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Federal Legislative Update

Federal Legislative Update. Washington’s College- and Career-Readiness Agenda. Brendan Desetti, ACTE Legislative Liaison. CTE’s Voice of the Field. A dvocates with Congress, the Department of Education, Department of Labor and other federal departments and agencies

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Federal Legislative Update

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  1. Federal Legislative Update Washington’s College- and Career-Readiness Agenda Brendan Desetti, ACTE Legislative Liaison

  2. CTE’s Voice of the Field • Advocates with Congress, the Department of Education, Department of Labor and other federal departments and agencies • Through grassroots efforts, ensures policymakers hear from the CTE community • Represents CTE in national education dialogue through partnerships with national education policy organizations • One of the few organizations focused on national public awareness issues pertaining to CTE

  3. Current Political Climate • As we close in on elections, Congress is on recess putting lawmaking on hold • Only bigger pieces of legislation are moving with pre-agreed upon arrangements • Funding issues are driving the debate…even on authorizing issues

  4. Congressional Recess Schedule Senate RecessHouse Recess Sept. 22-Nov. 11 Sept. 22-Nov. 11 Christmas Break? November 21-30 December 13---

  5. Happening Now… • FY 2015 Continuing Resolution (CR) • Reauthorizations • Elementary and Secondary Education Act • Carl D. Perkins CTE Act • E-Rate • Higher Education Act • Trending Topics • STEM • College- and Career-Readiness • Jobs/skills Gap & Meeting Employer Needs

  6. Education Funding

  7. FY14 Federal Budget Breakdown Education 2% Interest 6% Defense 17% Other Mandatory 16%

  8. Impact of FY13 Sequestration

  9. Sequestration Realities • Education funding cuts were restored on average 80% in FY14 (Oct. 2013 – 2014) • Title I & IDEA restored ~85-90% • REAP restored 100% (aka 2004 levels) • CTE restored ~91% • FY15 total education funding level from FY14 • No room for program funding boosts

  10. President’s FY 15 Budget Request • Total education funding increased by over $1 billion ($69 billion) • Level Funds Perkins State Grants ($1.118 billion) • Does not fully restore to pre-sequester • National Programs remain at sequester level • Proposes set-aside from Perkins State Grants • $100 million for competitive innovation fund, including $10 million for “Pay-for-Success” projects • Reflects department’s blueprint for reauthorization of Perkins CTE Act • Proposes new programs to accomplish his goals

  11. FY 15 Appropriations Process • Caps for each of the 12 subcommittees (302(b)) • Labor, HHS and Education • Current FY 14: $156.8 billion • House FY 15: $155.7 billion • Senate FY 15: $156.8 billion • Perkins funding will come from this total • House and Senate Appropriations Committees will write FY 15 funding bills

  12. FY 15 Appropriations Process • Senate subcommittee markup June 10 • Full bill text finally released in July • Perkins received a $5.4 million increase! • Full committee markup postponed indefinitely • House never schedule a markup or released a bill • Congress passed short-term continuing resolution in mid-September • Will work to pass full-year appropriations package before December

  13. Key FY 2015 Appropriations Messages • Education has taken the brunt of cuts for many years and we cannot sustain anymore! • Remaining sequestration cuts must be restored! • Support existing, proven programs to accomplish reform and innovation ideas not new, competitive programs • Congress must make investing in CTE a top priority to prepare college- and career-ready students

  14. ESEA Reauthorization

  15. 113th Congress • Student Success Act (H.R.5) • AASA supports • Significant departure from current law with most responsibility and decision-making at state and local levels • Strengthening America’s Schools Act (S.1094) • More of an update to current law • Codifies Race to the Top and i3 programs

  16. ESEA – College & Career Readiness • Both chambers attempted to bring college and career readiness to the forefront through standards development • Neither truly capture career readiness • Senate still stuck on “college then career” readiness • House left most decisions to the state and local, but no incentivizes for career readiness

  17. ESEA Waivers • Issued in exchange for state developed plans to raise educational outcomes for all students • Provide relief from AYP & other NCLB provisions • Intended to be temporary but waivers have been renewed for additional school year • It’s poor policy but likely to have impact on a future reauthorization of ESEA

  18. Waivers & Career Readiness • States reinvent accountability for college and career ready students • Industry-recognized credentials • Technical skill measures • CTE graduation requirements • Extra credit for diploma+ • AK expanded school performance index to include career readiness assessments

  19. Perkins CTE Act Reauthorization

  20. Administration’s CTE Blueprint • CTE Blueprint Released spring 2012 • Key themes of: Alignment, Collaboration, Accountability, Innovation • Concerns related to many aspects, particularly competitive funding and mandatory consortia grants • Not getting much positive attention on Hill

  21. House Activity • Subcommittee hearing, 9/20/13 • Full Committee hearing, 11/19/13 • Field hearing in Las Vegas, 3/18/14 • Big focus on industry partnerships, certifications, and secondary-postsecondary pathways • Likely to turn to Perkins in next Congress

  22. Senate Activity • No formal activity on Perkins, but possibility early next Congress depending on control • Senate staff are gathering information • Key themes: • Labor market alignment • Public-private partnerships • Secondary-postsecondary connections • Performance/accountability • Innovation/best practices

  23. ACTE Activities • Now working on specific legislative language (AASA approved) • Working closely with congressional staff; particularly Caucus and Committees • Helped form a coalition of groups interested in the law • Organizing school visits and briefings for Hill staff, educational briefings for press, etc

  24. ACTE Perkins Guiding Principles • Redefine the Federal Role in CTE • Target Expenditures • Define Program Quality Elements • Ensure Relevant and Consistent Data • Offer Incentives for Innovation • Provide the Infrastructure to Support the System

  25. E-Rate Program

  26. E-Rate Modifications • FCC voted on program updates in July, which AASA supported. • Not perfect but is better than initial proposal • Changes of Note: • Funding cap unchanged but some existing funds freed up for next two years (FCC re-examining funding cap) • Poverty indicator moved from school level to district level • Rural / Urban status will be determined by Census Bureau Definitions. Do NOT use Rural Healthy Care.

  27. E-Rate Service Changes • ‘Priority One and Two’ are now ‘Category One and Two’ • Category 1: • Applicants will be funded before any Category 2 • Voice services will phase out over 5 years • Legacy services ineligible effective 2015-16 • Category 2: • Per-pupil cap of $150 over next five years for Wi-Fi and other services, such as maintenance.

  28. Higher Education Act

  29. Higher Education Act • Senate draft bill poses significant administrative burden for local school districts • Educator Quality Partnership Grants require collecting and reporting significant data by LEAs • Educator Prep program requires LEAs to report job placement rates & student growth rates

  30. Addt’l Areas of Concern • Unclear and narrow definitions plague the bill: • Rural Low Income School • High Need School • High-Quality Professional Development • Student Growth • New dual enrollment program is prescriptive • Requires postsecondary faculty teaching courses in secondary schools

  31. Stakeholder Advocacy

  32. Advocacy Opportunities • Visit Member state offices to meet with staff • Attend a town hall or other event featuring your member • Op-Eds & Letters to the Editor • Campaign events right now are a great way to communicate with policymakers & potential policymakers

  33. Host a School Visit • Coordinate a date with your Member to come see your program. • What is this typically? • One of the most effective means of driving support • Check out our tips on setting up school visits on our online Advocacy Toolkit - http://bit.ly/1mLE6Of • School tour showing off CTE programs • Opportunities for the Member to speak with teachers and students • Opportunity for Member to speak about his or her CTE priorities to media, students and teachers

  34. Key Resources • Online Advocacy Toolkit • CTE Action Center • CTE Policy Watch Blog • ACTE News – Policy Section • Legislative Alerts • Fact Sheets • Issue Briefs/Sheets

  35. New Sector Fact Sheets

  36. Infographics

  37. Contact Information Association for Career and Technical Education 1410 King Street Alexandria, VA 22314 800-826-9972 www.acteonline.org Brendan Desetti – bdesetti@acteonline.org

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