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A bi-weekly e-brief of the DEC Children's Action Network
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WHAT'S
HAPPENING
IN
WASHINGTON
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On November 21st, the U.S. Department of Education released guidance for fiscal changes and equitable services requirements under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The guidance highlights changes to: Title 1, Part A within-state allocations; Title 1 within-district allocations; Title II, Part A allocations; maintenance of effort requirements; and transferability requirements. The ESSA also makes a number of changes to the equitable services requirements for private school students in Title I and Title VIII. This document discusses these specific changes and is designed to support states, districts, and schools in implementing ESSA.
- Please note that these changes DO NOT affect IDEA's requirements on equitable services for children with disabilities. Updates to Title I, Part D - Prevention and intervention programs for children and youth who are neglected, delinquent, or at-risk- are included and may be of interest.
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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has updated the resource guide "Spotlighting Progress in Policy and Supports", illustrating how states and local leaders are developing and using policies and supports to prevent and reduce suspension and expulsion in early childhood settings.
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President-elect Donald Trump has selected the following individuals to key positions within his transition and/or administration (note that all nominees must first be confirmed by the U.S. Senate in order to take office):
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- James F. Manning was chosen to head the transition at the U.S. Department of Education. Manning has worked in government since the Carter administration, holding positions in the Education Department's offices of federal student aid, postsecondary education, and civil rights. Manning served as Chief of Staff to the Deputy Education Secretary under George W. Bush and acting chief operating officer of federal student aid in the Obama administration.
- Betsy DeVos was nominated as Education Secretary. DeVos is a billionaire, philanthropist, former Michigan Republican Party chairwoman, and top GOP donor. She leads the American Federation for Children, an organization that promotes charter schools.
- Tom Price was nominated as Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). Price is a Republican Representative for the 6th Congressional District of Georgia who chairs the House Budget Committee. He has served as a Representative since 2005. He previously served four terms in the Georgia State Senate, twice as Minority Whip, and was the 1st Republican Senate Majority Leader in the state's history. Prior to obtaining elected office, Price was an orthopaedic surgeon for almost 20 years.
- Seema Verma was nominated as the head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. She is the President, CEO, and founder of SVC, Inc., a health policy consultancy. In this capacity, she worked closely with Indiana governor vice-president-elect Mike Pence to develop Indiana's Medicaid expansion program known as the Healthy Indiana Plan 2.0. She has worked in the field of public health since the mid-90s.
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A vote on the federal budget continuing resolution (CR) is expected prior to the December 9th deadline. It is expected that both houses of Congress will pass a CR at current funding levels effective through at least March 31st. Congressional leaders are uncertain whether they may need to extend the CR longer, given the numerous confirmation hearings the Senate will need to undertake once the new administration takes office.
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A Message from Linda K. Smith, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Early Childhood Development, Libby Doggett, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Policy and Early Learning and Charles Homer, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Human Services Policy: On November 17th, "the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (
HHS) and Education (
ED) released
a
joint report that will help states refine their capacity to use existing data from early childhood programs to improve services for young children and families. The report covers key considerations when states integrate data and highlights progress in eight states that are actively developing and using early childhood integrated data systems (ECIDS). It also discusses technical assistance, includes resources available to states for ECIDS development, and reflects on lessons learned from additional states when approaching this work." For a summary, see the
DEC news update.
Other updates, courtesy of the Council for Exceptional Children:
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What Happens Now? Countdown to Inauguration Day
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Save the Date for the third annual Special Education Legislative Summit (SELS)!
Please be sure to mark your calendars for July 9th-12th, 2017!
Now more than ever we need your participation and support! It will be vital to initiate relationships with your newly elected members of Congress on Capitol Hill, as well as continue conversations with current members of Congress! DEC Subdivision CAN Coordinators welcome!
If you have any questions, please contact Katie Grady at 703-264-9498 or at
katieg@cec.sped.org. More logistical details including schedules and registration will follow in the upcoming months.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
★ DEC VOICES ARE NEEDED NOW TO SUPPORT IDEA FUNDING! THIS MEANS ALL OF US!
Discussions are underway now and decisions will be made very soon about funding for all federal programs for the current fiscal year (October 1, 2016, through Sept 30, 2017). While it is likely that current funding levels will continue through the end of March with the expected passage of another continuing resolution (CR), your elected officials need to know where you stand on these issues NOW.
Your voices are needed now to be sure your Representative and both Senators to the U.S. Congress know how important it is fully fund IDEA and other early childhood programs!
Your action now is particularly important since current proposals for IDEA programs call for a freeze at last year's funding level for most programs including Part C and Preschool 619. We have serious concerns that the House has recommended significant cuts in the Part D Program, including in State Personnel Development, Technical Assistance and Dissemination, Personal Preparation and Technology, and Media Services. If these programs are cut as proposed, it is unlikely that there will be any new grant competitions in FFY 2017.
What Can You Do to Support IDEA Funding?
2.
Write your members of Congress NOW! CEC has prepared a letter, which you can personalize if you wish, that will be automatically sent to your Senators and your Representative. It takes only a few minutes!
3. Ask at least 2 friends to also send letters through the CEC site. We need many, many voices!
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DEC
NEWS
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- DEC is still seeking a new Policy and Advocacy Council Chair! Ashley Lyons has served as Council Chair since its inception in 2014, but will now be transitioning into a new role at DEC focused on building up the Children's Action Network.DEC believes strongly in building leadership, and it is time for a new chair to continue the important work of planning and supporting DEC policy and advocacy activities that reflect the formal position of DEC, including developing and maintaining strategies and initiatives that are central to supporting DEC's mission and beliefs. Please consider applying today! The application will remain open until December 15th and a new Chair will be named before the start of the new year.
- We continue to seek new members who are interested in supporting our work. New members to the DEC Policy Council will be considered "at-large" and will shadow existing members to ensure a smooth transition. If you want to stay up-to-date about what is happening in the field and within DEC and would like to lend your voice, please complete our the application survey so we can match you to opportunities that fit best with your interest, experience, and availability. The meeting schedule for 2017 will be determined by the incoming Chair and will be posted when available.
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Children's Action Network
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UPCOMING DEC POLICY & ADVOCACY EVENTS
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TELL US
THINK
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★ Will you (or have you) contacted your Senators and Representatives about IDEA funding?
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If you are a CAN Coordinator, will you create a CAN card?
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Have you registered for the December 12th DEC Advocacy Webinar?
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Will you commit to attend (or watch if unable to attend live) quarterly advocacy webinars?
★ Will you apply, or ask a colleague to apply, for the Policy and Advocacy Council Chair position?
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| Have an early childhood special education policy or advocacy story you would like to share? Whether you are a Subdivision leader/member or just an interested DEC member unaffiliated with a Subdivision, contact brittany@dec-sped.org or DEC CAN Coordinator anlyons@kent.edu to share what's happening in your state or Subdivision or just to bring awareness to an important policy or advocacy issue relevant to DEC.
Please note that all story submissions must be non-partisan in nature. If you are interested in guidance on how to craft your story and/or how to ensure it is non-partisan, Ashley Lyons will be happy to help! Selected stories will be shared in a future issue of YES DEC CAN!
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