Last week in Washington, lawmakers departed for the annual August congressional recess, but the House briefly returned on Friday, August 12, to pass the Inflation Reduction Act, which contains primarily health care and climate change provisions. After House passage of the bill, both chambers will remain in recess until after the Labor Day holiday. Many Members of Congress will be holding constituent events during the next few weeks, check out this blog post to learn more about capitalizing on those opportunities! In the meantime, here are some news and notes:
- August Recess Legislative Wrap-Up: There was a flurry of activity as Congress prepared to adjourn for it the annual August congressional recess. Read more about key federal legislation from the last several weeks here.
- Department of Education Announces College Completion Grants: The Department of Education has announced $5 million in grant funds to support a new College Completion Fund for Postsecondary Student Success. The funding will support grants to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) and Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) to encourage postsecondary retention, transfer and completion. Read more about the grants here.
- Department of Education Hosts Raise the B.A.R. Summit: On August 11, the Department of Education held the “Raise the B.A.R.: Bold + Action + Results in College Excellence & Equity Summit.” The event featured higher education leaders from colleges, systems and organizations across the country. CTE was briefly mentioned as a solution to the national educator shortage – Secretary Miguel Cardona noted Tennessee’s Grow-Your-Own teacher apprenticeship model as an example of an effective solution.
- CDC Releases Updated COVID-19 Recommendations for Schools: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released updated guidance for schools to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic as the 2022-23 school year arrives. Read the full guidance here.
- Members of Congress Introduce Student Apprenticeship Act of 2022: Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) introduced H.R. 8567 and S. 4658, respectively, legislation that would establish and support postsecondary student apprenticeship programs.
- Tina Smith (D-MN) Introduces Addressing Teacher Shortages Act of 2022: Sen. Smith introduced S. 4694, legislation that would establish an “Addressing Teacher Shortages Program,” through which the Secretary of Education shall award competitive grants to support teacher recruitment and retention efforts and schools in underserved communities. Read the full text of the bill here.
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