A quick look back at the news from last week. Compiled by Penn Hill Group.

HOUSE

The House passed H.R. 5587, the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, with a vote of 405-5. The legislation reauthorizes the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act.

ADMINISTRATION

ED announced this year’s “Opportunity Across America” Tour, which will include ED Secretary John King and other senior ED officials holding events highlighting the Administration’s key initiatives during the past eight years.

The Clinton campaign released a new cost calculator tool to promote the campaign’s free college proposal.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau took action against for-profit college chain Bridgepoint Education, Inc. and is ordering Bridgepoint to discharge all outstanding private loans the institution made to its students and to refund loan payments already made by borrowers, which will total over $23.5 million in automatic consumer relief.

ED’s borrower defense to repayment rule, which aims to provide relief for students defrauded by their school, was sent to the Office of Management and Budget for final review.

The White House released a Fact Sheet on the 61 higher education institutions and systems that have committed to take the Fair Chance Higher Education Pledge, which pertains to providing educational services to those who have been in contact with the criminal justice system.

ED released a Fact Sheet on the Obama Administration’s new College Scorecard Data, which the Administration States includes more than 1,700 data points for more than 7,000 institutions of higher education.

Education News Headlines
[Click on the link to read the article online]

See Who’s Been Tapped to Lead Trump’s Transition Team for Education [Article 1 – Education Week]

ITT Tech parent company to cease all operations [Article 3 – The Washington Post]

Community colleges negotiate transportation options to get students to class [Article 6 – Inside Higher Ed]

Bill to Reauthorize Career and Technical Education Law Passed by U.S. House [Article 3 – Education Week]

House panel scrutinizes endowments and college affordability [Article 4 – Inside Higher Ed]

Student debt relief rule sent to the WH for final review [Article 5 – The Hill]

Ed. Sec. Bus Tour: From Early Education Through College [Article 2 – Education Week]

Clinton campaign promotes free college proposal with release of cost calculator tool [Article 6 – Inside Higher Ed]

Rep. Virginia Foxx Op Ed: Educational success is about more than just a degree [Article 7 – The Hill]

For-profit Bridgepoint Education forced to forgive $24 million in private student loans [Article 8 – The Washington Post]

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration
Department of Education

• Press Release: Education Department Releases America’s College Promise Playbook
• Blog: Find a Community College in Your State with High Salaries
• Blog: 25 Community Colleges that Advance Opportunities for Low-Income Students
• Press Release: Fact Sheet: A College Degree: Surest Pathway to Expanded Opportunity, Success for American Students

Department of Labor

• Press Release: US Labor Department Awards $9.3M to Continue Funding to Improve Employment Opportunities for People with Disabilities

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices

ED Comment Request: Gainful Employment Disclosure Template. Comments due November 14, 2016.

ED Comment Request: Educational Opportunity Centers Program (EOC) Annual Performance Report. Comments due October 19, 2016.

ED Comment Request: Student Aid Internet Gateway (SAIG) Enrollment Document. Comments due October 19, 2016.

VA Solicitation of Nomination for Appointment: Veterans’ Advisory Committee on Education (VACOE). Nominations due October 15, 2016 by 4pm est.