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

HOUSE and SENATE

The House and Senate will be in recess until the week of November 14.

House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairman John Kline (R-MN) and Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) released statements opposing the U.S. Department of Education’s (ED) final rule regarding teacher preparation programs.

ADMINISTRATION

ED released a final rule that establishes new teacher preparation accountability regulations under Title II of the Higher Education Act (HEA) and amends regulations governing the Teacher Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH Grants) program under HEA Title IV. The rule affects TEACH Grant eligibility and how States assess and report on the performance of teacher preparation programs.

The White House released a Fact Sheet on the progress of and new commitments to President Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative.

ED announced new Pay for Success grants, which focus on expanding career and technical education and dual language programs.

ED and the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics released the ¡Gradúate! 2.0: A College Planning Guide to Success.

The White House released a Fact Sheet on Harnessing the Possibilities of Science, Technology and Innovation, which was the focus of the White House Frontiers Conference.

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

New Federal Teacher-Prep Rules Draw Praise and Criticism [Article 6 – Education Week]

DeVry settles job placement claims with U.S. Education Department [Article 2 – Inside Higher Ed]

Obama administration releases final rules for teacher preparation programs [Article 5 – Inside Higher Ed]

Test Scores Get Less Emphasis in Final Federal Teacher-Preparation Rules [Article 2 – Education Week]

Op-Ed: Congress should empower universities in the fight against student debt [Article 11 – The Hill]

Why the College Degree Seems to Be Deciding the Presidential Election [Article 3 – The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Americans worry about the cost of college, but cable networks don’t seem to care [Article 8 – The Washington Post]
 

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

• Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Reaches Settlement with DeVry University Over Job Placement Claims

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices

ED Third Party Comments: Accrediting Agencies Under Review for Recognition by the U.S. Secretary of Education. Comments due November 14, 2016.

ED Comment Request: Federal Direct Loan Program Regulations for Forbearance and Loan Rehabilitation. Comments due November 16, 2016.

ED Grant Notice: Upward Bound Program. Applications due November 28, 2016.