Below is an abridged version of RAMC’s weekly Washington Wrap Up. Find out more about Wrap Up and other RAMC resources here.

May 22, 2018

HOUSE and SENATE
The Senate voted to confirm the nomination of Mitchell “Mick” Zais to be the Deputy Secretary of Education by a vote of 50 to 48.

The Senate Appropriations Committee announced its schedule for appropriations bill markups, with the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies markup scheduled for the week of June 25.

The Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee on Appropriations will accept written testimony from outside witnesses on fiscal year (FY) 2019 appropriations. The deadline to submit written testimony is Friday, June 1.

ADMINISTRATION
The Administration announced the nomination of Scott Stump to be the Assistant Secretary of Career, Technical and Adult Education at the U.S. Department of Education (ED).

ED approved the Alaska and Iowa consolidated Elementary and Secondary Education Act State plans. California, Florida, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Utah are still awaiting approval.

ED announced a total of approximately $13 million and $84.5 million in new Federal assistance for the U.S. Virgin Islands and Florida respectively under the Immediate Aid to Restart School Operations (K-12 Restart) program.

The Administration announced a new policy that changes how the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will calculate unlawful presence for foreign students and exchange visitors when such students and visitors overstay their allotted time.

ED announced a technical assistance initiative aimed at assisting schools, districts, State education agencies, libraries, colleges and universities in making their websites and online programs accessible to individuals with disabilities.

 
Education News Headlines
[Click on the link to read the article online]
Five Things to Watch for When Betsy DeVos Makes Rare Visit to Capitol Hill [Education Week]

‘Higher Education’ Isn’t So Popular, Poll Finds, but Local Colleges Get Lots of Love [The Chronicle of Higher Education]
New America Report: “Varying Degrees”

Research universities quietly collaborate with Facebook. What are they working on? [Inside Higher Ed]

Should Businesses Help Employees Pay Off Their Student Loans? [The Atlantic]

School Officials Urge Congress to Update Student-Data Privacy Law [Education Week]

Amid Criticism, Betsy DeVos Meets With School Shooting Survivors, Experts [Education Week]

A State Attorney General Calls Out Betsy DeVos on For-Profit Colleges [The New York Times]

Advocates push for stronger Pell Grant as appropriations cycle begins [Inside Higher Ed]

Report on Apprenticeships and Community Colleges [Inside Higher Ed]
American Enterprise Institute Report: “Apprenticeships and Community Colleges: Do They Have a Future Together?”

Perspective | Don’t know the graduate next to you? You’re not alone. One-third of students take at least one class online. [The Washington Post]

Ohio college unveils second year tuition-free for students who finish 30 credits in their first year [Inside Higher Ed]

When Are One- or Two-Year Credentials Better Than Bachelor’s Degrees? [Education Week]

Free Tuition Policies Don’t Guarantee Access [Inside Higher Ed]

New Evidence Adds to Troubling Picture for Black Borrowers of Student Loans [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

College leaders discuss their participation on a federal task force that criticized higher education [Inside Higher Ed]

Trump statements get scrutiny in DACA appeal [Politico]

FCC’s Net Neutrality Repeal to Take Effect June 11, Worrying Schools [Education Week]

Trump Taps Former Community College Official for Career and Technical Education Post [Education Week]

Education official who helped craft student loan policy was for-profit college exec: report [The Hill]

Report finds Parent PLUS loans worsen outcomes for poorest families, urges policy reforms [Inside Higher Ed]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor:
House Education and the Workforce Committee 
Press Release: Committee Discusses Efforts to Safeguard Student Privacy and Data

Press Release: Committee Democrats Honor Brown v. Board Anniversary by Highlighting Administration’s Attacks on Students’ Civil Rights

Press Release: On the Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, Top Democrats Introduce a Resolution to Affirm Support for Meaningful Enforcement of the Civil Rights Act

Press Release: Bipartisan Lawmakers Challenge Education Department’s Attempt to Block State Consumer Protection Laws

Press Release: Top Democrats Urge Department of Education to Maintain Rule Intended to End Harmful Practices for Students of Color and Children with Disabilities

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Press Release: Murray Stands With Gillibrand to Demand Reform of Congressional Policies on Sexual Assault and Harassment

Press Release: Alexander: Democrats’ 5-month Delay in Confirmation of Deputy Education Secretary “Inexcusable”

Senate Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Senate Appropriations Schedule for the Week of May 21, 2018

Press Release: Shelby, Leahy Announce Markup Schedule for FY2019

House Committee on Ways and Means
Press Release: Tax Policy Subcommittee Chairman Buchanan Announces Hearing on Tax Reform and Small Businesses: Growing Our Economy and Creating Jobs

House Committee on Appropriations  
Press Release: Chairman Frelinghuysen Announces Committee and Subcommittee Membership Changes

Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation  
Press Release: Thune Statement on Senate Democrats’ Objection to Bipartisan Net Neutrality Legislation, Vote on Markey CRA Resolution

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration:
White House Press Release: President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate Personnel to Key Administration Posts

DOL Press Release: U.S. Department of Labor Announces YouthBuild Funding Opportunity

ED Press Release: Secretary DeVos Statement on Santa Fe High School Shooting

ED Press Release: Readout of Secretary DeVos’ Meeting with Experts and Survivors of Mass Shootings

ED Press Release: U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos Welcomes Dr. Mick Zais as Deputy Secretary

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Launches New Website Accessibility Technical Assistance Initiative

ED Media Advisory: U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos Travels to New York for School Visits, Alfred E. Smith Foundation Event

ED Blog: Seventh Cohort of U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools Announced

DOL Blog: A New Career in the Tech Industry

IES Report: “Preparing for Life after High School: The Characteristics and Experiences of Youth in Special Education. A Summary of Key Findings from the National Longitudinal Transition Study 2012.”

Legislative Movement in Congress Last Week:
H.R.5880 — To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to remove certain restrictions on advertising and public relations, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Aguilar, Pete [D-CA-31] (Introduced 05/18/2018) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce
Latest Action:  House – 05/18/2018 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

H.R.5866 — To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize individuals who are pursuing programs of rehabilitation, education, or training under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to receive work-study allowances for certain outreach services provided through congressional offices, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. DeFazio, Peter A. [D-OR-4] (Introduced 05/17/2018) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Veterans’ Affairs
Latest Action:  House – 05/17/2018 Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

H.Res.902 — Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the obligation of the Office for Civil Rights of the Department of Education and the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice to enforce title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and its implementing regulations, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Scott, Robert C. “Bobby” [D-VA-3] (Introduced 05/17/2018) Cosponsors: (15)
Committees: House – Judiciary, Education and the Workforce
Latest Action:  House – 05/17/2018 Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the…

H.R.5850 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to waive the 90-10 rule for proprietary institutions impacted by Hurricanes Irma or Maria.
Sponsor: Rep. Gonzalez-Colon, Jenniffer [R-PR-At Large] (Introduced 05/16/2018) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce
Latest Action:  House – 05/16/2018 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

H.R.5242 — School Resource Officer Assessment Act of 2018
Sponsor: Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3] (Introduced 03/09/2018) Cosponsors: (10)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce, Judiciary
Latest Action:  House – 05/15/2018 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Press Release: Higgins’ School Safety Bill Passes House

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:
ED Grant Notice Correction: FY 2018 Emergency Assistance to Institutions of Higher Education Program.

ED Grant Notice: Education Research and Special Education Research Grant Programs. The deadline date for transmittal of applications for each competition is indicated in the chart at the end of this notice and in the RFAs for the competitions.

ED Grant Notice: Pathways to STEM Apprenticeship for High School Career and Technical Education Students demonstration program. Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply: June 18, 2018. Date of Pre-Application Webinar: For information about a pre-application webinar, visit the Perkins Collaborative Resource Network (PCRN) at http://cte.ed.gov/​. Applications due: July 17, 2018.

DOL Grant Notice: YouthBuild. Applications due September 18, 2018. 

VA Notice: Increase in Maximum Tuition and Fee Amounts Payable Under the Post-9/11 GI Bill

ED Comment Request: Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) Performance Report. Comments due July 17, 2018