A quick look at the news from last week, compiled by Penn Hill Group:

HOUSE

The House is in recess and will return on September 8.

The House Committee on Education and the Workforce Chairman John Kline (R-MN) and Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) met to discuss forming a conference committee to reconcile the two chambers’ bills to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). They also agreed to recommend Rep. Kline as the conference committee chair.

SENATE

As a part of a series of hearings related to reauthorizing the Higher Education Act, the Senate HELP Committee will hold a committee hearing on Wednesday, August 5, on improving student success. Stan Jones, President, Complete College America; R. Scott Ralls, President, North Carolina Community College System; Timothy Renick, Ph.D., Vice Provost And Vice President For Enrollment Management And Student Success, Georgia State University; and Lashawn Richburg-Hayes, Ph.D, President, Young Adults and Postsecondary Education, MDRC will testify

The Senate HELP Committee will also hold an executive session on Thursday, August 6, where they will consider several bills and nominations, including the nomination of Dr. Kathryn Matthew to serve as Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

ADMINISTRATION

The U.S. Department of Education announced a “Second Chance Pell Pilot program,” which would establish experimental sites that allow incarcerated individuals to receive Pell Grants for their postsecondary education. Rep. Kline and Sen. Alexander both expressed concerns over this approach.

Inside Higher Ed reported the White House hosted a summit on short-term training programs. The Administration is considering an experimental sites project related to these programs.