Here’s a quick look at the news from last week (October 1-5) in Washington.

ADMINISTRATION

Education Secretary Arne Duncan indicated that if President Obama wins a second term, he will stay on as education secretary.

The Education Department released a list of Peer Reviewers for the third round of ESEA waiver applications.

The Department of Education announced that 23 Comprehensive Centers across the country have been awarded a total of $52 million to increase the capacity of states to help districts and schools meet student achievement goals.

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
President Obama and Governor Romney had their first President debate last Wednesday, which focused on domestic issues, and both candidates discussed education issues. Gov. Romney indicated that he will not cut education funding, including Pell Grant funding, and President Obama talked about his plan to hire another 100,000 math and science teachers, and create 2 million more community college slots. Transcript and video of the debate.

HOUSE and SENATE
We do not expect any legislative activity from either House or Senate until after Election Day.

The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions filed their committee report on the ESEA reauthorization bill that was marked up by the committee in October 2012. The bill has been assigned a number (S. 3578). The committee report is available here.

BUDGET
The House and Senate passed the six month Continuing Resolution that will keep the federal government operating through the end of March 2013, and the CR was signed by the President late last month.