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

Policy by the People Agenda

Congress is currently holding hearings in appropriations subcommittees to inform their FY 23 proposed budgets. Please see below for a helpful timeline of the federal budget process (credit to Bloomberg Government, https://about.bgov.com/brief/your-guide-to-navigating-the-federal-budget-process/).  Alongside any advocacy opportunities that IEL will organize in the coming weeks, we encourage you to reach out to your members of Congress to share the importance of investing in the federal programs most important to your work and your communities.

 

1. WIOA Mark-up: On March 31^st, Chairman Bobby Scott (House Committee on Education and Labor) introduced a bill to reauthorize the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). The bill was marked-up by the Committee on April 5^th and was approved on a party line vote of 29-21. IEL supports this bill.
2. Biden’s FY 23 Budget Request: On March 28^th, the Biden Administration released its proposed budget for FY23, including key funding increases for Full-Service Community Schools, Statewide Family Engagement Centers, Education Innovation and Research Program, Youth Mentoring, as well as $200 million for a new Career-Connected High Schools Initiative. IEL supports this budget proposal and is pleased with the Biden Administration’s focus on improving educational and workforce equity and community supports.
3. $10 billion COVID Relief Package: On April 4^th the Senate reached a deal to provide $10 billion in funding for COVID relief as well as repurposing unused ARP dollars. Most of the funds would be used to purchase vaccines and therapeutics, and to support medical research aimed at ending the pandemic. Congress returns the week of April 25 to try to close this deal. An update on its status as of April 25 is here.

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

• Upcoming Event: Dept. Of Education Summit From Recovery to Thriving: How the American Rescue Plan is Supporting America’s Students [Online] on Wednesday, April 27 from 4-8:00pm (ET). More information and registration link found here.
• Upcoming Event: Essential Jobs and the Hidden Toll of Inequality in America on Tuesday, May 3 from 12-1:00pm ET. More information and registration link found here.
• Past Event: The Future of Education Summit
• Resource: Education Policy Hotlist: Weekly Ed Policy Newsletter covering K-20 Education news and events
• Resource: State Education Policy Tracker: Issue-based geographic tracker developed by Education Commission of the States
• Resource: Coalition on Human Needs: Updates and advocacy resources on IEL’s Policy by the People Agenda Foundational Supports
• Federal Register: Education Department             
• Funding: Federal Grant Opportunities:
  • Workforce Pathways for Youth (Department of Labor, FOA-ETA-22-07), Due 4/25
  • Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE): Office of Discretionary Grants & Support Services: Supporting Effective Educator Development (SEED) Program (ED, ED-GRANTS-040422-001), Due 6/3

IEL Policy Highlights

• IEL Lauds the Historic Confirmation of Ketanji Brown Jackson to SCOTUS
• IEL Celebrates Increases for Key Federal Programs in the Recently Passes Omnibus; Supports the President’s Budget Request for FY2023

Policy Highlights from the Field

• 2022 State Legislation Analysis for Full-Service Community Schools
• Indiana Community Schools Resolution Passed Unanimously Passes Legislative Committee on February 24^th. Resolution 31 encouraged the Senate to adopt Community Schools practices across the state and was sponsored by Senator JD Ford. Organizations across the state, including Indiana Community Schools Network, Community in Schools of Indiana, Indiana School Boards Association, Indiana Rural and Small Schools Association, Indiana State Teachers Association (ISTA), American Federation of Teachers, as well as several Superintendents spoke in support of the resolution. IEL celebrates with all those in Indiana who collaborated to achieve this major milestone.

Photographed above (from left): Hadley Moore Vlahogeorge of CIS Indiana and Indiana Community Schools Network Co-Chair, Patricia Weinzapfel of Evansville and Network Co-Chair, Jim Grim of the Network and IUPUI, Shelia Richardson of MSD Lawrence Township, Indianapolis, and LaQuita Maxey of ISTA gather outside the Senate Chamber before the committee hearing, Feb. 24.