CE News: 10-12- 17

SERVing, the Secretary, and a Staff Announcement

October 12, 2017

Hurricane Relief Bill Includes

Private Schools

Last week, President Trump signed into law a hurricane relief package that includes language expanding equitable services under the Project SERV program. Project SERV "funds short-term and long-term education-related services for local educational agencies (LEAs) and institutions of higher education (IHEs) to help them recover from a violent or traumatic event in which the learning environment has been disrupted." The new law will ensure equitable services for eligible private schools. If this applies to you, please reach out for any assistance in ensuring access.

Department of Education's

Private Schools Day

At the end of September, the U.S. Department of Education held its annual day-long gathering for non-government school leaders. The day featured an address by Secretary DeVos and discussion of the Trinity Lutheran case, amid networking and best practices for school officials. The newest additions to the crowd were the dozen or more ombudsmen in from states as far as Hawaii. Read more about the day in CAPE's Outlook.

Online ESSA Forum

Sign up now to become a member of the online ESSA Forum created by yours truly! These message boards are a resource for first-timers to equitable services and a place to share concerns or successes about consulting on behalf of your students and teachers. Once you've made an account, bookmark the website and come back often to share your wisdom or seek that of others.

Staff Departure

It is with truly bittersweet emotions I share that in December, your author will be leaving his post at the USCCB and moving back home to Pittsburgh. The opportunity arose recently, and with my wife and 1-year-old in tow, I am looking forward to being near family and down the street from where I grew up. Please pray for us as we transition and know of my prayers for all you great educators. It has been a joy and an encouragement to meet and work with so many sincere Catholics devoted to preparing students for success in this life and (more importantly!) the next.

The Secretariat for Catholic Education is actively seeking a candidate for Associate Director of Public Policy. The job description is posted here if you know of someone who might be interested in applying.

As always, please share with me your ideas, suggestions, and experiences by emailing gdolan@usccb.org

Best,
Greg

USCCB Secretariat of Catholic Education | 202-541-3148 | gdolan@usccb.org | http://tinyurl.com/CatholicEdPolicy