Here’s a quick look at the news from last week (May 21 – 25) in Washington.

PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN

Presidential candidate Mitt Romney announced the members of his education policy advisory group this week. He also gave a speech outlining his education platform – the main points are summarized in this Ed Week article.

ADMINISTRATION

The Department of Education released draft criteria for the Race to the Top district-level competition on Tuesday. The nearly $400 million competition will award 15-20 awards ranging from $15 to $25 million each.

The National Center for Education Statistics released their “Condition of Education 2012” report today. The report summarizes developments and trends in education using the latest available data. The report presents 49 indicators on the status and condition of education, in addition to a closer look at high schools in the United States over the past twenty years.

HOUSE

The House was recessed for a District Work Period last week.

The House Committee on Education & the Workforce may markup H.R. 4297 (the Workforce Investment Improvement Act) in early to mid-June.

SENATE

The Senate voted Thursday on both a Democratic and a Republican measure to extend the 3.4 percent student loan interest rate on subsidized student loans, but neither measure reached the 60-vote threshold necessary to move forward. The Democratic bill failed by a vote of 51-43, and the Republican bill failed by a vote of 34-62. Negotiations on the student loan interest rate issue will continue.

APPROPRIATIONS/BUDGET

The Senate Appropriations Committee will likely mark up a FY13 Labor, HHS, Education Appropriations Bill in mid-June.