Following the President signing into law the final appropriations packages of Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 on March 23, Congress began a two-week recess. Both the House and Senate will return to session the second week of April. When they come back, work will begin on FY 2025 appropriations and other high-priority legislation. Recess is a great time for Members of Congress to visit CTE programs in their districts, which we’re already starting to see. Keep reading for more updates!
- President Signs FY 2024 Appropriations Act into Law: On Saturday, March 23, the President signed into law the final appropriations package for FY 2024, funding the government through the rest of the FY. This includes the Labor-HHS-Education bill. More information regarding the bill can be found on the CTE Policy Watch Blog. Congress now looks toward FY 2025 appropriations, which are supposed to be completed by September 30, but are already behind schedule.
- FAFSA FAQs Updated: In response to a myriad of challenges related to the launch of the “Better FAFSA,” the Department of Education has consolidated resources and posted updated FAQs.
- Department of Education Delays Required Reporting Under Gainful Employment Rule: On Friday, Department leaders announced they were delaying reporting requirements under the gainful employment and financial value transparency rule from July 31 to Oct. 1, and issued a “Dear Colleague” letter with more details on required reporting.
- Secretary Cardona Discusses Importance of Latino Engagement in Career Pathways and Apprenticeship Programs: Secretary Cardona traveled to Pennsylvania to tour various career and technical education (CTE) and apprenticeship programs and discussed the need for increased career pathways, specifically in regard to their positive impact on the Latino community.
- Department of Education Announces Cybersecurity Collaborative: On March 28, the Department announced the launch of the Government Coordinating Council for the Education Facilities Subsector to bring together government and technology resources and leaders to protect schools from cyber threats.
- USDA Investments in Education and Workforce Development Programs: USDA has announced a $49,500,000 investment in the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative’s Education and Workforce Development Program, looking to strengthen professional development for K-14 education professionals and education that cultivates youth food and agricultural interest.
- House Ed and Workforce Committee Advances Four Bills Pertaining to Higher Ed: The House Committee on Education and the Workforce recently approved four bills to address various issues in higher education and the workforce. The majority and minority parties both released comments on the legislation.
- Mark Schneider Bids Farewell to Institute of Education Sciences following CTE Research Network Meeting: Mark Schneider, Director of the Institute of Education Services, will be concluding his five-year term shortly. In his farewell blog post, Schneider remarks on the accomplishments of the Institute in supporting CTE, highlighted by the recent CTE Research Network convening held in conjunction with ACTE’s National Policy Seminar.
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