HOUSE and SENATE

The House and Senate were in recess this week and will return next week.

ADMINISTRATION

The President signed the final Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 appropriations package (H.R.1865), which included Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (LHHS) appropriations, into law.

The President signed the Building Blocks of STEM Act (S.737) into law. The bill modifies several National Science Foundation programs to support science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education research, including computer science education, focused on early childhood.

The President signed the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2020 (S.1790) into law.

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) updated StudentAid.gov to include the student-facing features from the StudentLoans.gov, fsaid.ed.gov and nslds.ed.gov websites, meaning students can now get information on different student aid repayment plans, complete loan counseling and fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in one web-based location.

ED’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES) posted a notice indicating that it will study district and school uses of Federal education funds, including Titles I, II, III and IV funding under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and Title I, Part B funding under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Public comments on the notice are due by February 24.

GRANT OPPORTUNITIES 

Penn Hill Group provides a list of grant opportunities and summaries for select grants. Please visit our website for more information.