August 26, 2022 - NSBA Weekly Update

Congressional Update

Congress Remains on Recess
Lawmakers remained in home states and districts this week as part of Congress’ annual August recess. They are scheduled to return on September 6, and NSBA expects that addressing the fiscal year 2023 budget will be legislators’ top priority. NSBA anticipates that lawmakers will work after the recess to develop and advance a short-term, stopgap legislation, known as a continuing resolution (CR) to continue FY22 funding levels beyond the beginning of the federal fiscal year on October 1. This step will provide Congress with the time need to complete negotiations over FY23 spending levels. As these efforts take shape, NSBA will continue to support robust K-12 funding, including for ESEA Title I-A, IDEA State Grants, and other vitally important formula programs, as final FY23 budget for the Department of Education.

Administration Update

USED Releases Back-to-School Checklist for Parents
Yesterday the U.S. Department of Education released a back-to-school checklist intended to support parents and families as students report back to school in the coming weeks. The checklist highlights several evidence-based practices that can promote student learning and strengthen mental health supports and wider school safety initiatives. In addition, the checklist elevates a multitude of “promising examples” for how states and school districts have leveraged K-12 funding from the American Rescue Plan with similar goals in mind.

President Biden Takes Executive Action on Student Debt
On Wednesday, August 24, President Biden and U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona unveiled the Administration’s plans to forgive up to $10,000 of federal student loan debt for borrowers making $125,000 or less annually. The plan would provide up to $20,000 in similar forgiveness for those who previously received a federal Pell grant and meet the same income eligibility requirements. In addition to this executive action, the U.S. Department of Education announced newly proposed regulations regarding how individuals pay back federal student loans in the future. In a related factsheet, the Biden Administration highlighted how these efforts will benefit K-12 school teachers who will often qualify under this new plan. Information regarding USED’s newly proposed income-driven repayment rules can be accessed here.

Registered Apprenticeships Celebrate 85th Anniversary
This month marked the 85th anniversary of the enactment of the National Apprenticeship Act (NAA)-- federal legislation first passed and last updated by Congress in 1937. Also known as the Fitzgerald Act, this legislation created the federal system of registered apprenticeship overseen and administered by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). In recognition of this milestone, DOL has launched a new “ApprenticeshipUSA” brand to cultivate a better understanding among the public regarding registered apprenticeship programs (RAPs).

Additionally, the agency has launched an online dialogue about the future of RAPs, soliciting feedback for how to improve these programs and related systems, including K-12 education “on-ramps” to RAPs, such as pre-and youth apprenticeship programs. This online portal for public input will remain open through September 5, 2022, and can be accessed here.

CTE Research Network Grant Application Opportunity
Last week, USED published a new grant opportunity inviting qualified applicants to lead the CTE research network. Authorized under the national activities section (Sec. 114) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins V) and overseen by USED’s National Center for Education Research under the Institute of Education Sciences, the CTE research network is dedicated to researching various topics impacting CTE of national importance. Applications for this grant opportunity are due by February 23, 2023.

- Courtesy of NSBA's Federal Advocacy & Public Policy Update - Week of August 26, 2022