October 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 

I: Federal Appropriations process extended through a Continuing Resolution: On September 30, President Biden signed a 71-page bill, initiating a continuing resolution to keep the government open until November 17^th.  

II: Speaker of the House Race Continues: On October 3, the House voted to remove Kevin McCarthy from the Speakership for the first time in American history. After several rounds of voting for Steve Scalise (R-LA-1) and Jim Jordan (R-OH-4), interim Speaker Patrick McHenry’s (R-NC-10) powers were extended to allow the House more time to elect a speaker. 

III. Biden-Harris Administration Announces Additional Student Debt Relief: On October 4, the Biden-Harris Administration announced an additional $9 billion in debt relief for 125,00 student loan borrowers. This plan includes $5.2 billion for those enrolled in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, $1.2 billion for permanently disabled borrowers, and $2.8 billion for those enrolled in income-driven payment plans. 

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

Events 

• Upcoming Event: FutureEd is hosting the live event Expanding Educational Opportunities: A Fireside Chat with Geoffrey Canada and Frederick M. Hess on October 30^th at 4:00 pm ET. More information can be found here. 
• Upcoming Event: EducationWeek is hosting the webinar Ready or Not, AI is Here: How K-12 Schools Should Respond on November 1st from 2:00-3:00 pm ET. More information can be found here. 
• Upcoming Event: The Hunt Institute is hosting the webinar Postsecondary Pathways: What’s Next: Creating Diverse Student Bodies in Today’s Higher Education Landscape on November 9^th at 2:00 pm. ET. More information can be found here. 
• Past Event: The Learning Policy Institute hosted the webinar Safe Schools, Thriving Students: Fostering Restorative Practices and Safe and Supportive Communities on October 17^th. Click here for more information.  
• Past Event: UnidosUs hosted the webinar Accelerating Latino Student Recovery: Strengthening Our Schools and Helping Students Succeed on October 19^th. Click here for more information.  

Resources 

• Afterschool Alliance: Report: Investments in Student Recovery: A Review of School Districts’ Use of American Rescue Plan Funding to Support Afterschool and Summer Opportunities 
• OSERS: Report: Data Displays Provide Snapshot of Data Regarding Children Served Under the IDEA 
• WestEd: New Website: New Justice & Prevention Research Center 
• New America: Brief: What Should Our High School Students Study? How High School Graduation Requirements Have Evolved from Nation at Risk to the Present 
• The Education Trust: Article: A Seat at the Policymaking Table: Supporting the Advocacy of Ed Prep Leaders at Minority-Serving Institutions

Funding Opportunities 

Federal Register: Education Department 

• NIA: The Office of Postsecondary Education and Department of Education is issuing a notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2023 for the HBCU, TCCU, MSI, and RDI grant programs. The deadline to apply is November 30^th, 2023.  
• NIA: The U.S. Department of Education invites applicants for the FY23 Perkins Innovation and Modernization Grant Program.  

IEL Policy Highlights: 

• IEL Staff members traveled to Capitol Hill the last week in September to educate members of Congress on the efficacy of the Full-Service Community School and to expand the reach of the Full-Service Community School competitive grant program.