Summary of federal policy action this past month and a look-ahead to the next few weeks/month
I: Mike Johnson elected Speaker of the House: On October 25th, Congressman Mike Johnson (R-LA-4) was elected the 56th Speaker of the House. His election came after three weeks of House Republicans attempting to fill the Speakership after ousting Kevin McCarthy (R-CA-20). Speaker Johnson, a less public but well-respected member of the House among his peers, will need to act quickly to get a budget passed before the November 17th deadline to avoid a government shutdown.
II: Government Faces Shutdown: The continuing resolution that has kept the federal government open since September 30th expires on November 17th. Congress has made little progress toward passing a budget in the 45 days granted by the “CR,” due in part to the vacant Speakership and conflicts in the House between members refusing to vote in favor of any bills that do include drastic cuts in spending—specifically on health and education-related programs—and ongoing debates about sending aid to Ukraine and Israel.
III. 2023 National Partnership for Student Success Summit: On November 1st, the U.S. Department of Education hosted the first NPSS Summit, celebrating the first anniversary of this public-private partnership to support states, school districts, and youth-serving organizations in creating, expanding, and improving high-quality tutoring, mentoring, and other student-support programs. Watch the Recording here.
Policy-related events and resources of interest, including federal funding opportunities
Events
- FutureEd is hosting the webinar Community Organizing in Education on November 14th at 2:30 pm ET. More information can be found here.
- National Center for Grown Your Own is hosting the webinar Strengthening the Educator Workforce Through the National Registered Apprenticeship in Teaching District Network on November 16th at 3:30 pm ET. More information can be found here.
- Education Week is hosting the virtual forum Making Learning Recovery Work on November 16th at 2:00 pm. ET. More information can be found here.
- The California Center for School Climate is hosting the webinar The Art of Connecting: Strategies for Authentic Partnerships on November 16th from 10:00 am to 11:30 am PT. Click here for more information.
- The U.S. Department of Labor Women’s Bureau is hosting the webinar Young Women in Apprenticeship: Starting Early on the Road to High Pay on November 16th from 2:00-3:30 pm ET. Click here for more information.
- Secretary Cardona and the U.S. Department of Education will host a live, online celebration Parent Partnership: Secretary Cardona and Friends Celebrate National Parent Involvement Day on November 16th at 7:00 pm ET. More information can be found here.
Resources
- Learning Policy Institute: Fact Sheet: Improving Student Outcomes Through Restorative Practices
- Education Week: Article: Why Governors are Exerting More Control over Schools
- FutureED: Explainer: Tracking State Trends in Chronic Absenteeism
- National Conference of State Legislatures: Report: The Top 10 Education Trends in 2023
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 30th, 2023.
IEL Policy Highlights:
- IEL and the Coalition for Community Schools signed on the Education Trust’s letter to request Congress to work together to pass a bipartisan, bicameral Fiscal Year 2024 budget.
- The Coalition for Community Schools led a sign-on letter, with 97 sign-ons from 29 states and D.C., requesting the House Committee on Rules not permit the House’s Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Other Related Agencies bill to go to the floor for a vote without first going through the full committee. The bill, as currently written, will make drastic cuts to public education, including eliminating components of Title I, many student aid and grant programs, Full-Service Community Schools, and Statewide Family Engagement Centers.