CONGRESS

The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions held a markup of S.1602, Mathematical and Statistical Modeling Education Act, and S.3747, Home School Graduation Recognition Act, as well as other bills. S.1602 passed by a 22 to 1 vote and S.3747 passed by a 23 to 0 vote. Both bills are now available to proceed to the Senate floor for consideration.

ADMINISTRATION

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced a new interagency agreement (IAA) with the U.S. Department of State regarding foreign gift reporting, as required under Section 117 of the Higher Education Act, as well as an IAA with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regarding the administration of the School Emergency Response to Violence (Project SERV), School Safety National Activities, Ready to Learn Programming, Full-Service Community Schools, Promise Neighborhoods and Statewide Family Engagement Centers.

U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon received a report from ED Senior Advisor Dr. Amber Northern regarding recommendations on how to improve the Institute of Education Sciences (IES).

ED issued an interpretive rule that details the Administration’s interpretation of existing regulations pertaining to the criteria and process for initial recognition of an accrediting agency by ED.

COURTS

A Federal district judge denied ED’s request for additional time to determine whether to approve loan forgiveness applications from students who claim they were defrauded.

EVENTS

Penn Hill Group plans on providing clients with a summary of the following events next week:

March 4: House Education and Workforce Subcommittee Hearing titled “Building an AI-Ready America: Strengthening Employer-Led Training.”

March 4: House Appropriations Subcommittee Hearing titled “Preparing for the Future: America’s Community Colleges.”

March 5: House Appropriations Subcommittee Hearing titled “Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies – Member Day.”