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April 29, 2022 - NSBA Weekly Update

Congressional Update

Secretary Cardona Testifies on FY23 Budget
On Thursday, April 28, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies about the Biden Administration’s 2023 federal fiscal year (FY23) funding requests for programs overseen by the U.S. Department of Education (USED). This hearing is part of wider, ongoing efforts in Congress to consider aspects of President Biden’s FY23 budget request released a few weeks ago. Longtime Chairwoman of the subcommittee Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) began the hearing by lauding the significant funding increases the committee secured for Title I of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) as part of FY22 funding while emphasizing her support for greater investments in this program FY23. Ranking Member Tom Cole (R-OK) focused his remarks on his concern over the significant proposed funding increases for USED as part of the Administration’s FY23 budget request and also on the Department’s ongoing efforts to promulgate new regulations impacting charter schools. 

During his formal testimony, Secretary Cardona focused on the need to close opportunity and achievement gaps by "boldly investing" in Title I and full-service community schools, addressing student mental health needs, growing the educator workforce, and also to help creatively build on-ramps to more affordable college and career pathways. During the hearing, lawmakers discussed a wide range of issues including the need for greater investments in social emotional learning as a way to help students cope with the impact of the pandemic. An archived webcast of the hearing, including Secretary Cardona’s testimony, can be found here. As the wider FY23 budget and appropriations process continues to get underway, NSBA’s advocacy team will continue to advocate for robust investment levels to fully meet the significant funding needs of the K-12 community. 

Administration Update

USED Hosts Summit on ARP’s Impact on Education  
On Wednesday evening, April 27, the U.S. Department of Education (USED) hosted a summit convening educators, parents and families, philanthropists, government officials, and students to discuss the ways the American Rescue Plan (ARP) investments are supporting schools and students in recovering from the pandemic. The virtual summit, “From Recovery to Thriving: How the American Rescue Plan is Supporting America’s Students,” featured remarks from Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, House Education and Labor Chairman Bobby Scott (D-VA), and other prominent educational leaders. 

During the convening the U.S. Treasury Department announced updated guidance for the State and Local Fiscal Recovery (SLFRF) fund—a program authorized as part of the ARP to provide direct financial aid to state, local, and tribal governments—that more explicitly emphasizes flexibilities to use these funds for the construction of K-12 schools as well as for addressing ongoing teacher shortages. In addition, USED announced $220 million in new funding provided by a spectrum of stakeholders to help further address and support students’ learning recovery. The event featured a number of sessions focused on topical issues ranging from social emotional learning to grow your own programs as a strategy to address ongoing teacher shortages. 

FCC Opens Third Application Window 
On Thursday, April 28, the Federal Communications Commission opened the third application window for the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF). The $7.2 billion ECF program was authorized as part of the American Rescue Plan and allows eligible schools and libraries to apply for financial support to purchase connected devices like laptops and tablets, Wi-Fi hotspots, modems, routers, and broadband connectivity to serve unmet needs of students, school staff, and library patrons at home during the ongoing pandemic. Schools interested in seeking ECF funds to provide home high-speed internet connections and devices to students and instructional staff have 15 days to request funding through this new window. 

Discretionary Grants

USED published notice on three discretionary grant programs for the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education
Education Innovation and Research (EIR) Program – Early-Phase Grants – The Education Innovation and Research Program provides funding to “create, develop, implement, replicate, or take to scale entrepreneurial evidence-based… field initiated innovations to improve student achievement and attainment for high-need students and to rigorously evaluate such innovations.” This particular Federal Register notice is for early-phase grants only. For these grants, there must be a rationale and funding must be used for the development, implementation, and feasibility testing of a program, which prior research suggests has promise. The goals for these grants include determining whether new practices improve student achievement and attainment for high-need students. The Department indicates $159,400,000 is available to all three types of grants under the EIR program (early-phase, mid-phase, and expansion grants). Applications are due by July 21, 2022, and further information is available here. 

Education Innovation and Research (EIR) Program – Mid-Phase Grants – The Education Innovation and Research Program provides funding to “create, develop, implement, replicate, or take to scale entrepreneurial evidence-based, field-initiated innovations to improve student achievement and attainment for high-need students; and to rigorously evaluate such innovations.” This particular Federal Register notice is for mid-phase grants only. For these grants, there must be a moderate evidence and funding must be used for the implementation of a program and its rigorous evaluation that has been successfully been implemented under an early-phase grant. The Department indicates $159,400,000 is available to all three types of grants under the EIR program (early-phase, mid-phase, and expansion grants). Applications are due by June 21, 2022, and further information is available here. 

Education Innovation and Research (EIR) Program – Expansion Grants – The Education Innovation and Research Program provides funding to “create, develop, implement, replicate, or take to scale entrepreneurial, evidence-based, field-initiated innovations to improve student achievement and attainment for high-need students and to rigorously evaluate such innovations.” This particular Federal Register notice is for expansion grants only. For these grants, there must be a strong evidence and funding must be used for the implementation of a program and its rigorous evaluation that has been found to produce sizable, significant impacts under a mid-phase grant. The Department indicates $159,400,000 is available to all three types of grants under the EIR program (early-phase, mid-phase, and expansion grants). Applications are due by June 21, 2022, and further information is available here. 

USED published notice on the following discretionary grant program for the Office of Postsecondary Education
Training Program for Federal TRIO Programs – This training program for the Federal TRIO programs focuses on improving project operation by training leadership and staff. This notice includes 6 absolute priorities and one invitation priority, which is “Increasing Postsecondary Education Access, Affordability, Completion, and Post-Enrollment Success.” The Administration received $1,137,000,000 for Federal TRIO Programs for fiscal year 2022, and intends to use $3,219,292 for the TRIO Training Program. Applications are due by June 10, 2022, and further information is available here. 

NSBA Bills

NSBA Update

Digital Inclusion/Cybersecurity Survey 
NSBA is conducting a short survey of local school board members on digital equity. Survey questions address digital inclusion policies, cybersecurity, and home internet access. NSBA has been active in the effort to close the Homework Gap — the digital divide in education. We hope to share components of these policies to provide a “best practice” resource for our members.   
 
NSBA Advocates for Mental Health Funding 
NSBA joined over 90 organizations in a letter led by the National Association of School Psychologists advocating for investments in mental health grants. The letter urges congressional appropriators to “...address the severe shortages of school-based mental health professionals by providing $1 billion to be divided between the School-Based Mental Health Services Professional Demonstration Grant and the School-Based Mental Health Services Grant Program.” 

- Courtesy of NSBA's Federal Advocacy & Public Policy Update - Week of April 29, 2022

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