NAPE Public Policy Update
NAPE honors Ruth Bader Ginsburg
 
"Fight for the things that you care about but do it in a way that will lead others to join you."  Ruth Bader Ginsburg
 
The National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity pays tribute to the life and legacy of Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
 
 
A gender equity pioneer who championed social justice, civil rights, and voting rights, Justice Ginsburg, like a fierce bear protecting her cubs, was an indomitable force in fighting against discrimination in all its forms. Small in stature but enormous in character, integrity, intelligence, and determination, Justice Ginsburg's meticulous skill as a jurist and unwavering dedication to truth, fairness, and "progress" contributed greatly to the nation's 18 million cracks in the glass ceiling.
 
As the second woman confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1993, Justice Ginsburg's trailblazing courage, respect for humanity, and perseverance against all odds changed the course of women's rights and civil rights in 20th and 21st century America, protecting and improving the quality of life for Americans now and for generations to come.
 
While we mourn her loss, her transition signals a requirement for those of us committed to maintaining gender and racial justice to honor her life's work and legacy by exercising our right to vote this November. We believe that taking this simple, yet sometimes taken-for-granted right would make Justice Ginsburg proud. May we never take this right for granted again.
 
Thank you, Justice Ginsburg, for your tireless dedication to democracy, liberty, and human rights; for your iconic leadership in the Supreme Court; and your service to our country. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family, her Supreme Court colleagues, and a grateful nation.
Your VOTE is your VOICE!
America is confronted with unprecedented challenges in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Among these challenges is the ability for people to exercise their fundamental right to vote. We are all equal at the ballot box-but only if we cast our ballot.

As the nation prepares for the upcoming 2020 elections, we encourage our members and partners to safely exercise their right to vote by understanding the voting process in their home state.
 
Voter's Check List:
  • Register to vote--Make sure your registration is current.
  • Check your state's voting procedures, whether you vote by mail or at the polls.
  • Check the Early Voting Schedule.
  • Locate your polling place. Know the dates and times.
  • Determine the identification you will need to vote.
  • Don't wait until the last minute to vote. Encourage your family and friends to vote!
  • Review the candidates and platform issues on the ballot. VOTE THE ENTIRE BALLOT!
To help you with your voting plan, NAPE has developed State Voting Fact Sheets. Find your state and click on the link.   
 
Voting is the cornerstone our American democracy. Casting your ballot empowers your community and our country. Regardless of the political office being sought, ALL ELECTIONS MATTER. NAPE encourages you to let your VOTE be your VOICE.
NAPE releases Many Facets
In celebration of America's 100th anniversary of the women's suffrage movement and the enactment of the 19th Amendment, the NAPE and its partner the Augustus F. Hawkins Foundation, and their essay contributors, are proud to present an anthology of inspiring essays by a diverse group of women regarding the enactment of the 19th Amendment titled, Many Facets: America's Women Commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment. #ManyFacets #WomenLead
 
Administration news
Judge Strikes Down Devos Plan to Boost Pandemic Relief for Private Schools
Michael Stratford, Politico
A federal judge on Friday ruled that Education Secretary Betsy DeVos' effort to boost the amount of emergency pandemic relief that flows to private school students is illegal and struck down the policy. U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich, an appointee of President Donald Trump, ruled that DeVos ran afoul of the CARES Act when she required public schools to send a greater share of pandemic assistance to private school students than is typically required under federal law. Read more >>

Former Students of Defunct ITT Tech to Receive $330 Million in Private Student-Loan Forgiveness
Danielle Douglas-Gabriel, The Washington Post
Forty-eight state attorneys general and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau have secured more than $330 million in private student-loan forgiveness for 35,000 former students of ITT Technical Institute. A judgment order entered Tuesday puts to rest a 2014 lawsuit accusing the defunct for-profit chain of steering students into predatory loans. PEAKS Trust, a private loan program run by ITT Tech and affiliated with Deutsche Bank entities, has agreed to forgo the collection of the outstanding education debt from ITT Tech students. It will also ask credit-reporting agencies to delete references to those loans from the credit reports of affected borrowers. Read more >>
Congress news
Despite Pressure for COVID-19 Relief Deal, Stalemate Continues--So Far, No Formal Negotiations Are Taking Place
Lindsey McPherson, Roll Call
Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday heeded a call from her members to commit to keeping the House in session until there's a coronavirus relief deal, but the vow does little to break the stalemate in bipartisan negotiations that is at the heart of Democrats' concerns. House Democrats have been fretting privately for weeks and more publicly since returning to Washington on Monday about being sent home to voters without any additional COVID-19 assistance enacted. Read more >> 
 
Senate GOP Unveils Slimmed-Down Coronavirus Relief Bill
Jordain Carney, The Hill
Senate Republicans on Tuesday unveiled a pared-down coronavirus relief package as they prepare to force a vote on the legislation as soon as this week. The bill, released by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), includes a $300 per week federal unemployment benefit through the end of the year, another round of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funding and liability protections from coronavirus-related lawsuits. It also includes $105 billion for schools and an additional $16 billion for coronavirus testing. Read more >>  
 
House Set to Pass Signature Bills on School Integration and Discrimination
Andrew Ujifusa, Education Week
Two education civil rights bills that represent some of the top K-12 priorities for Democrats are poised to be approved by the House this week. On Tuesday, the House passed the Strength in Diversity Act. The bill, introduced by Rep. Marcia Fudge, D-Ohio, would essentially revive Obama administration grants that would support local efforts to increase diversity in schools, revise school attendance boundaries, and create public school choice zones, among other initiatives. The Trump administration nixed these Obama grants. Read more >> 
 
Senate HELP Committee Hearing on COVID-19: An Update on the Federal Response
Wednesday, September 23, 2020, 10:00 AM
 
Witnesses:
  • Anthony Fauci, MD, Director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health
  • Robert Redfield, MD, Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • ADM Brett Giroir, MD, Assistant Secretary for Health, Department of Health and Human Services
  • Stephen Hahn, MD, Commissioner of Food and Drugs, Food and Drug Administration
 
Census Deadlines Dispute Hangs Up Stopgap Funding Talks
P.M. Krawzak and J. Shutt, Roll Call
Negotiations on government funding to avoid partial shutdown starting Oct. 1 have hit a rocky patch over a Democratic push to postpone 2020 census-related deadlines. The dispute was threatening to upend congressional leaders' aim for a drama-free "clean" stopgap measure that they want to introduce by the end of this week and take up in the House early next week. Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard C. Shelby, R-Ala., said the measure could extend current funding levels through Dec. 18, although a final decision hadn't yet been reached, with some Democrats pushing a longer-term stopgap into February. Read more >>  
2020 Census Round Up! Spread the Word!
The Census Bureau is working to complete data collection as quickly and safely as possible, while ensuring a complete and accurate count as it strives to comply with the law and statutory deadlines. All offices are schedule to complete their work by September 30, 2020. If you have not completed the Census, take a minute and do so TODAY!! Take the 2020 Census. 
Other news
Pandemic Exposes Broadband Divide
Alex Gangitano, The Hill
The coronavirus is shining a spotlight on the digital divide in America and stalled efforts to expand rural broadband as a way to help millions of students both during the pandemic and beyond. With the explosion of virtual education, along with the proliferation of telehealth and the need to work from home as businesses adhere to health orders, the lack of high-speed internet is hitting rural communities the hardest. Read more >>

National Skills Coalition Webinar
What are "stackable" credentials and how do they work? Why do some credentials stack and others don't? Join National Skills Coalition and Education Strategy Group for a webinar on September 29 at 2:00 PM EST to answer these questions and more.