CEC legislative update March 31, 2006

House Budget Committee Rejects $7 billion More for Education, Health Programs;  CEC Calls on Congress to Vote Against the House Budget Resolution

On March 29, the House Budget Committee passed its version of the budget resolution for fiscal year 2007, after defeating an amendment offered by Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), which would have increased funding for education, health and other programs by $7 billion.  The DeLauro amendment, which CEC and its members strongly supported, was defeated by a vote of 22-17.   The budget resolution is expected to be considered by the full House next week. CEC is urging members of the House of Representatives to vote against the House budget resolution as it was passed by the House Budget Committee and instead pass a budget resolution that reflects education as a national priority.  As it is written now, education programs would face cuts, or even total elimination for fiscal year 2007.    

Congressman Mike Castle (R-DE) stated he may offer an amendment similar to the DeLauro amendment. Rep. Castle voiced, “My message is clear: I will not vote for a House Budget Resolution that would result in real cuts to critical federal investments in education, health care, housing, veterans’ services, social and community block grants AND encourage my colleagues who share these priorities to do the same.” However, it is uncertain if the rules of the House will allow him to offer this amendment during consideration by the full House. 

At this stage in the budget process, funding caps are approved for each House and Senate committee, and later – through the appropriations process – actual funding levels for individual programs are determined.  The Senate has already approved its version of the budget resolution – which included an amendment offered by Senators Specter (R-PA) and Harkin (D-IA) that added $7 billion more for education, health and other programs. Click here to visit CEC’s Legislative Action Center to urge your Representative to vote for a pro-education budget resolution!

House Passes Reauthorization of Higher Education Act; Includes Provisions Impacting Students and Educators in Disability Community

On March 30 th, two years after its introduction, the House passed the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act – also called The College Access and Opportunity Act, by a 221-199 vote. 

The Higher Education Act (HEA) authorizes the federal government's major student-aid programs and other important education initiatives.  While the federal government provides only about 9 percent of funding to elementary and secondary schools, it provides roughly 30 percent of funds for higher education.  The current authorization of the Act expired two years ago, although Congress has passed intermediate measures to extend HEA funding provisions without actually reauthorizing the entire Act.  

H.R 609, the bill that the House passed yesterday, includes provisions of interest to special educators.  For example, H.R. 609 contains numerous provisions to address the shortage of special education teachers and the requirement that special education teachers be highly qualified under IDEA 2004.  Like its Senate companion bill, H.R 609 allows funds from the state grant program to be used to increase the number of special education faculty positions at colleges and universities.  Also, like the Senate bill, H.R. 609 continues the reauthorization of Demonstration Projects to Ensure Students with Disabilities Receive Quality Higher Education.

An amendment to H.R. 609, which the House passed by voice vote with strong bipartisan support, will provide students with intellectual disabilities access to federal work-study funds.   According to the amendment's author, Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX), approximately 94 higher education institutions nationwide offer programs for students with intellectual disabilities.   However, these students are not able to access federal work-study funds due to disqualifying factors such as the absence of a high school diploma or enrollment in non-degree education programs.

The bill includes a number of other provisions, such as allowing Pell grant recipients to receive their grants year-round, and it creates a College Affordability Index, which, according to the House Education and Workforce Committee, would take existing information and present it to students and families in a new format that can be useful as they make decisions about attending college.  This index provides an "apples to apples" comparison of tuition growth - similar to the Consumer Price Index.

Center on Education Policy Releases NCLB Status Report

On Tuesday, the Center on Education Policy (CEP) released its fourth annual report on the implementation of NCLB, titled From the Capital to the Classroom – Year 4 of the No Child Left Behind Act. Based on an analysis of a comprehensive survey at the state, district and local levels, as well as case studies from across the country, CEP concluded that there are many strengths and weaknesses to the law, and NCLB is impacting teaching and learning, student achievement, and urban school districts are feeling a greater impact.   In addition, the report found that accountability provisions have remained steady over the last year. Click here to read the full report, case studies and press release

Commission on NCLB Announces First Hearing in California

The Commission on No Child Left Behind, led by former Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson and former Georgia Governor Ray Barnes, announced the first in a series of nationwide hearings on NCLB.  This first hearing, is to be held at California State Polytechnic University on April 11, and will focus on teacher quality, recruitment, retention and distribution.  The Commission will be submitting recommendations to Congress in preparation for NCLB reauthorization in 2007. 

Department of Education Releases Priorities for Parent Information Centers

After consideration of public input, the Department of Education has released priorities and eligibility requirements for the Parental Information and Resource Centers (PIRC).  PIRC projects seek to provide parents with guidance to meeting the educational needs of their children.  As authorized by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, the recipients of PIRC grants must: serve both rural and urban areas; to use at least one-half of the funds awarded to a project to serve areas with high concentrations of low-income families; and to use at least 30 percent of the funds awarded to a project to establish, expand, or operate early childhood parent education programs. The priorities include:

• Geographic Distribution of Awards: Highest-Ranking Application in a State
• Statewide Impact of PIRC Services
• Understanding State and Local Report Cards and Opportunities for Public School Choice and Supplemental Educational Services
• Technical Assistance in the Implementation of Local Educational Agency and School Parental Involvement Policy Under Section 1118 of the ESEA
• Geographic Distribution of Awards: Consideration of the Size of the Student Enrollment in a State

Click here to read the Federal Register Announcement.

Hope to See You in Salt Lake City for CEC’s Annual Convention!

We hope you will be joining us and thousands of your colleagues at CEC’s Annual Convention & Expo next week in Salt Lake City, Utah from April 5-8.  Don’t miss this opportunity to attend seminars by special education experts! 

Due to the Convention, CEC’s Public Policy Update will not be distributed next week, but will resume on April 14 th.