Last week in Washington, lawmakers in both chambers returned to a relatively light September legislative agenda. Lawmakers’ primary focus in the next week or so will include negotiating and passing a stopgap “omnibus” spending bill to avoid a government shutdown after current funding expires on September 30. Members of Congress may also try to insert other provisions into the bill, including aid for Ukraine and COVID-related aid. ACTE will continue to monitor the budget process for fiscal year (FY) 2023 as work continues on those appropriations bills. As we await further CTE-related news, here are some news and notes:
- ACTE Region V Vice President Shani Watkins Testifies Before House Small Business Committee: On September 15, the House Committee on Small Business, Subcommittee on Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Workforce Development, held a hearing titled, “Back to School, Back to Startups: Supporting Youth Apprenticeship, Entrepreneurship, and Workforce Development,” featuring ACTE Region V Vice President Shani Watkins. During her testimony, Watkins described the CTE programs offered at her school and her varied business partnerships, including how those partnerships provide students with access to paid work-based learning experiences and connections to apprenticeships and future careers. Read more about the hearing here.
- Department of Education Awards Funding to Support and Develop the Educator Workforce: The Department of Education has announced new grant awards to help recruit, prepare, develop and retain a strong, effective and diverse teacher workforce through the Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP) grant program. This year’s investment includes 22 new five-year grants totaling $24.8 million. The TQP program funds teacher preparation programs in high-need communities at colleges and universities for the undergraduate and “fifth-year” level, and for teaching residency programs for individuals new to teaching with strong academic and professional backgrounds. Learn more about the grants here.
- White House Issues Executive Order on Biotechnology Workforce: President Biden has issued an executive order to expand training and education opportunities in biotechnology and biomanufacturing. Within 200 days, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Education and other relevant agencies shall produce and make publicly available a plan to coordinate and use relevant education and training programs, such as opportunities at technical schools and certificate programs, CTE, and expanded career pathways into existing degree programs for biotechnology and biomanufacturing. Read the full Executive Order here.
- Sen. Luján (D-NM), Reps. Leger Fernández (D-NM) and Jahana Hayes (D-CT) Introduce Legislation to Expand Federal Loan Forgiveness for Educators: Sen. Ben Ray Luján and Reps. Teresa Leger Fernández and Jahana Hayes have introduced the Loan Forgiveness for Educators Act of 2022 to expand the federal Teacher Loan Forgiveness (TLF) program. The Loan Forgiveness for Educators Act of 2022 updates the TLF program by expanding the most robust benefits to all teachers and leaders working in high-need schools, including CTE teachers. It also enhances benefits and allows service under this program to concurrently count toward the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Read more about the bill here.
- House Education and Labor Chairman Introduces College Affordability Legislation: The LOAN Act would lower the cost of college for current and future student borrowers and their families. The legislation doubles the federal Pell Grant by increasing the max award over 5 years to $13,000, building on the $1,775 increase to the maximum award as proposed in President Biden’s budget; improves the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program by shortening the time to forgiveness and broadly codifying the current PSLF waiver; makes loans less expensive by expanding access to subsidized loans, limiting capitalization of interest including after forbearance and deferment, and creating a safety net for vulnerable borrowers; and lowers interest rates by ensuring that no new loan will have an interest rate higher than 5 percent and allowing both federal and private borrowers to take advantage of these lower rates. Read more about the bill here.
- Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) Shares Thoughts on Higher Education: House Education and Labor Committee Ranking Member Rep. Virginia Foxx shared her thoughts on higher education legislation and the Republican’s Higher Education Act proposal in a recent speech at the American Enterprise Institute. She mentioned an alternate proposal to the JOBS Act and expanding Pell Grants to short-term postsecondary programs, offering “We must change our mentality and recognize there are many paths to the American Dream. The REAL Reforms Act takes the first step towards doing just that. It opens up opportunities to the middle class beyond the traditional college model by expanding the Pell Grant to career-focused credentials offered at a fraction of the cost of that model.”
- Department of Education Names 2022 National Blue Ribbon Schools: Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona has recognized 297 schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2022. The recognition is based on a school's overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. View the full list here.
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