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| Federal Update: September 18, 2013 |
| posted by: Ruthie | September 17, 2013, 08:15 PM |
|
Today, House Republican leaders sent a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder expressing concerns about the Obama administration's effort to shut down a successful school choice program in Louisiana.
Signed by several members of the GOP, the letter requested detailed information about the department's ill-conceived decision, including an explanation of how its attempt to revoke scholarships and eliminate education choices will help low-income and minority children access better education opportunities. Additionally, the leaders asked for all written correspondence between the department and the administration - as well as correspondence between the department and outside interest groups - regarding the Louisiana Program. Republicans wrote that a shutdown of the school choice initiative will force Louisiana students to remain in failing schools, as well as cause other states to feel pressured to shut down similar initiatives that provide "countless children the opportunity to receive a better education." Click here to read the entire letter.
Department of Education Awards $1.9 Million in Grants for Assistive Technology for Individuals with Disabilities
The Department of Education recently announced grant awards under the Assistive Technology Alternative Financing Program, to organizations in California, Missouri, and Washington. Grants will be used to purchase products such as hearing aids, computers, vehicle modification, vision aids, and other devices for students with disabilities. "For individuals with disabilities, assistive technology can be vital to their success in obtaining employment and living independently," said Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. "These alternative financing grants will help increase access to assistive technology for many individuals with disabilities." As the need for assistive technology grows, the grant money significantly enhances disabled students access to a quality education, independence, and inclusion with other students. Click here to read about these new grants. States Granted NCLB Allowed to Reapply for Renewal Extending their waivers through 2016 will allow these 34 eligible states and the District of Columbia to continue moving forward on their ambitious plans to prepare all students for college and career, focus aid on the neediest students, and support effective teaching and school leadership. The Department's renewal process, which will begin in January 2014, will also provide an opportunity for states to make necessary adjustments to their approved plans for improving student learning and the quality of instruction.
A full-scale reauthorization of NCLB is not expected this year. Many elected officials have questioned the authority of the Department of Education to implement such a program. Click here to read the requirements for states to reapply. Congressional Hearing Investigates the Strengths and Weaknesses of the Institute of Education Sciences Last week, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, chaired by Congressman John Kline (R-MN), held a hearing investigating the value of the Institute of Education Sciences (IES). The organization is the research arm of the Department of Education and conducts research on educational practices in our nation's schools. The information from IES helps parents make decisions about their children's learning experience, provides taxpayers valuable data about the federal investment in education, and allows state and local education officials to use the research to identify and implement successful instructional programs, curriculum, and school improvement strategies. All witnesses concurred with the merit of a bi-partisan, non-biased, government regulated establishment, which provides a basis for federal policies, evaluations, etc, but concluded that work to improve IES must continue. Click here to watch the full hearing.
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