Advocacy & Education: Your Voice Needs to be Heard

1. Advocacy & Education: Your Voice Needs to be Heard MIDWEST Conference Dubuque, IA May 22, 2012

2. Today’s Session • What is Advocacy? • Iowa Issues • Minnesota Issues • Wisconsin Issue • National Issues • Take Action & Get Involved

3. Advocacy 101

4. You are an Advocate! • “Advocacy” is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as public support for a particular cause or policy, or pleading a case on someone else’s behalf. • As a professional: you are an expert on college access • As a constituent: you are an expert on your community Source: www.nacacnet.org

5. Why Lawmakers Need You • They work for you! • Lawmakers depend on constituents and advocates to learn about emerging issues or problems • Lawmakers are held accountable for how well they deal with the needs and wants of constituents Source: www.nacacnet.org

6. Do the Math • 535 members of the House & Senate= several thousand bills and amendments in any given session • A given member of Congress can work on approximately 100 bills and amendments • There are probably 10 bills lawmakers really care about • The likelihood that our issues make in into the top 10=very slim! Source: www.nacacnet.org

7. Iowa Issues

8. Iowa Professional School Counselors • Keep legislators informed on how important counselors are in helping student achievement in our schools • Counselors are retiring and not being replaced in the school districts • It is important to make sure everyone understands the role of a school counselor on every level—local, state and federal

9. Rural Access • Economic difficulties disproportionately affect rural communities. Small schools, cuts in faculty & budget issues contribute to districts’ inabilities to provide the skills & programs necessary for many students from rural communities to have access at the same levels of higher education as those from larger, more stable school districts. Source: The Forgotten Middle: Ensuring that All Students are on Target for College and Career Readiness before High School, ACT, 2009.

10. Wisconsin Iowa Minnesota

11. Institution Funding • Community Colleges • $13.5 million in general aid plus more for workforce training programs • Regent Universities • Funding increased by $23 million • Private Colleges and Universities • The Iowa Tuition Grant was increased to $3,840 per year for eligible students

12. Governor Branstad’s Education Reform Plan • Passed the House, but did not pass in the Senate. • Students need to show reading skills at the 3rd grade level or get summer tutoring or repeat the 3rd grade • Limits number of students who can enroll in on-line programs to 900 statewide • Requires assessment testing in teacher- preparation programs • More proposals will be addressed next year.

13. Minnesota issues

14. Minnesota • Minnesota legislature – Financial Woes • Access and Affordability Issues • School Counselor Ratios • Rigorous Curriculum • State Grants • Our Advocacy • Action Alerts • Annual Day on the Hill • Election Year 2012 – What should you be doing? (Advocating!) • Keep in mind, there is a lot of political posturing going on • Learn candidate stances on education issues • Share your voice early in the process • There has been some redistricting in MN, which may impact elections. • Major elections • One US Senate seat: Sen. Klobuchar (DFL) • All US House seats – Districts 1-8 (Evenly numbered DFL/GOP) • All 67 MN Senate seats (37-30 GOP) • All 134 MN House seats (72-62 GOP)

15. MN Advocacy – Financial Woes • The state is required to have a balanced budget, so it borrows from K-12 schools. • The state owes school districts $2.8 billion dollars. • During a normal year: • 90% of payments made to schools during the FY. 10% of payments made in October after FY end to ensure accurate enrollment numbers. • During the last four years: • 60% of payments made to schools during FY. 40% ($700 million) promised at a later date and has yet to be paid. • Paying back the schools and changing the budget process to prevent such large delayed payments may be the next big statewide advocacy push across various professional and educational associations

16. Minnesota – Access – Counselor Ratios • Minnesota: 771 students per counselor • 3rd worst in the country, only behind AZ and CA • 38 states do better than the average, 12 do not. • National Average: 459 • Wisconsin: 453 • Iowa: 396 • South Dakota: 375 • North Dakota: 327 • NACAC and ASCA recommend 250:1. • Challenges • Maintenance of Effort was repealed in 2012. • MOE resulted in zero new positions for school support staff • School board associations opposed it—wanted more flexibility in staffing their schools. • HF1272 and SF1073 approved in 2012 with language supportive of postsecondary transitions, but still lacking a mandate that would require action.

17. MN – Access – Rigorous Curriculum Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) – HF2025 and SF1531 in 2012 • 10thGrade PSEO now exists for career/technical courses • 10thgrade students must have taken the MN Comprehensive Assessments (MCA) 8th grade Reading exam to be eligible. • Exciting news, but who will help these students navigate this process? What if they get poor grades starting out? Will students be prepared for their own state graduation exams?

18. MN – Affordability – State Grant • Maximum State Grant is $9,620. • 112,528 recipients, averaged around $4,566 • Need-based (90% have an AGI below $50,000), based on parent contribution from the FAFSA, not the overall Expected Family Contribution. • State Grant reduces dollar for dollar when Pell Grant eligible. Ex. Instead of $9,620 MSG, might have $5,550 Pell and $4,070 MSG. • Potential Issue?: The state might spend more in FY2012 due to tightening of Pell Grant eligibility. As of February 2012, MN Office of Higher Education did not agree. They were projecting reduced spending in FY2012, which would result in a surplus at the end of FY2013. No rationing is expected.

19. Wisconsin issues

20. Wisconsin Legislative Issues • Wisconsin/Minnesota reciprocation funding retracted. Can we keep that money in higher education funding • Continued conversations around the merging of Wisconsin Higher Education Grant and Wisconsin Tuition Grant • Statutory Committee reviewing the UW System restructuring is to report its work in July.  They will be looking at the procurement process, if campuses should have advisory committees to help the chancellor and also the role of setting tuition.  Currently there is no direction, limits, guidelines, etc. on setting tuition levels. • Milwaukee Goes to College Week • Day on the Hill June 13th

21. National Issues

22. NACAC Priorities for the 112th Congress • NACAC Staff in Washington, D.C. • Work directly with legislators on our behalf • Set policy agenda annually • Are available for you – working with legislative bodies in your state • Two major components to NACAC legislative priorities: • College Access • Student Protection

23. NACAC Priorities for the 112th Congress College Access Agenda • Access to Quality Counseling • Need-based Financial Aid • Rigorous Curriculum for All Students Student Protection Agenda • Protect Students in the Admission Process • Protect Student Borrowers • Protect Taxpayer Dollars

24. College Access Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Reauthorization • ESEA Authorizes funding of federal K-12 education programs • Last Reauthorization was in 2001, the No Child Left Behind Act. • Has been due for reauthorization since 2007 • Some states were awarded exemptions from portions of the law this fall • Unclear if it will actually hit the floor for a final vote this year (it’s an election year)

25. College Access Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Reauthorization • When reauthorization actually happens, NACAC recommends language from Pathways to College Act be included • Specifically to allow ESEA funds to go towards: • Professional development specific to advising • Implementing a comprehensive college guidance program • Creating or maintaining a postsecondary [college and career] access center • Train students who specialize in the college-going process

26. College Access Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Reauthorization • Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pension’s version include much of the Pathways language • Committee Chairman: Senator Tom Harkin (IA) • House Committee on Education and the Workforce did not • Committee Chairman: Congressman John Kline (MN) • Bill still has to go to Conference Committee • Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Program (ESSCP) • Has been funded through ESEA, but both versions of the bill have eliminated this program

27. College Access Need-based Financial Aid NACAC Recommendations • Maintain investment in the Pell Grant • Continues to receive wide political support • Increase investment in SEOG and Work Study • Improve access to student aid through simplification of the application process and making loans more affordable for student borrowers

28. NACAC Priorities for the 112th Congress College Access Agenda • Access to Quality Counseling • Need-based Financial Aid • Rigorous Curriculum for All Students Student Protection Agenda • Protect Students in the Admission Process • Protect Student Borrowers • Protect Taxpayer Dollars

29. Student Protection Protect Students in the Admissions Process The U.S. Department of Educations regulatory efforts that protect student and the integrity of the Title IV Federal Student Aid programs are critically important to prevent aggressive and misleading recruitment tactics. NACAC urges support for program integrity regulations for college admission activities, in particular: • Incentive Compensation • Misrepresentation of Information to Students • Definition of a High School Diploma • Ability to Benefit Tests Source: NACAC

30. Student Protection Protect Student Borrowers Private student loans are one of the riskiest ways to pay for postsecondary education, as they typically have uncapped, variable interest rates that victimize borrowers who can least afford them and reward irresponsible lenders. Private loans also lack the basic consumer protections and flexible repayment options of federal student loans. • Amend the Higher Education Act (HEA) to require that colleges certify private loans and inform student of any untapped federal loan eligibility before taking on a private student loan. • Amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) to include financial literacy education in college counseling programs to equip students with information necessary for taking on federal and private loans. • Amend bankruptcy law to enable private student loans to be discharged in bankruptcy. Source: NACAC

31. Student Protection Protect Taxpayer Dollars There exists an opportunity for fraud and abuse in weakening in the HEA’s 90/10 Rule. This provision was enacted to ensure that in institution must receive 10% of its revenue from a source other than the federal government, assuring that the business sustain some degree of market viability. This rule also helps protect against “sub-prime” practices that target low-income students for their taxpayer-funded education benefits. • Strengthen the 90/10 Rule to protect federal student aid program, ultimately taxpayer, dollars. • Amend the HEA to include funds from the U.S. Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs when calculating the 90/10 Rule. Source: NACAC

32. The DREAM Act • Supreme Court decided in 1982 that undocumented students should not be held liable for their immigration status  • Approx. 60,000 undocumented students graduate from U.S. high schools annually, but are unable to enroll in college: they are ineligible for in-state tuition and other programs • Undocumented students: • would be permitted to apply for conditional residency status if they have graduated from a U.S. high school and have been admitted to an institution of higher education.  • would be granted permanent residency if they obtain a college degree, complete two years toward a postsecondary degree, or serve in the military within six years of obtaining a high school degree • Still gets mentioned at Capitol Hill, but doesn’t seem likely we’ll see movement until next Congress Source: NACAC

33. Take Action & Get Involved

34. Get Involved • Get to know you your legislators are in the NACAC Legislative Action Center • Legislative Action Alerts • Listservs/MemberToMember • Write or E-mail your Representatives • Visit the Hill – in your state or in Washington DC! • NACAC Legislative Conference • Local Legislative Briefings • At church, grocery store, on the street • Vote!

35. Action Alert

36. GovRel Intel

37. Legislative Activity Iowa Visit the Hill Feb. 22, 2012 Minnesota Day on the Hill Feb 22, 2012 NACAC Hill Visits in DC March 5, 2012

38. QUESTIONS? Julie Fopma, Iowa ACAC Brian Weber, Minnesota ACAC Kevin Rusk, Minnesota ACAC Robin Hamilton, Wisconsin ACAC