The Education Policy Hotlist

FEDERAL EDUCATION POLICY

White House | Vice President Kamala Harris announced the federal plan for Building Better School Infrastructure. The project will leverage the latest infrastructure and American Rescue Plan investments to improve clean, efficient infrastructure.
Annenberg | A new research paper suggests that future federal aid should be distributed via strategic policy goals instead of typical funding formulae (e.g., Title I).
USED | The Department of Education announced a new application for Supporting Effective Educator Development grants. Applications are due June 3, 2022.
EdWeek | Adam Gamoran shares priorities for the future of education research in a recovery era.

CONGRESS

H.Res.1036 | Bonamici (D-OR) sponsors a resolution to commit that all young children and families should have access to high-quality, affordable childcare and early education.
H.R.7406 | Omar (D-MN) sponsors a bill to amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to update the definition of supportive services and for other purposes.
H.R.7309 | Scott (D-VA) sponsors the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2022.
H.R.7381 Hayes (D - CT) sponsors the YouthBuild for the Future Act.

STATE AND LOCAL EDUCATION POLICY

Bellwether | Andy Rotherham unpacks the role of state board members in regulation and oversight.
"State boards face many challenges, but one of them that is in their control to fix is this basic client confusion. The client is kids and families and, more broadly, the taxpayers. Full stop." — Andy Rotherham, Bellwether Education Partners
AL | Alabama Governor Ivey signs into law a numeracy act that will ensure schools with low performance in math receive additional support and requires increases in math teachers.
CA | A new bill will require that 75% of teachers and staff are trained in behavioral health to address mental health challenges for students.
CA | More than 200,000 students in LAUSD, have been chronically absent this school year.
MT | Legislators, discuss the need to double down on kindergarten readiness across Montana. Districts hope to provide early learners with more exposure to the kindergarten curriculum to improve academic success later.
IL | Governor Pritzker signed into law a longer-term COVID bill providing paid leave to fully vaccinated school staff across Illinois.

EDUCATION FINANCE

Brookings | Transparency remains a challenge with federal pandemic aid spending.
The74 | New data from Burbio report that out of 40 states and the District of Columbia, few have seen the increase needed to recover declines in enrollment to pre-pandemic levels.

FutureEd | A new analysis provides a state-by-state guide to tutoring investments.

EDUCATOR WORKFORCE

GA | The latest Georgia budget, supported across party lines, will include a salary increase and bonuses for teachers.
ECS | ECS released a summary of teacher workforce legislation emerging from a request from a governor’s office. The summary provides specific information and examples from states addressing task forces and commissions on teacher shortage issues.
ILO | The ILO Group, released a new study of the turnover at the highest levels of leadership in US school districts.

EQUITY AND INNOVATION

Annenberg | A new 50-state review of Indigenous EL identification policies defines a continuum of categories leading to wide variation in state policies and implications for Indigenous students’ resources.
EdChoice | Four out of five school parents believed schools should provide multiple learning options for students this school year.
AEI | Rick Hess doubles down on systematizing data collection that provides teachers with the information they need.

DID YOU MISS IT?

ICYMI, the House Appropriations Committee, hosted a hearing on SEL. Tune in here.
The New York Times is hosting their 5th annual student podcast contest in which students are invited to submit a podcast of five minutes or less that informs or entertains. Submissions are due by May 18th. Share with teachers and students in your life!

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Dr. Christine M. T. Pitts serves as Resident Policy Fellow at the Center on Reinventing Public Education, overseeing policy leadership for research, advocacy, and government relations. A former teacher and administrator, she previously led research and evaluation for Portland Public Schools. She also served as Policy Advisor at NWEA, where she oversaw state and federal policy to advance equity and innovation in educational assessment. Follow her on Twitter @cmtpitts.