Legislative Hot Topics: Blog

Opening Remarks by Sen. Harkin (IA)

Senator Harkin sees the need to understand the status and scope of state waiver plans being implemented across the country; consider the conditions and activities of states that do not have approved waivers; ensure that the policies and programs we support are effective in meeting the needs of our most vulnerable students.

Opening Remarks by Sen. by Alexander (TN)

Senator Alexander said Congress should "go back to work this year" on a reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and "let the Secretary step back from waivers and let the states make their own decisions about whether students are teachers are succeeding or failing." He wants put into law "whatever needs to be put into law and let the Secretary step back from the waivers and let the states make their own decisions about whether students and teachers are succeeding or failing."

Opening Remarks by Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education

Duncan noted that NCLB unintentionally encouraged States to lower their standards so that more students would appear to be proficient. He indicated that providing waivers to the states was necessary to relieve them of some of the NCLB unintended consequences. The Federal role, he said, is to support states and districts, provide incentive and education research, and enforce the law. Federal government is not a national school board in charge of curriculum, assessment, and teacher contracts.

Duncan noted the waivers give states the flexibility they need to prepare America's students to graduate from high school prepared for college and a career. The waivers are allowing schools to be rated based on current achievement, graduation rates, dropout rates, and ACT scores. States are implementing improved support and evaluation systems to provide principals and teachers with better information about their practice and targeted professional development to improve that practice. Noted Duncan: Senator Alexander's home State of Tennessee has been a leader in this work, and is in its second year of implementing a new evaluation system that takes into account multiple measures of teacher practice and student learning and ensures that teachers receive regular feedback to inform their instruction.

Senator Harkin asked how waivers have helped expand focus beyond reading and math. Duncan noted that broader measures of assessment beyond test scores, such as college readiness and the indicators of increased IB, AP, dual enrolments, graduation rates and what kids do after K-12 are encouraged by the waivers, which have given states flexibility and they have been creative in solving their issues.

Senator Alexander asked about teacher evaluation, another big topic of the hearing. Duncan noted that Tennessee has done more on rewarding good teachers and we need to learn from what the states are doing well under the waivers. Arne Duncan spoke of alternative teacher certification offering more creativity and opportunity to bring in teachers such as men and men of color.

Senator Franken (MN) noted that every kid's growth should be measured and suggested that computers be used for evaluations to give teachers real time feedback on students so they can adjust curriculum for individual students immediately.

Senator Enzi (WY) asked about "invisible children" lost in the subgroups under "n-size," and expressed dismay that this was not in the past understood by the Committee as fallout of NCLB. He commended Arne Duncan on the flexibility of the waivers.

Senator Sanders (VT) was concerned about the lack of money and attention being sent to rural communities saying that Race to the Top funds did not proportionally reach rural areas. Duncan defended the record saying that additional pools of funds and attention are directed to rural areas.

Senator Roberts (KS) noted that Kansas system is having trouble with the evaluation criteria for teachers and principal evaluations. His state people are telling him there are too many regulations and the locals need more control.

Senator Bennet (CO) asked Duncan what is next and "how can we support you." Duncan suggested that the state superintendents could best answer that question. It was also noted that T-II professional development money needs to be more flexible.

Senator Paul (KY) pitched for vouchers and choice, but Duncan said he will only support choice within the public school community and that the way to reach more needy students is to improve early childhood education and continue to better measure the outcomes of education.

Senator Whitehouse (RI) asked about supporting the highly gifted and if we do enough for these kids. Duncan wants more kids to graduate with college credit, allowing kids of all levels to learn at their own pace.

Panelists Terry Holliday, Kentucky Commissioner of Education, and John King, Jr., New York Commissioner of Education, favor fast reauthorization of NCLB to give states a clear road map of how to proceed. Kati Haycock, President, The Education Trust, wants the law reauthorized but with enough time and flexibility built in for states to make the transition to the new law's requirements. Panelist Andrew Smarick, Partner, Bellwether Education Partners suggested tabling the reauthorization for the time being and learning from the states and their efforts under the waivers.

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Read Education Week's article on the hearing.

To follow legislative information on twitter go to: @rlongliteracy

Overview of Issues

The new Congress has convened and is completing its organizational phase, for example not all of the subcommittees related to education have been finalized. The 113^th Congress has nine major education measures to rewrite. One of them, the Workforce Investment Act, which includes adult basic education, has been pending since 2004. The other bills include the Higher Education Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). ESEA has been due to be rewritten since 2007 and was the subject of House and Senate action in the last Congress. 

Most observers are expecting that the Higher Education Act will be first to be considered for rewriting as the Pell Grant and Stafford Loan programs both have significant problems. The Pell Grant is a program that will have more people using it than there is money, and the Stafford student loan program’s interest rate is once again scheduled to go to 9%.

The Elementary and Secondary Act, which was last changed in 2001 and became No Child Left Behind, has been the subject of several attempts at being rewritten. Now the Senate, with a hearing on February 7, is looking at how the US Department of Education’s waiver program is going to be impacting any reauthorization attempt. Meanwhile the House is saying that they like what they produced during the last Congress (five bills to replace NCLB).

IRA is working to have literacy professional development included in several of these initiatives (using LEARN Act ideas) and to maintain funding for the Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy Program.

As mentioned, there are other measures that are scheduled to be rewritten. The Workforce Investment Act, which includes Adult Basic Ed, has been awaiting action for years. It is said to be coming up soon. It would create a change in that states would have more flexibility in how to use the funds. Head Start is also up for being rewritten and as this is happening about 10% of their grantees are re-compete for their funds (this is the second wave of changes). In addition, the National Governors Association (NGA) has created an initiative to support six states to change to have early childhood programs with literacy components. IRA participated in these planning meetings with the NGA.

Gates Interviewed on Education Policy Changes – Measuring Teachers

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/3036789/ns/msnbc_tv-morning_joe/#50654706

Funding – Sequestration & Continuing Resolution

The current buzz in DC is that the  sequester scheduled to take effect on March 1^st will not be stopped.  There is little political will to stop it. The assumed Republican drive to forestall  the sequestration because it includes a cut to military spending is being watered down by the tea party members who only want to see spending cuts. The other part of the sequester is that there is another spending measure, the continuing resolution, which is scheduled to expire on March 27. Thus, in reality these two issues are being merged into one.  It is possible that the sequestration cuts could be partially replaced by adding money into specific programs, by cutting other programs. Or  impacting the overall spending levels – the allocations, could change it.

The continuing resolution and the sequester could impact each other if the overall spending levels for areas like education, health, transportation, defense are changed.  If the overall spending levels are reduced, then the sequester will be eliminated because the money would have all ready been cut. If this happens then appropriators and/or executive branch managers would then allocate the funds they do have to specific programs. The difference is the sequester hits all programs, a change in the allocation would mean that programs will be impacted differently. 

As of right now, the sequester is expected cut to FY 13 funds to education by about 5.1%; but remember this will be from the funds that will be sent to schools beginning on July 1^st for the upcoming school year (we are forward funded).

It is also possible that some of the  sequesters impact/reduction via lowering allocations could be mitigated by increased revenues. This is part of the agenda of Senator Murray (D-WA) who is chair of the Senate Budget Committee.

Common Core

One of the things that has been noticed is that the Common Core State Standards are new to someone each day; and if you have been working on them each day for years you are discovering something new each day. The IRA Common Core State Standards Committee has set up a Q & A on the IRA website to help.

To see what others are asking, post a question, or just gather information:

IRA Common Core State Standards Page

Also, watch for a session for state councils at the upcoming IRA Annual Convention in San Antonio, April 19–22, 2013.

Looking for More Training on Advocacy?

The second IRA University of Advocacy course will begin on Tuesday night, February 5, at 8 PM EST, and run for six weeks (five sessions, skipping Tuesday, February 12, as it is the night of the State-of-the-Union address by the President to the Congress). This course will be on the Art of Advocacy.  The previous course Pol Sci 101: How it works can be found in the Advocacy section of the IRA website. It is not required that you sit in on all five of the sessions-feel free to “drop-in.” 

Also, the summer leadership academy is going to include a significant advocacy element… you will learn so much about making deals you will be smoking cigars in backrooms with the best of ‘em. Look for more information coming out shortly on this IRA event in Minneapolis June 27–29.

January 29, 2013
Rich Long, IRA Government Relations

To follow legislative information on Twitter go to: @rlongliteracy

The negotiations on the fiscal cliff are showing some movement but there is still a long way to go. Let's review where things stand. Both political parties are keenly aware that the deficit, the difference between what the nation spends versus what it takes in is expanding at a rate that is unsustainable. There is disagreement on why, some would say that the recession and the stimulus spending combined to lower revenues and expand spending. Others cite the tax cuts that were enacted during the Bush Administration that were continued with the Obama Administration. In addition there have been two wars and a prescription drug plan that have expanded spending and not have become covered by increased revenues.

The fiscal cliff is a term being used to describe a set of changes to taxes and spending. The changes in taxes are that the tax rates going back to what they were under the Clinton Administration (which means that when the tax rates automatically change the result will be that everyone will be paying more in income taxes). In addition there are also several tax deductions for education that will be impacted, such as the deduction for teachers buying material and parents deducting the payment for college. Plus the small reduction for everyone's payroll tax is scheduled to revert back. For the average family it is being estimated that their federal tax payments will go up by $2,000 - $4,000 in 2013.

The other part of the cliff is the sequester. This is a cut to defense spending of about 10% and non-defense by 8.2%. The defense cut hits on January 2nd. It hits every account and project equally. For education the January 2nd deadline would cause a one large program to be reduced, Impact Aid and then most everything else would see the reduction on July 1st (this is due to education being forward funded). Again, the sequester reduces every project and account. There is no ability for the government to manage the cut, and change individual programs so that it is an overall cut, rather everything gets cut.

The basic goal of all of this is to reduce the deficit by $4 trillion dollars in ten years. In many people's calculation the cuts of 2011 have already contributed $1 trillion. These cuts came from the domestic programs that are annually appropriated.

In the media one hears that the president is for changing the tax rates on the wealthiest. The speaker of the House is demanding cuts to entitlements. The Republicans don't want the defense cuts, the Democrats don't want the cuts to hit social security and Medicare/Medicaid and other entitlements.

What we need to be watching

First if we go over the fiscal cliff the effect will be that the deficit will be reduced. But almost everyone believes that it will trigger a continued, some are calling a double-dip recession.

There is no easy way out of the problem. Changing the tax rate on the wealthiest does bring in greater revenues but will not solve the problem by itself. Estimates on this change in tax rates range widely based on where the cut line is for "wealthiest." The sequester would result in about $1 trillion in savings which means to avoid it will require something else to be put in its place.

This week (December 17th) will be interesting because no one wants to be negotiating this after Christmas. Staff and the members of Congress all have tickets to leave town to be with their families. So this in effect the holiday becomes a mini-deadline. However, the reality is that even if the negotiators had an agreement today all of what they would have is an outline or what is called a framework. The details would come later. The problem is that few in Congress are willing to vote on a framework without knowing the details. Hence there is a bit of a dilemma for the negotiators, in that they have to figure out how to build a framework that will get the votes, before the fiscal cliff is hit but with no time to figure out the details that the Congress will want before they vote. And to add to that some believe that if we go over the cliff it will only be for a short time, as the Congress would return in January and work on details and forestall the negative impact on the economy.

So, in effect, the fiscal cliff is a deadline for some, Christmas is a deadline for others, which means that not all agree which deadline is the deadline.

Things education needs to watch

One idea floating around is moving requirements for Medicare and support for Medicaid to the states. States basically get 25% of their funds from the federal government, if those funds are cut and the requirements remain, state money would be needed to replace those federal dollars for required health programs. This would mean that to cover those costs education would be cut as that is the largest area of spending left in state budgets.

If the sequester isn't eliminated, then programs like Title I and IDEA will be reduced by 8.2% in July for the upcoming school year.

Also, some of the smaller tax issues, such as the deduction of teacher purchases and the cost to attend college is on the table for automatic elimination.

Still in play

The debt ceiling will need to be raised in February or March and members of Congress hate voting to raise the debt ceiling and to get their vote some will demand spending cuts.

They may also demand spending cuts to vote on any framework deal that is reached before or immediately after "the fiscal cliff" as a down payment.

This means that we cannot assume we are safe from cuts even as these other areas of negotiated. One of the reasons being is that when they cut education, they don't say they are cutting education. What happens is that the allocations to non-defense discretionary accounts are cut. We are in that group.

The sad thing is that these details involve people who are wondering about their futures.

December 17, 2012
Rich Long, IRA Government Relations

To follow legislative information on twitter go to: @rlongliteracy