Both the House and the Senate were in session last week, and it was a busy week in Washington! Activity in Congress included more confirmation hearings for political appointees and a shift toward moving forward on a variety of other issues now that the COVID-19 relief bill has been signed into law. The Department of Education is working quickly to allocate funds under that relief bill, the American Rescue Plan Act, and has announced funding allocations for states under the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund. These funds should be distributed to states this month. Here are some other CTE-related happenings from DC last week:
- New CDC Guidance for Spacing Students in Schools: The CDC announced that K-12 schools can now space students three feet apart if masks are worn, rather than six feet apart that was previously suggested. This new development could allow schools to reopen for in-person learning for more students.
- Additional Funding for School COVID-19 Testing: The Biden Administration announced Wednesday that $10 billion of the American Rescue Plan would be used for COVID-19 testing in schools. The CDC will also provide technical assistance to state and local health departments to help with creation of school testing programs if these programs are not already available.
- Winners of 2020 Catalyzing CTE Through Pay for Success Competition Announced: The Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education announced the two winners of the 2020 Catalyzing CTE Through Pay for Success Competition. This competition was created to explore opportunities for expanding high-quality CTE programming to underserved communities. The award recipients, the School District of Palm Beach County, Florida, and ESC R-19 in El Paso, Texas, and their project partners will explore how the Pay for Success model could help build CTE pathways in their respective regions.
- New Department of Labor Grants: The Department of Labor announced new Young Adult Reentry Partnership grants. Six organizations will be awarded $25 million with the goal of providing education and employment training to young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 who left high school before graduation or to those who are or were incarcerated. These funds will support partnerships with community colleges, the criminal justice system, employers, employer associations, unions providing training or labor-management partnerships. Applications are due April 26, 2021.
- Apprenticeship Expansion Grants Available: The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) also announced approximately $87.5 million for grants to states to expand Registered Apprenticeships. State Apprenticeship Expansion, Equity and Innovation (SAEEI) Grants will be awarded in amounts ranging from $2 million to $10 million based on state-specific capacity and needs. Of the total grant funding, up to $40 million will be awarded to states that prioritize an expansion of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Applications are due April 26, 2021.
- House Hearing on Future of Higher Education: On March 17, the House Education and Labor Committee’s Higher Education and Workforce Investment Subcommittee held a hearing on, “Rising to the Challenge: The Future of Higher Education Post COVID-19.” Witnesses discussed a wide range of issues related to the impact of the pandemic on postsecondary education, including how to address enrollment challenges and support the most vulnerable students.
- JOBS Act Reintroduced in House and Senate: The Jumpstart Our Businesses by Supporting Students Act of 2021, or the JOBS Act, was reintroduced in the House and Senate last week by Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Rob Portman (R-OH), and Representatives Andy Levin (D-MI) and Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH). This bill would expand federal Pell Grant eligibility to high-quality, short-term job training programs, and is a top priority of ACTE. Read more on our full blog.
- College Transparency Act Reintroduced: The College Transparency Act, another of ACTE’s priorities for inclusion in the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, was reintroduced in the House and Senate as well. This bill would create a student-level data network to provide students, colleges, employers, policy leaders and the public with more complete information about which programs are helping students to earn credentials and get good jobs. Last Congress, the Act was supported by 235 bipartisan members of the House, and earned support from over 200 organizations, including ACTE.
Comments