NAPE Public Policy Update
Administration
Civil Rights Groups to Marcus: Enforce Civil Rights
(Courtesy of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights)
The Leadership Conference and 23 civil rights groups sent a letter to Kenneth Marcus, the newly confirmed Assistant Secretary of Education for Civil Rights. Read more >>  

The Delay in Implementing IDEA Regulations Harms Children
(Courtesy of Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates)
 In swift reaction to the U.S. Department of Education's final notice delaying the implementation of regulations on significant disproportionality, known as the Equity in IDEA regulations. Read more >>

Education Department Delays Regulation That Helps Minority Students Access Special Education
(Courtesy of David Card and the National Disability Rights Network)
On June 29, 2018, the Department of Education chose to delay a regulation intended to help prevent racial disproportionality in special education, which was widely supported by students, parents, school administrators, and the civil rights community. Read more >>
Congress
Senate Subcommittee Moves Forward Bipartisan Spending Bill to Fund Workforce and Education Programs
(Courtesy of the Katie Spiker and the National Skills Coalition)
On June 26, 2018, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS) moved forward a bipartisan funding bill for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019. Senate appropriators were working with an allocation of $2.2 billion more in funding than the subcommittee had in FY 2018, unlike the House process
for which appropriators had level funding. Read more >> 

Bipartisan Career and Technical Education Bill Approved by Key Senate Committee
(Courtesy of Andrew Ujifusa and Education Week)
On June 26, 2018 the Senate education committee agreed unanimously via voice vote Tuesday to favorably report a bill reauthorizing the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act to the full Senate. Read more >>

Updates about Federal Student Loan Interest Rates, Origination Fees, and Pell Grant Increases
(Courtesy of the Institute for College Access and Success)
July 1 is an important date for students and families: it's when most changes to federal student aid - both loans and grants - go into effect. For the year starting July 1, 2018, the maximum Pell Grant will be higher, and new federal loans for undergraduates, graduate students, and parents will have higher fixed interest rates than loans taken out the year before. Read more >>

Senate Farm Bill Would Strengthen SNAP, Support Work
(Courtesy of Nune Phillips and CLASP)
On June 8, the Senate released the bipartisan Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, also known as the farm bill. The Senate farm bill would strengthen the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), ensuring millions of people are able to put food on the table and access pathways to good jobs. This is a stark contrast from the House farm bill, which would rip away SNAP from people in need.  Update: The Senate farm bill was passed by a vote of 86 to 11 on June 28, 2018. Congress will next form a conference committee to address differences between the Senate farm bill and the deeply flawed House version. Read more >>
Events
Europe's Tough New Data-Privacy Law: Breaking Down GDPR for Companies
July 17, 2018, 2 PM ET

World Class: How to Build a 21st-Century School System, July 12, 2018, 3:00 pm EDT, The Mike Sussman Studio

Learning Policy Institute: Opening the Gates: Using Deeper Learning to Expand College Access, September 6, 2018, Noon (PT)
 
Learn more >>