Policy by the People Agenda

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

I: Supreme Court Strikes Down President Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness Program: The Supreme Court of the United States, in a 6-3 ruling agreed to strike down the student loan forgiveness program. The court upheld and argued that the HEROES Act does not authorize Biden’s administration to implement the student loan forgiveness program. The HEROES Act waives funds and fees for students in the event of war, military action, or a national emergency. The court rejected the government’s plan of the Education Secretary having the authority to rewrite the statute (the HEROES Act) and eliminate over $430 billion in student loans. The Supreme Court argues that delegating massive amounts of power to one regulatory agency can is a “game changer”.  

II: Education Department Announces New Income-Driven Repayment Plan: The Department of Education created the Save on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan. This is the most generous income-driven repayment plan in regard to forgiving student debt. The plan raises the cap to 225% above the federal poverty line and gives individual borrowers with an income below $32,805 as well as families of four with incomes below $67,500 no additional monthly payments. The plan will go into effect on July 1, 2024. At this time, students in their undergraduate years who borrowed will be required to give 5% of their income. Additionally, those who are already enrolled in the REPAYE plan will automatically be enrolled in SAVE. The Education Department will release new initiatives, but ultimately make SAVE the primary option for those who have student loans.  

III: Math and Reading Scores for 13-Year Old’s Show Decline From 2019-20: The National Center for Education Statistics distributed reading and mathematics assessments to 13-year old’s in the later months of 2022-2023 school year. The scores provided showed a decline in four points in reading assessments and nine points in mathematics assessments. Student “groups” showed the biggest decline in the report. For example, students who were in the school-provided lunch programs and were Black or Hispanic had lower testing scores than others. However, 14% of students, based on the report, admit to reading for fun; suggesting why reading scores were not as low as mathematic scores. 

IV: The Americans with Disabilities Act Celebrates 33^rd Anniversary: On July 26^th, the Americans with Disabilities Act started its 33^rd year in enabling those with disabilities to have full access to employment and educational opportunities. To learn more about how IEL is celebrating the ADA and works to promote the important protections this law provides to the 42.5 million disabled Americans, read our statement.  

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

Events 

Past Event: The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services will post details on pre-recorded informational webinars on designed to provide technical assistance (TA) on July 5^th, 2023. Links to the webinars may be found here.  

Past Event: The Department of Education will be hosting the NAELO Conference in New York from July 10^th– July 12^th, 2023. Details may be found here. 

Past Event: The Department of Education will be hosting the “Raise the Bar: Engage Every Student Summit” on July 13^th, 2023 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Washington D.C.. The link to register can be found here.  

Upcoming Event: The U.S. Department Teach to Lead Fall 2023 Summit will be hosted October 27^th– October 29^th, 2023. Deadlines for registering are on July 14^th, 2023. Applications can be found here.  

Upcoming Event: The Department of Transportation will be hosting a career fair on July 20^th, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. – 4 p.m.. The link to register for this event can be found here.  

Resources  

• The Nation’s Report Card: Report: Scores Decline Again for 13-Year-Old Students in Reading and Mathematics 
• Department of Education: Fact Sheet: How the New SAVE Plan Will Transform Loan Repayment and Protect Borrowers 
• National Conference of State Legislatures: Article: Supreme Court Strikes Down Student Loan Forgiveness Program 

Funding Opportunities 

Federal Register: Education Department 

• NIA: Bureau of Land Management, Interior, Department of Education is proposing for a new K-8 school along with a high school, to  be built in Humboldt, Nevada. This construction will be used to improve education services within the community. (Must receive comments before August 24^th, 2023).  
• NIA: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Department of Education is inviting applications for the fiscal year (FY) 2023 for a National Center for Supporting School Building and Early Intervention Program (EIP) Administrators to Effectively Implement the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Improve Systems Serving Children with Disabilities, Assistance Listing Number 84.325Z. (Deadline for applications is August 18^th, 2023).  

Workforce Development: 

• RFP: The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), Department of Education (ED) is proposing a revision of a currently approved information collection request. (Comments due August 4^th, 2023).  

IEL Policy highlights  

• Three members of the IEL team, Eddie Koen, Donnie Hale, and Michelle Lessly Blackburn, facilitated the Black Learner Excellent Summit in Atlanta, GA earlier this month. In partnership with HCM Strategists and the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education, and funded by the Lumina Foundation, the Summit convened over 40 educators in the Metro Atlanta area to co-create shared commitments and best practices to bring Black Learners back into the postsecondary classroom. 
• IEL and the Coalition for Community Schools sent a letter to the House Appropriations Committee Leadership requesting to restore funding for Full-Service Community Schools to the FY 2023 level, $150 million, plus a 5% set aside for technical assistance. The letter was signed by 197 national, state, and local organizations representing 45 states and the District of Columbia. 
• Several members of the IEL staff engaged in advocacy work around Washington D.C., including: Sabrina Sheikh presented at the U.S. Department of Education’s Engage Every Student Summit about the work IEL is engaging in with youth and youth leadership; Joline Collins supporting the Coalition for Community Schools Steering Committee partners at the Senate Afterschool Caucus event: Afterschool and Summer Learning Programs: Helping Youth Succeed; and, Helen Malone participating in the launch of the One Million Teachers or Color Campaign.