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

HOUSE

House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) notified Members that they must submit programmatic and language submissions for consideration in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 Appropriations bill by March 24, 2016.

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee will hold a hearing on personal data held by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) on Tuesday, February 2.

The House Education and the Workforce Committee will hold a hearing on educational opportunity and school choice on Wednesday, February 3.

SENATE

Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) launched a tool for students and families to report their stories related to higher education costs and student debt.

ADMINISTRATION

ED announced James Cole Jr., current General Counsel to ED, will assume the duties of Deputy Secretary.

ED released a Dear Colleague letter outlining flexibilities for implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) for the 2016–17 school year. The letter addressed issues related to the use of FY2016 formula funds, school interventions and supports for English learners.

The White House announced federal actions to ensure low-income children have year-round access to meals, including indicating that the President’s FY2017 Budget will include $12 billion over 10 years to expand access to meals during the summer through a permanent Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children program. Additionally, the Administration announced a pilot program allowing states to use Medicaid enrollment data to certify children for school meals.