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

March 3, 2020

HOUSE and SENATE
The House Education and Labor Committee postponed its hearing on reauthorizing the National Apprenticeship Act to Wednesday, March 4. RAMC board member, Dr. Morna K. Foy, Ph.D., President, Wisconsin Technical College System, will be testifying. RAMC members can watch the hearing online at 10:15am eastern on Wednesday, March 4.  

ADMINISTRATION
The U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced a new K-12 Title IX enforcement initiative led by its Office for Civil Rights (OCR), focused on how schools handle cases of sexual assault.

ED updated StudentAid.gov to allow borrowers to see information about their loans and grants, among other things.

U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos said ED has set up a task force to coordinate its response to the recent coronavirus outbreak.

OCR will require the University of Southern California to make changes to its Title IX procedures after finding that the school failed to protect students from Dr. George Tyndall, formerly employed as a gynecologist at the school’s student health center.

Secretary DeVos said that ED is now investigating the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools due to its accreditation of Reagan National University.

ED published a notice in the Federal Register publicizing the existing of its Guidance Portal that provides access to all major guidance from ED.

Education News Headlines
[Click on the link to read the article online]
Letters Urge Betsy DeVos To Erase Student Loans For Borrowers With Disabilities [National Public Radio]

30 years after Americans with Disability Act, college students say law is not enough [NBC News]

CDC to Colleges: ‘Consider’ Canceling Exchange Programs [Inside Higher Ed]

Lamar Alexander wants Higher Education Act deal within a month [Inside Higher Ed]

Op-Ed: Veterans’ student loan debt is hindering them [The Hill]

DeVos’ proposed Civil Rights Data Collection changes a ‘double whammy’ for students of color, lawmakers say [Education Dive]

Education Department Creates Coronavirus Task Force [Inside Higher Ed]

Education Department vows probes of how schools handle sexual violence [The Washington Post]

Justice Department argues Harvard’s use of race in admissions violates civil rights law [The Washington Post]

N.J. governor expands free tuition at state’s public colleges [Inside Higher Ed]

California’s online community college to face state audit [EdSource]

Op-Ed: Black students hold too much debt and the way out includes more and better career counseling [The Hechinger Report]

NC-SARA report paints detailed picture of distance education landscape [Inside Higher Ed]

Schools Should Prepare for Coronavirus Outbreaks, CDC Officials Warn [Education Week]

Coronavirus forces U.S. universities online in China [Inside Higher Ed]

Op-Ed: Improving workforce success among America’s college students [Brookings]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor:
House Education and Labor Committee 
March 4: Subcommittee Hearing: “Reauthorizing the National Apprenticeship Act: Strengthening and Growing Apprenticeships for the 21st century.”
Witnesses: Ms. Tiffany P. Robinson, Esq., Secretary, Maryland Department of Labor, Baltimore, MD; Ms. Morna K. Foy, Ph.D., President, Wisconsin Technical College System, Madison, WI; Ms. Jace Noteboom, Talent Director: IBM Systems, Watson Health, Cognitive Enterprise Support, IBM, Armonk, NY; Mr. Daniel Bustillo, Executive Director, Healthcare Career Advancement Program, New York, NY
10:15 a.m. in 2175 Rayburn House Office Building or webcast

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions  
Press Release: CORONAVIRUS: Murray, Democrats Ask DeVos How She Plans to Protect Students, Teachers, School Staff

Senate Committee on Appropriations
March 5: Subcommittee Hearing: “Review of the FY2021 Budget Request for the U.S. Department of Education”
Witness: The Honorable Betsy DeVos, Secretary, Department of Education
10:00 a.m. in 124 Dirksen Senate Office Building or webcast

Senate Committee the Budget
Press Release: Chairman Enzi: Bipartisan Budget Reforms Can Improve Fiscal Transparency and Accountability

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

DOL Press Release: U.S. Secretary Of Labor Scalia Highlights Apprenticeships And Economic Opportunity At Rockwell Automation

ED Press Release: Secretary DeVos Launches Innovative Pilot at Four Universities for Students to Access Financial Aid Refunds

IES Fast Facts: Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Legislative Movement in Congress Last Week:
H.R.6031 — To require eligible institutions under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to designate a Clery Compliance Officer to ensure compliance with the requirements of the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act.
Sponsor: Rep. Kuster, Ann M. [D-NH-2] (Introduced 02/28/2020) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 02/28/2020 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

H.R.6033 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to increase the period of eligibility for Federal Pell Grants, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Lawrence, Brenda L. [D-MI-14] (Introduced 02/28/2020) Cosponsors: (5)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 02/28/2020 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: U.S. Representative Brenda Lawrence Introduces Legislation to Boost Financial Aid

H.R.5961 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to support apprenticeship programs.
Sponsor: Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17] (Introduced 02/25/2020) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 02/25/2020 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Khanna, Fitzpatrick Introduce Bipartisan Student Apprenticeship Act To Modernize Apprenticeships Nationwide

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:
ED Announcement: Peer Review Opportunities With the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Postsecondary Education, and Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. The Department will accept submissions throughout the year on a rolling basis. Requests to serve as a peer reviewer should be submitted four weeks prior to the program’s application deadline noted on the forecast page. 

ED Comment Request: High School and Beyond 2020 (HS&B:20) Base-Year Full-Scale Study Data Collection. Comments due on or before April 27, 2020. 

ED Notice: Investigation and Records Request. The Department publishes letters, dated February 11, 2020, notifying Yale University and Harvard University of investigations related to the universities’ reports of defined gifts and contracts, including restricted and conditional gifts or contracts, from or with a statutorily defined foreign source.

ED Grant Notice: Migrant Education Program (MEP) Consortium Inventive Grant program (CIG). Applications due April 27, 2020.