It was a very quiet week in Washington as most of the focus of policymakers was on the upcoming election – don’t forget to vote! However, federal agencies did continue to work on a number of projects. The Department of Education continued to work on this year’s FAFSA rollout and Title IX legal battles. Meanwhile, the Department of Labor is promoting resources for National Apprenticeship Week. Congress is still on recess, which means you still have time to connect with your policymakers locally before they return to DC in less than two weeks!
- Election Resources: Are you #VoteReady? Next week, you will have the opportunity to have your say in who represents your community at the local, state and federal levels. Check out the CTE Policy Watch Blog for information on what’s on the ballot this November.
- National Apprenticeship Week Resources: The Department of Labor shared additional information and resources to prepare for the 10th annual National Apprenticeship Week (November 17-23). These resources can help you host events, submit proclamations and promote Registered Apprenticeship in your in-person and digital communities.
- Department of Labor Announces Registered Apprenticeship Academy Webinar: The Registered Apprenticeship Academy will hold a webinar on November 20, “Expanding Recruitment to Underserved Communities,” designed for Registered Apprenticeship program sponsors and employer partners to explore strategies for expanding outreach and recruitment to underserved populations.
- Office of Educational Technology Publishes AI Toolkit: The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Educational Technology recently published a toolkit titled “Empowering Education Leaders: A Toolkit for Safe, Equitable, and Ethical AI Integration.” It contains guidance for education leader and numerous resources on potential AI policies.
- Executive Order Grants Nearly $19 Million to Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs): An Executive Order established the first White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity through Hispanic-Serving Institutions. As part of this initiative, President Biden announced financial awards to be distributed to several HSIs, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), including select technical schools and community colleges.
- Title IX Legal Battles Continue: In August, the Department of Education released new Title IX regulations, which faced backlash and were prohibited from taking effect in many schools across the country. Most recently, the case of Tennessee v. Cardona began arguments to determine whether the Department of Education has authority to enforce the regulations.
- FAFSA Testing Update: In an interview with CNBC, the Department of Education shared that the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) rollout is on track as testing continues through October. The official form is scheduled to be made available on December 1. For more information on FAFSA, see the blog.