This week was a busy period in Washington as both chambers of Congress were in session for the first time following the August recess. Efforts were primarily focused on the appropriations process ahead of the deadline to enact funding bills or pass a continuing resolution before the end of the fiscal year on September 30, although both the House and Senate ran into issues moving forward. Many experts are now increasing the odds of a government shutdown. Meanwhile, the House and the Senate continued their efforts to advance their respective spending bills in policy areas of transportation, agriculture and national defense. Read more news and notes below:
- Department of Education Celebrates Completion of Nationwide Unlocking Pathways Summit Series: ED and the Biden-Harris Administration have announced the completion of the nationwide Unlocking Pathways Summit series, concluding with one final stop in Biloxi, Mississippi. This series was a part of the Raise the Bar: Unlocking Career Success initiative, aimed at reimagining the high school experience to help learners thrive in future careers by earning postsecondary degrees and industry credentials to meet economic demands and employer needs. The initiative was a joint effort across ED, DOL, DOC, public and private sector leaders and multiple community-based organizations that was split into four parts across four different states. ACTE leaders attended each event to ensure the CTE voice was included.
- Department of Education Announces New Actions to Build on Work to Accelerate Learning and Improve Student Achievement: ED and the Biden-Harris Administration have announced a list of additional actions to improve classroom instruction and accelerate academic success across the nation for the start of the new school year as a part of the Department’s Raise the Bar: Lead the World Effort. The Department announced actions that include increased state funding to improve student outcomes, expanded school capacity to build a diverse educator workforce and strategic initiatives to provide student supports for mental health needs and combat absenteeism.
- Department of Labor Awards $44 Million to Support Job Training Services for Workers in Multiple Regions: The Department of Labor has announced more than $44 million in awards for the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Delta Regional Authority and the Northern Border Regional Commission to help workers in across these regions secure good jobs in high-demand industries through career training and supportive services. The funding comes as a result of the Department’s efforts to advance economic mobility and address historic inequities for marginalized communities of color, rural areas and other underserved and underrepresented communities in these areas.
- Chairman Owens to Hold Hearing on Strengthening the Workforce Development System: The Committee on Education and thehe Workforce’s Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development will hold a hearing titled “Strengthening WIOA: Improving Outcomes for Jobseekers, Employers, and Taxpayers” on Wednesday, September 20 at 10:15 a.m. EST. The hearing will aim to dissect the job market, analyze the WIOA system and highlight current practices that are working to create a system that matches the needs of a modern economy.
- IES Announces the Extending the Reach of the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Research Network: The Institute for Education Science (IES) has announced the establishment of a second research network focusing on CTE. The new network will be named the “Extending the Reach of the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Research Network” and will carry out scientifically based research and evaluation to develop, improve and identify successful methods for addressing education and employment training needs of CTE participants in CTE programs. ACTE is a partner in this network and will be focused on disseminating research from the project.
- Applications for New Awards; Education Research Grant Programs: This week, ED and the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) issued a notice calling for research grant applications for research teams to participate in research networks focused on critical problems of education policy and practice, including CTE. Interested parties have until January 11, 2024, to submit an application and be considered for funding opportunities.
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