People, Schools and their Communities, Part II.” Committee Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (D-MD) opened the roundtable, stating, “So far in 2024, there have been nearly 400 mass shootings across the country.” The roundtable featured a discussion with three public school principals whose schools experienced gun violence. Ranking Member Raskin went on to emphasize the specific impact of shootings in schools, saying, “The continued attacks on our elementary and middle and high schools spread terror throughout our communities and are fundamentally changing the character of childhood in America.” Additionally, Ranking Member Raskin said, “Anyone who thinks a school community can suffer a mass AR-15 attack on Friday can dust themselves off over the weekend and be back in action on Monday is about to get an education into the real facts of life from American communities still reeling from gun violence years later.”

Upcoming Events (Congress & Administration):

• On October 9 from 12:30 to 5:00 p.m. and October 10 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., the National Board for Education Sciences (NCES) will hold a hybrid meeting. The meeting will include presentations from the Acting Director of Institute for Education Sciences (IES), each of the IES Centers, and the IES Office of Science, as well as a discussion among board members of IES' ongoing work and theory of change. Additionally, Board members will discuss Congressional legislation impacting IES and hear from IES Staff and contractors who work on the National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance (NCEE) Regional Educational Laboratories program (RELs). More information on how members of the public can access the meeting is here.

Upcoming Events (Outside Organizations):

• On September 30 at 2:00 p.m., the Hunt Institute will host a webinar titled, “Early Educator Registered Apprenticeships: Learning from State-Based and National Leaders.” The webinar will draw on learnings from the U.S. Department of Labor's Registered Apprenticeship (RA) earn-and-learn training model, which has been proven to create pathways to expanded career options and increased earning capacity. Participants will hear from Early Childhood Educator Apprenticeship leaders across the country and the field-building efforts of Early Childhood Education Pathways To Success (ECEPTS), a national Apprenticeship Intermediary for the ECE profession. More information and registration are here.
• On October 1 at 1:00 p.m., New America will host a webinar titled, “AI Education at Community Colleges: The State of Play and Policy Needs.” Experts and community college practitioners will explore the state of play of AI education and workforce development at community colleges, including how and why employers are investing in AI education at community colleges. Presenters will discuss what students in community college AI programs need to succeed in school and work, and how federal and state policies can ensure access and quality of AI programs. Speakers include: Antonio Delgado, Vice President for Technology Partnerships at Miami Dade College and Fellow for the Future of Work & Innovation Economy at New America; Anshul Sonak, Global Director for Digital Readiness Program and Strategy at Intel; and Joshua Sinnott, First graduate of Associate's degree in AI & Machine Learning program of Chandler-Gilbert Community College and Sales Director at Visalaw.ai, among others. More information and registration are here.
• On October 9 at 3:00 p.m., the National Association of State Boards of Education will host a webinar titled, “State Planning to Harness Emerging Education Technology.” The webinar will explore education technology and the emerging challenges and opportunities it presents to policymakers, emphasizing the need for state leaders to develop broad technology plans that address key goals in education rather than dialing in on a particular technology. State leaders from Kentucky and New York will share insights on how their states are developing more comprehensive technology plans to balance the benefits of rapidly advancing technologies with the need to mitigate associated risks, while also ensuring access, quality design, and effective usage. Additionally, Julia Fallon, Executive Director of SETDA and a key contributor to the U.S. Department of Education’s 2023 National Education Technology Plan, will discuss the plan's key elements and its implications for state boards and policymaking. Other speakers include: Lu Young, Kentucky State Board Member; Melanie Haas, Kansas State Board Member and NASBE EdTech Advisory Group Co-chair; and Adrian Hale, New York State Regent and NASBE EdTech Advisory Group Co-chair. More information and registration are here.

Publications (Congress & Administration):

• On September 10, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) published a report titled, “Nationally, Black Girls Receive More Frequent and More Severe Discipline in School Than Other Girls.” The report analyzed discipline disparities among girls in public schools, and results found that Black girls receive harsher punishments than White girls, including for similar infractions. The GAO identified causes of the punishments, noting biases such as the adultification of and colorism towards Black girls. The results also found that compared to other groups of girls, Black girls reported feeling less safe and less accepted at their schools.
• On September 17, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) released a report titled, “Parent and Family Involvement in Education: 2023.” The report analyzed National Household Education Survey (NHES) data that presents findings from the Parent and Family Involvement in Education Survey of the National Household Education Surveys Program of 2023. The results showed that 79% of parents who reported students having homework outside of school believed that the amount was “about right.” The survey also asked questions of parents who homeschool their children; the most frequent reason parents gave for homeschooling their children was concern about the environment of other schools. Results also found that in the 2022-2023 school year, 93% of students took no virtual courses, and 7% of enrolled or homeschooled students took at least one virtual course.
• On September 19, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) released a report titled, “Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS:20/22): Persistence and Attainment of 2019–20 First-Time Postsecondary Students After 3 Years.” The report analyzed the outcomes of first-time beginning students (FTBs) who entered postsecondary education for the first time during the 2019–2020 academic year. The analysis found that 7% attained an associate’s degree, 5% attained a certificate, and 1% had completed a bachelor’s degree within 3 years. Over 70% of students reported that some or all their classes were delivered entirely online because of the COVID-19 pandemic and that they experienced increased stress or anxiety due to the pandemic.
• On September 24, the GAO published a report titled, “FAFSA: Education Needs to Improve Communications and Support Around the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.” The report analyzed the causes for the shortcomings of last year's rollout of the simplified Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. The GAO found that technical issues led to decline in lower-income students submitting the form, as well as the creation of new additional barriers such as an insufficient process for students whose parents or spouses lacked a Social Security number to verify their identity. The report also found that three-quarters of calls to the USED call center were unanswered during the first 5 months of the rollout because of understaffing.
• On September 24, the GAO published a report titled, “Preliminary Results Show Strong Leadership Needed to Address Serious Student Aid System Weaknesses.” The report discussed the unresolved issues found by GAO in the FAFSA Processing System (FPS), which it attributes to the USED’s Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) not ensuring disciplined systems acquisition practices were applied. The GAO makes several recommendations to the USED, including developing policies for independent acquisition reviews, making sure USED adheres to agency policies managing requirements and testing, and hiring permanent departmental Chief Information Officer (CIO), noting that USED’s lack of consistent leadership contributed to the difficulties encountered with the FPS acquisition.

Publications (Outside Organizations):

• On September 19, RAND published a report titled, “How School Districts Prepare and Develop School Principals.” The article highlights that about 76% of large districts report having at least one specific activity designed to prepare educators to become principal, adding that the main pathway to becoming a principal in a large or medium school district is through the role of an assistant principal. In smaller districts, principals tend to start from school leadership outside of that district. The article also highlights that large districts were more likely than small districts to have codified leader standards for principals that describe what knowledge is needed, as well as expectations for their roles.
• On September 24, The Century Foundation published a report titled, "Child Care Funding Cliff at One Year: Rising Prices, Shrinking Options, and Families Squeezed." The report analyzed how five states - Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin - are handling the child care stabilization cliff. The analysis found that in all five states, child care prices have increased; Wisconsin experienced the smallest increase (6% since 2019), and New York experienced the highest increase (46% since 2019). The analysis also showed that in each state, there are fewer early child care educators than before the pandemic, and each state is experiencing program closures.

Legislation:

Introduced in the House of Representatives:

H.R. 9607

A bill to promote a 21st century artificial intelligence workforce and to authorize the Secretary of Education to carry out a program to increase access to prekindergarten through grade 12 emerging and advanced technology education and upskill workers in the technology of the future.
Sponsor: Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA)

H.R. 9621

A bill to award career pathways innovation grants to local educational agencies and consortia of local educational agencies, to provide technical assistance within the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education to administer the grants and support the local educational agencies with the preparation of grant applications and management of grant funds, to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to support community college and industry partnerships, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN)

H.R. 9635

A bill to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to authorize a grant program to support students who have epilepsy or a seizure disorder.
Sponsor: Rep. Donald Norcross (D-NJ)

H.R. 9656

A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to ensure area career and technical education schools are eligible for mental health and substance use disorder service grants.
Sponsor: Rep. Nicholas Langworthy (R-NY)

H.R. 9669

A bill to provide for the basic needs of students at institutions of higher education.
Sponsor: Rep. Norma Torres (D-CA)

H.R. 9673

A bill to direct the Secretary of Commerce to develop a national strategy regarding artificial intelligence consumer literacy and conduct a national artificial intelligence consumer literacy campaign.
Sponsor: Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE)

H.R. 9684

A bill to establish a grant program to facilitate peer-to-peer mental health support programs for secondary school students, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Donald Beyer (D-VA)

H.R. 9688

A bill to amend titles XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act to provide for continuous eligibility for certain children under the Medicaid program and the Children's Health Insurance Program.
Sponsor: Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL)

H.R. 9733

A bill to establish the School Bus Driver Shortage Task Force to address the nationwide school bus driver shortage, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Morgan McGarvey (D-KY)

H.R. 9737

A bill to improve the tracking and processing of security and safety incidents and risks associated with artificial intelligence, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Deborah Ross (D-NC)

H.R. 9739

A bill to amend the National Apprenticeship Act in order to increase and expand the national apprenticeship system to include the immediate recruitment, employment, and on-the-job earn as you learn training of young African Americans, and to promote the development of equitable hiring standards necessary to safeguard the diversity of apprentices, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. David Scott (D-GA)

H.R. 9746

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to allow borrowers of Parent PLUS loans or loans under section 428B made on behalf of a dependent student to repay such loans pursuant to an income-contingent repayment plan or income-based repayment plan, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Maxine Water (D-CA)

H.R. 9753

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide relief for borrowers of Federal Direct PLUS loans made on behalf of students.
Sponsor: Rep. Alma Adams (D-NC)

H.R. 9754

A bill to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to require maintenance of State funds for school resource officers in elementary schools and secondary schools, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Jack Bergman (R-MI)

H.R. 9793

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prohibit institutions of higher education from receiving gifts from certain countries, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY)

H.R. 9810

A bill to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out an early childhood educator loan assistance program, and for other purposes
Sponsor: Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA)

H.R. 9811

A bill to provide assistance with respect to childcare infrastructure.
Sponsor: Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA)

H.R. 9824

A bill to direct the Secretary of Education to carry out a grant program for skills-for-success courses for all first-year students enrolled at certain institutions of higher education.
Sponsor: Rep. Valerie Foushee (D-NC)

H.R. 9825

A bill to amend the Head Start Act to include TANF, SSI, SNAP, WIC, and federal housing assistance as eligible public assistance.
Sponsor: Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA)

H.R. 9829

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish a community service technical assistance reservation and to increase the percentage of funds used for compensation of students participating in Federal work-study programs who are employed in community service, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-CT)

H.R. 9847

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to increase the knowledge and skills of principals and school leaders regarding early childhood education.
Sponsor: Rep. Brittany Pettersen (D-CO)

H.R. 9853

A bill to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to support the creation and implementation of State policies, as well as the expansion of existing State policies, for improving the quality and affordability of charter school facilities, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Michelle Steel (R-CA)

H.R. 9854

A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of monthly housing stipend received by parents pursuing a program of education through distance learning using Post-9/11 Educational Assistance, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Michelle Steel (R-CA)

H.R. 9857

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require institutions of higher education, as a condition of participation in programs under title IV of such Act, to establish a policy to award posthumous degrees to certain deceased students, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-NY)

H.Res. 1453

A resolution expressing support for the designation of September 2024 as "National Workforce Development Month."
Sponsor: Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR)

H.Res. 1466

A resolution expressing support for designation of the week of September 15 through 21, 2024, as "National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week."
Sponsor: Rep. Lucy McBath (D-GA)

H.Res. 1467

A resolution expressing support for the recognition of October 2024 as "National Dyslexia Awareness Month."
Sponsor: Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR)

H.Res. 1481

A resolution expressing support for the recognition of September 2024 as "National Children's Emotional Wellness Month" and for increased public awareness regarding children's emotional health and wellness.
Sponsor: Rep. Young Kim (R-CA)

H.Res. 1484

A resolution recognizing the importance of evidence-based parenting and caregiving education in elementary and secondary schools.
Sponsor: Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-IL)

H.Res. 1487

A resolution expressing support for the recognition of September 23, 2024, to September 29, 2024, as "Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Week."

Sponsor: Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA)

H.Res. 1497

A resolution expressing support for the designation of the week of September 23 through September 27, 2024, as "National Hazing Awareness Week".
Sponsor: Rep. Lucy McBath (D-GA)

H.Res. 1499

A resolution expressing concern about the spreading problem of book banning and the proliferation of threats to freedom of expression in the United States.
Sponsor: Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD)

H.Res. 1503

A resolution expressing support for the designation of October 2024 as "National Youth Justice Action Month."
Sponsor: Rep. Tony Cardenas (D-CA)

Introduced in the Senate:

S. 5061

A bill to award career pathways innovation grants to local educational agencies and consortia of local educational agencies, to provide technical assistance within the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education to administer the grants and support the local educational agencies with the preparation of grant applications and management of grant funds, to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to support community college and industry partnerships, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN)

S. 5086

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require institutions of higher education to have an independent advocate for campus sexual assault prevention and response.
Sponsor: Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA)

S. 5091

A bill to provide for the basic needs of students at institutions of higher education.
Sponsor: Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA)

S. 5108

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide relief for borrowers of Federal Direct PLUS loans made on behalf of students.
Sponsor: Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)

S. 5138

A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to modify the criteria for approval of certain independent study programs for purposes of the educational assistance programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sponsor: Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC)

S. 5146

A bill to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to schools of medicine or osteopathic medicine at historically Black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions for the purpose of increasing enrollment of medical students.
Sponsor: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT)

S. 5161

A bill to amend title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance on the ground of religion, to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for rigorous enforcement of prohibitions against discrimination by institutions of higher education on the basis of antisemitism, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL)

S. 5162

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to support college students to meet satisfactory academic progress.
Sponsor: Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ)

S. 5185

A bill to establish a grant program to support qualified community colleges, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA)

S. 5191

A bill to award grants to States to support efforts at institutions of higher education to increase degree attainment, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA)

S. 5197

A bill to establish a rule of construction regarding consent for disclosure of personally identifiable information under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974.
Sponsor: Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT)

S. 5222

A bill to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to implement a pandemic preparedness and response program using artificial intelligence.
Sponsor: Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD)

S. 5240

A bill to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to enhance direct certification under the school lunch program.
Sponsor: Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA)

S. 5246

A bill to amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to expand the capacity of junior or community colleges and area career and technical education schools to conduct training services, education, and outreach activities for careers in the residential construction industry.
Sponsor: Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

S. 5254

A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to enhance the employer-provided child care credit.
Sponsor: Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO)

S. 5256

A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to enhance the child tax credit, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT)

S. 5261

A bill to authorize the Secretary of Education to provide grants to local educational agencies to cover the costs of challenges to determinations not to discontinue the use of specific instructional materials, or the availability of specific school library materials, in public elementary and secondary schools, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ)

S.Res. 821

A resolution expressing support for designation of the week of September 15 through 21, 2024, as "National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week".
Sponsor: Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI)

S.Res. 839

A resolution designating September 2024 as "National Student Parent Month".
Sponsor: Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS)

S.Res. 849

A resolution calling on Congress, schools, and State and local educational agencies to recognize the significant educational implications of dyslexia that must be addressed, and designating October 2024 as "National Dyslexia Awareness Month".
Sponsor: Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA)

S.Res. 852

A resolution designating October 20, 2024, as "National Early Childhood Literacy Awareness Day".
Sponsor: Sen. Joe Manchin (I-WV)

S.Res. 860

A resolution designating the week of October 6, 2024, through October 12, 2024, as "Religious Education Week" to celebrate religious education in the United States.
Sponsor: Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC)