All4Ed Flash

Congress leaves Build Back Better on the backburner as they prepare for a Supreme Court nomination, but looming deadlines may force them to move on FY2022 appropriations or face a government shutdown. House Democrats also unveiled the America Competes Bill, which includes provisions to expand STEM pathways, the Supreme Court takes up an affirmative action case that could reshape race-conscious admissions policies, and the U.S. Department of Education considers public comments on its efforts to advance educational equity through key data collections and accountability measures. Meanwhile, Secretary Cardona shared his vision for education in a major speech, outlining the Biden administration’s priorities moving forward. All4Ed Website: https://all4ed.org

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Congress ends the year on a low note, as Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) strikes a major blow to the Build Back Better Act. Is this the end of the line for the social spending and climate change bill, including its investments to close the digital divide and expand access to child care and preschool? Plus, the Biden administration reconsiders its plans to end the moratorium on student loan repayments in early 2022 and issues new guidance to support states as they resume—and hopefully, improve—their accountability and school improvement efforts next fall. Finally, families and educators are more dedicated than ever to supporting student learning, and a new round of federal grants to support parent and family engagement could help. All4Ed Website: https://all4ed.org

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Congress finds solutions to keep the government open and raise the debt ceiling, making room for further debate on the Build Back Better Act and delaying any increase in federal education funding until mid-February, at the earliest. Plus, Jessica Rosenworcel is confirmed as the first woman to lead the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and pressure mounts on the Biden administration to further delay the restart of student loan payments, which have been on pause since the start of the pandemic. Finally, the nation grapples with yet another horrific school shooting and how to keep students safe. All4Ed Website: https://all4ed.org

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The Alliance for Excellent Education is now officially All4Ed. The House sends the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to President Biden’s desk, while Democrats work to move their social spending bill – the Build Back Better Act – to the finish line. Plus, the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control have given the greenlight to COVID vaccines for young children, and we recap the role education played in key gubernatorial l races. All4Ed Website: https://all4ed.org

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Congress remains at a standstill over budget reconciliation, infrastructure, and raising the debt limit—with President Biden’s free community college proposal hanging in the balance. Senate leaders also put forward a budget proposal with key education investments, including doubling the Title I program, even though the bill faces an uncertain future. Meanwhile, the Department of Education welcomes new senior officials as it continues to address student loan debt and grapple with new, disappointing results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress. All4Ed Website: https://all4ed.org

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Congress avoids a government shutdown by passing a nine-week continuing resolution through December 3rd , while it continues to negotiate a bipartisan infrastructure package alongside the Biden administration’s Build Back Better Act— and simultaneously avoid a default on the nation’s debt. In the meantime, the administration takes a critical first step to rewrite the rules for relieving student loan burdens for many, especially teachers. Plus, the latest on how leaders across the country—with support from the federal government—are taking stronger stances on vaccine and mask requirements for students. All4Ed Website: https://all4ed.org

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The Biden Administration continues to support vaccine and mask requirements in public schools to ensure student and educator safety, while the U.S. Department of Education began efforts to collect data on the use of recovery funds. Meanwhile, committees in the House of Representatives released their proposals for the $3.5 trillion budget bill, the Build Back Better Act, including four years of additional public education through universal pre-K for three- and four-year-olds and two years of tuition-free community college. Though these Congressional efforts to expand public education are laudable, funds for early college programs and high school to postsecondary transition efforts should be included as well, so that free community college programs do not create perverse incentives against participation in college in high school programs. All4Ed Website: https://all4ed.org

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Senate Democrats passed a $3.5 trillion budget resolution, including universal pre-K and two years of free community college. The Senate also passed a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill that includes important investments to remove lead pipes in school and connect low-income households to the internet. Finally, as back to school approaches, we cover the latest guidance on school reopening, including new guidance from the U.S. Department of Education on the American Rescue Plan’s (ARP) Maintenance of Equity requirement and approval of ARP plans from 27 states and Washington, D.C. All4Ed Website: https://all4ed.org

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