Summary of federal policy action this past month and a look-ahead to the next few weeks/month
I: Biden-Harris Administration Announces Nearly $74 Million to Expand Full-Service Community Schools: The U.S. Department of Education announced grants to support 30 additional local educational agencies, nonprofits, and other public or private organizations and institutions of higher education working to expand community schools. This includes making awards in four new states: Idaho, Missouri, New Hampshire, and Ohio. U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona highlighted this announcement at a Full-Service Community Schools visit to Idaho.
II: U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown, Chris Van Hollen, Kirsten Gillibrand, and Ben Ray Luján introduced legislation titled The Full-Service Community School Expansion Act of 2023: This legislation would expand community schools to improve student outcomes. U.S. Representative Susie Lee is leading the companion legislation in the House of Representatives. IEL and the Coalition for Community Schools have endorsed this legislation. José Muñoz, Director of the Coalition for Community Schools, Institute for Educational Leadership, provided his supportive remarks on this piece of legislation in this press release.
Policy-related events and resources of interest, including federal funding opportunities
Events
- Upcoming Event: The White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics will hold a virtual meeting titled the President’s Advisory Commission on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics on December 19th from 12:00-5:00 pm ET. More information can be found here.
- Upcoming Event: The Hunt Institute is hosting the webinar Early Efforts: Over the Funding Cliff: The State of America’s Child Care Industry in the Absence of Federal Relief Dollars on January 9th, 2024, at 2:00 pm ET. More information and registration information can be found here.
- Past Event: The Atlantic Equity Review, of The Atlantic, hosted a fireside chat with Secretary Cardona on December 14th at 9:45 am ET. More information can be found here.
Resources
- The 74: Analysis: ESSER Funds: NC Districts Played It Safe on Teacher Pay & May Avoid Fiscal Cliff
- FutureEd: Explainer: How North Carolina’s Schools Are Staffing Their Pandemic Recovery
- FutureEd: Explainer: How California’s Schools are Spending Billions in Federal Pandemic Relief
Funding Opportunities
Federal Register: Education Department
- The Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE): Charter School Program (CSP): Grants to Charter Management Organizations for the Replication and Expansion of High-Quality Charter Schools (CMO Grants), Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.282M has a grant opportunity. Applications close on January 5th, 2024, and more information can be found here.
IEL Policy Highlights:
- IEL and the Coalition for Community Schools, along with 53 other organizations and individuals, signed on to a letter of support for the New Essential Education Discoveries (NEED) Act, which will strengthen education research and development to drastically improve outcomes and experiences for teachers and students. The bill was introduced by U.S. House Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-1) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-1) on December 11, 2023.