January 2023 IEL Federal Policy Update

Policy by the People Agenda

Summary of federal policy action this past month and a look-ahead to the next few weeks/month

1. Congress Passes Fiscal Year 2023 Budget: On December 22nd, Congress passed the FY 2023 omnibus appropriations bill, including $209.9 billion in discretionary spending for Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. Congress approved $150 million, a 100% increase from FY22, to fund Full-Service Community Schools; $18.4 billion, a 5% increase over FY22, for Title 1-A grants; $15.5 billion, a 6% increase over FY22, for Special Education State Grant Programs; $215 million, a 10% increase over FY22, for Rural Education Programs, $115 million, a 21% increase of over FY22, for Special Education Personnel Preparation; $1.33 billion, a $40 million increase over FY22, for Nita M. Lowey 21^st Century Community Learning Centers; and $20 million, a 60% increase over FY22, for Statewide Family Engagement Centers.
2. 118^th Congressional Leadership: The 118^th Congress has now been seated, and new leadership is in place, including Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. The House Committee on Education and Labor Chair is Virginia Foxx and the Ranking Member is Bobby Scott. The Chair of the Senate HELP Committee is Bernie Sanders with Bill Cassidy as Ranking Member. Patty Murray will lead Appropriations in the Senate, and Kay Granger will lead in the House. The House Appropriations Subcommittee chair for LHHSed will be Tom Cole with Rosa DeLauro as the Ranking Member, and for the House Subcommittee for Commerce, Justice, and Science, the chair will be Robert Aderholt with Matt Cartwright as the Ranking Member. The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee chair and ranking member for LHHSed is still to be determined. The Senate Subcommittee for Commerce, Justice, and Science chair is Jeanne Shaheen with Jerry Moran as Ranking Member.
3. Education Secretary Cardona Delivers Remarks on Department Priorities and Vision for Education: On Tuesday, January 24, Secretary Miguel Cardona offered the address, “Raise the Bar: Lead the World,” outlining the Biden-Harris Administration’s plan to pursue academic excellence in 2023. During his speech, Secretary Cardona highlighted three key focus areas for the Department: Achieving Academic Excellence, Boldly Improve Learning Conditions, and Creating Pathways for Global Engagements. A recording of the Secretary’s remarks is available here.
4. US Nears Debt-Ceiling Crisis: On Thursday, January 19, the U.S. Government reached the statutory debt limit, putting the nation at risk of defaulting on its loans. Congressional Leadership is attempting to negotiate with the Biden Administration to increase the debt ceiling limit.  
5. Supreme Court Seeks Clarity on Charter Schools: On Monday, January 9^th, the United States Supreme Court sought comment from the Biden Administration on Charter Day School Inc. v. Pelti, a case that evaluates the role of the governmental authority In the operations of charter schools, including enforcing gender-based dress codes. Progressive groups view the case as an exemplar of the Equal Protection Clause and Title IX, while conservative groups claim the case demonstrates the need for expanded parental choice. The U.S. Supreme Court accepted the case after the 4^th Circuit Court of Appeals found in favor of Peltier et al., stating that forcing female students to wear skirts “to preserve chivalry and respect among young women and men” and that “women are regarded as a fragile vessel that men are supposed to take care of and honor” violates the 14^th Amendment, presenting an undue burden to female students “based on impermissible gender stereotypes.”
6. The U.S. Department of Education announces FSCS Grant winners: On Wednesday, January 18, 2023, the U.S. Department of Education announced the 42 winners of the Full-Service Community School Grant Program, totaling $63 million in funding for schools in over twenty states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. The Department of Education received the highest number of applications in the program’s history, demonstrating the demand for Full-Service Community Schools. In conjunction with the FSCS Grant announcement, the “White House released a toolkit to help community school advocates, coordinators, and directors, as well as other community stakeholders, identify funding sources and grant programs that can be used to support community schools and meet the unique needs of their communities.”

Policy-related events and resources of interest, including federal funding opportunities

Events

• Upcoming Event: Brookings will host the webinar Understanding and Addressing Gender, Class, and Racial Disparities in College Enrollment on January 23^rd from 1:30-3:00 pm EST. More information and registration can be found here.
• Upcoming Event: Mathematica will host the webinar Pursuing a Secure Economic Future for Youth With Disabilities—Lessons from PROMISE on January 25^th. More information and registration can be found here.
• Upcoming Event: FutureEd will host The American Teacher Act Hill Briefing with the Honorable Frederica Wilson on January 25^th from 4-5 pm. More information can be found here. Note: this is an in-person event.
• Upcoming Event:Workforce GPS will host the webinar Yes, WIOA Can! Building Strong Business Partnerships on January 30^th from 1:00-2:30 pm ET. More information and registration can be found here.
• Past Event: The Wallace Foundation hosted the webinar Playing the Policy Change Long Game: Insights from OST Intermediaries. More information can be found here.
• Past Event: The Hunt Institute hosted the Homeroom with Education Leaders: Navigating Education Policy in 2023 and Beyond. More information and registration can be found here.

Resources

• The 74: News Article: Inside the Incubator Using Apprenticeships to Redesign Teacher Preparation
• Educause: Report: Web Accessibility Regulations are Poised to be a Focal Point in Spring 2023
• Learning Policy Institute: Report:Authentic Student Work in College Admissions: Lessons From the Ross School of Business
• The Education Trust: Report: 5 Things State and District Leaders Can Do to Advance Strong and Diverse School Leadership
• Urban Institute: Report: How Can Research Better Represent People with Disabilities
• EdSource: Interview with Sec. Miguel Cardona: In California, U.S. Education Secretary Cardon calls for States to up Funding, Lays out Student Debt Relief Case
• FutureEd: Report: How ESSER Funding Has Impacted Learning Recovery

Funding Opportunities

• Federal Register: Education Department
• Federal Register: Workforce Development

IEL Policy Highlights

• In partnership with the Teachers College at Columbia University, IEL hosted 27 graduate students in Washington, D.C., for the Federal Policy Institute (FPI), an annual, five-day intensive mini semester on education policy. During FPI, students traveled to the Hill, visited the U.S. Department of Education, and heard from speakers from the Domestic Policy Council, The Heritage Foundation, AERA, NEA Foundation, Penn Hill Group, and many more. For many students, FPI is the highlight of their graduate school experience at Teachers College.