Last week was National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week week, and many organizations and the Department of Education (ED) celebrated the week with different activities. On the Hill last week, the House passed a bill on Tuesday to fund the government through December 11. Funding for the government runs out at the end of the fiscal year on September 30, so the Senate will need to pass the bill and have it signed into law by the President before then to avoid a government shutdown. Here are some other happenings from last week:
- Rethink Adult Ed Challenge: As a part of National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week, ED announced the Rethink Adult Ed Challenge to expand career opportunities for adult learners through pre-apprenticeship programs. Community colleges, correctional facilities, community-based organizations and other eligible providers are able to compete in this challenge with the prize funds totaling $750,000 to help create innovative and high-quality pre-apprenticeship programs in industries. The submission deadline for Stage 1 is November 25 by 11:59 p.m. ET.
- Webinar on Reopening Schools: ED hosted a webinar on Wednesday with a panel of five educators from public and private schools to discuss innovative ways schools were exploring to reach all students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read an overview and find a link to the recording here.
- Proposed Priorities for Innovation and Modernization Grants: ED published a proposal in the Federal Register for revised priorities, requirements, definitions and selection criteria for the next round of Perkins Innovation and Modernization Grants. The Assistant Secretary can use these for competitions to identify projects that will incorporate evidence-based and innovative strategies to improve CTE in future rounds of the grant competition.
- 2020 National Blue Ribbon Schools Announced: ED announced the 2020 National Blue Ribbon Schools. This year, 367 schools were recognized based on their “overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups.” The awards ceremony will be held virtually on November 12 and 13.
- CEF Research Briefing: On Wednesday, The Committee for Education Funding (CEF) hosted a research briefing entitled, “How Money Matters in Education.” The panelists discussed recent research that suggests that if money is invested wisely into the education system, it leads to improved student learning and more equitable outcomes. Further, they used these findings to make the case that federal policymakers need to more adequately invest into our education system. To watch the recording, click here.
- ED Announces Winners of Reimagine Workforce Preparation Grants: On September 25, the Department of Education’s Office of Career Technical and Adult Education announced the winners of its recent grant competition under the Education Stabilization Fund of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Eight states, including Alabama, Arkansas, California, Hawaii, Michigan, Nevada, New York, and Hampton University in partnership with the Commonwealth of Virginia, were awarded a total of $126 million to expand educational opportunities through short-term, career pathways or sector-based education and training programs, and to support local entrepreneurship through business incubators.
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