Here’s the latest from CEF. If anyone is following, supporting etc. any of the bills below, I encourage you to share with the list. Jeff > Begin forwarded message: > > From: Joel Packer <jpacker@cef.org> > To: Joel Packer <jpacker@cef.org> > Subject: Monday Update > Date: February 23, 2015 at 6:31:18 PM EST > > > > CEF New Member Reception: CEF members are encouraged to attend our New Member Reception this week on Thursday, February 26, 6:00 – 7:30 PM in Room HVC 201, Capitol Visitor Center. Click here to see the invitation <https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B19p6j32JwToclFWeHlKeFNCVk0/view?usp=sharing> that was sent to all House and Senate new members of Congress. PLEASE RSVP <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1eu6QEUoscs8KJxzR1RvTPwnuB1d-8SljwMk67W6oYw8/viewform?usp=send_form>.Please also reach out to any freshman offices you have a relationship with and encourage them to attend. We invited the Representative/Senator along with their Chief of Staff, Legislative Director and the LAs for education, budget and appropriations. Thanks to the Speaker’s office for reserving the room for us. > > FY 16 Education Budget: The House Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Subcommittee has officially announced its hearing on the FY 16 Education Budget with Secretary Duncan: > Budget Hearing - Department of Education > Wednesday, March 4, 2015 10:00 AM in 2358-C Rayburn > Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies > > ESEA: It’s a busy week in the House! > Amendments: This afternoon was the deadline for filing amendments to HR 5, and 125 were filed <http://rules.house.gov/bill/114/hr-5>! Several of them concern funding levels such as: > > # > > Version # > > Sponsor(s) > > Party > > Summary > > 16 > > Version 1 > > Castor (FL) <http://www.rules.house.gov/amendments/HR5CASTOR22315113005305.pdf> > Democrat > > Increase funding for the Magnet Schools Assistance program to pre-sequester levels of $100 million by reappropriating $8,353,000 from the Charter School Grants program > > 17 > > Version 1 > > Fudge (OH) <http://www.rules.house.gov/amendments/FUDGE006222151120402040.pdf>, Sewell (AL), Fattah (PA) > Democrat > > Provides transparency in the use of taxpayer dollars by requiring states to disclose both the reduction and increase in Title I funds for all LEA's as a result of portability. > > 18 > > Version 1 > > Fudge (OH) <http://www.rules.house.gov/amendments/FUDGE009222151135363536.pdf> > Democrat > > Ensures Title I dollars are used for students with the most need by requiring LEA's have at least a 40% poverty rate to use Title I dollars for school wide programs. > > 19 > > Version 1 > > Fudge (OH) <http://www.rules.house.gov/amendments/FUDGE007222151159265926.pdf> > Democrat > > Requires mandatory funding for Title I, IDEA, and pre-school education programs. > > 22 > > Version 1 > > Adams (NC) <http://www.rules.house.gov/amendments/ADAMNC_009_xml223151127292729.pdf>, Davis, Danny K. (IL) > Democrat > > Requires states to demonstrate how they will not reduce funding or quality of programming at the most disadvantaged schools prior to implementing the portability provisions included in the Student Success Act. > > 24 > > Version 1 > > Meng (NY) <http://www.rules.house.gov/amendments/MENG_014_xml223151249514951.pdf> > Democrat > > Authorizes- but does not appropriate funds – for the Secretary of Education to provide grants for: early-childhood education scholarships, professional development and licensing credentials, or increased compensation for educators who have attained specific qualifications. Requires each state that desires a grant to include a description of its comprehensive early childhood professional development system in its application, and grant recipients must maintain their fiscal effort for the activities supported by the grant funds for a fiscal year at levels equal to or greater than their fiscal effort for such activities during the preceding fiscal year. > > 36 > > Version 1 > > Walker (NC) <http://www.rules.house.gov/amendments/WALKNC_002_xml223151159595959.pdf>, DeSantis (FL) > Republican > > Adds A-PLUS, which would send funding under NCLB back to states in the form of block grants, and states would then be able to direct that funding to any education purpose under state law. > > 37 > > Version 1 > > Yoho (FL) <http://www.rules.house.gov/amendments/YOHO_001_xml223151335373537.pdf> > Republican > > Eliminates the Migrant Education programs and requires the Secretary of Education, within one year of enactment of H.R. 5, to reduce the Department’s workforce by the number of employees who were carrying out activities under the migrant education programs. > > 70 > > Version 1 > > Cardenas , Tony (CA) <http://www.rules.house.gov/amendments/CARDCA_004_xml22315141804184.pdf> > Democrat > > Retains the 4.6 percent allocation to ELLs in the Student Success Act, but increases the overall authorization for Title I so that funding for ELLs would be raised to $1 billion from $747.3 million. As a result of raising the overall Title I authorization of appropriations, other programs tied to this level benefit as well, such as Title I, Part A; migrant; neglected and delinquent; and rural education. > > 109 > > Version 1 > > Esty (CT) <http://www.rules.house.gov/amendments/ESTY_019_xml223151450545054.pdf> > Democrat > > Raises the aggregate authorization levels in H.R. 5, the Student Success Act, to match the Fiscal Year 2010 appropriated levels. In the aggregate, this amendment increases the authorized levels set in H.R. 5 by $1.665 billion or 6.67 percent. > > > b. Rules Committee: The Committee on Rules will meet on Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 5:00 PM in H-313 The Capitol just to hear testimony from Chairman Kline and amendment sponsors. It will then meet again on Wednesday, February 25, 2015 at 3:00 PM in H-313 The Capitol to decide amendments to be made in order. > > c. Floor – Since Rules won't issue a Rule until late Wednesday, HR 5 won’t get to the floor until Thursday. > > 4. More Education Bills On The Floor: The House will also consider these education bills on the floor this week: > · H.R. 1020 <http://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20150223/SMITTX_1020_xml.pdf> – STEM Education Act of 2015 (Sponsored by Rep. Lamar Smith / Science, Space, and Technology Committee) - it’s on the suspension calendar tomorrow. According to CQ: > “This bill expands the definition of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education to include computer science. It also expands the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program to bachelor's degree programs in teacher certification or licensing. Currently, only master's degree programs are eligible. Computer science degrees are also eligible under the scholarship program. The measure requires the National Science Foundation to continue to award grants to improve STEM learning outcomes and engagement and research that advances the field of informal STEM education.” > > · S. 227 <http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-114s227rs/pdf/BILLS-114s227rs.pdf> – Strengthening Education through Research Act (Sponsored by Sen. Lamar Alexander / Education and the Workforce Committee) – also to be Considered Under Suspension of the Rules on Wednesday. The Senate has not yet acted on the bill but expects to pass the measure early in the week. Thus, House passage would clear it for the President. > > · H.R. 529 <https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr529/BILLS-114hr529ih.pdf> – To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to improve 529 plans (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Lynn Jenkins / Ways and Means Committee). The measure permanently expands the use of "529" educational savings plans by allowing tax-free distributions for students to buy computers and software, and it modifies the tax treatment of multiple accounts and school refunds that are re-contributed into 529 accounts. The administration earlier this year proposed taxing distributions from 529 plans, effectively ending their tax benefit, in order to help offset the cost of other education tax policies focused more on low-income students — but it dropped the proposal after widespread criticism, including from Democrats. The bill is generally supported by members from both parties; it is expected to be considered under a closed rule that prohibits amendments. > > 5. Higher ED Hearing: On Wednesday, the HELP Committee is holding this hearing: Recalibrating Regulation of Colleges and Universities: A Report from the Task Force on Government Regulation of Higher Education <http://www.help.senate.gov/hearings/hearing/?id=f5bf107c-5056-a032-52a2-c5f9dbdf4459>. Just two witnesses: > · Mr. William E. Kirwan , Chancellor, University System of Maryland, Adelphi, MD > · Mr. Nicholas S. Zeppos , Chancellor, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN > > 6. First In The World: The Department of Education published the following in today’s Federal Register: Proposed Priorities, Requirements, Selection Criterion, and Definitions-First in the World Program <https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/02/23/2015-03502/proposed-priorities-requirements-selection-criterion-and-definitions-first-in-the-world-program>: > “The Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education proposes priorities, requirements, a selection criterion, and definitions under the First in the World (FITW) Program. The Assistant Secretary may use these priorities, requirements, selection criterion, and definitions for FITW competitions in fiscal year (FY) 2015 and later years. These priorities, requirements, selection criterion, and definitions would enable the Department to focus the FITW program on identified barriers to student success in postsecondary education and advance the program's purpose to build evidence for what works in postsecondary education through development, evaluation, and dissemination of innovative strategies to support students who are at risk of failure in persisting in and completing their postsecondary programs of study.” > > Comments are due comments on or before March 25, 2015. > > Joel Packer > CEF Executive Director > JPacker@cef.org <mailto:JPacker@cef.org> > 202-383-0083 > 202-255-0915 (cell) > www.cef.org <http://www.cef.org/> > www.Twitter.com/edfunding <http://www.twitter.com/edfunding> >