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

HOUSE and SENATE

The House and Senate return from recess today, November 30.

Education Week reported that the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Conference Report could be on the House floor next week. The ESEA Conference Report is available here.

ADMINISTRATION

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) approved a one year state waiver renewal under ESEA for Colorado.

Inside Higher Ed reported that Deputy Under Secretary and Acting Secretary of the Office of Postsecondary Education, Jamienne Studley, will leave ED on December 18. A replacement for Studley has not been named. Lynn Mahaffie, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, Planning and Innovation will take over Studley’s role on an acting basis.

ED published a Federal Register notice indicating a new interpretation of incentive compensation rules. Under the new interpretation, ED will allow payments to recruiters based on student graduation or completion. The notice also clarifies that ED will continue to ban payments to recruiters on the basis of enrolling minority students (as they presently do for enrollment purposes for any student).