2/12/18: President's Proposed FY19 budget

Today the President released a proposed budget for FY19  The full proposal is a combination of two documents- a FY19 budget proposal that was completed before Friday's vote to raise spending limits, and an addendum that includes additional spending recommendations in light of the higher spending authority.

Highlights include...

2/12/18: Education Update

Executive Branch and Administration: Today the President will release his FY19 budget proposal. A full update will be sent later. We are expecting the following themes in his proposal...

Today President Trump released his $1.5 trillion infrastructure proposal. The proposal references four areas: stimulate new state/local/private investment, streamline federal permitting, invest in rural projects, and improve the workforce. Provisions related to education include...

Congress: On 2/6 the Senate HELP Committee help a hearing on Improving College Affordability. Highlights include...

On 2/6 the Congressional Budget Office released a fiscal score of the House HEA Reauthorization Proposal (the PROSPER Act). Highlights include...

2/9/18: FY18 and FY19 top level budget impact on higher education

Today the President signed a legislative package that combined a short term continuing resolution with a two-year top line budget authorization, linked to the spending cap and debt limit. 

One of the big components in the deal that got this through is a $4B, two year increase in higher education spending. This increase is referenced enigmatically in Sen. Schumer’s release on the deal. 

At this point there are not a lot of specifics on how this money will be used. For FY18, where this money gets directed will be decided in the next six weeks as Congress works towards the final appropriations bill. Our initial read is that we are looking at four types of program areas for the money...

2/5/18: Education Update

Executive Branch and Administration: On 1/31 the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced new guidelines for civil immigration enforcement inside courthouses...The policy does not alter the DOJ “sensitive location policy", which generally prohibits immigration arrests at schools and places of worship. 

On 2/1 President Trump said there should be more vocational schools and said that “I think the word ‘vocational’ is a much better word than in many cases a community college. A lot of people don’t know what a community college means or represents.” Numerous CTE and higher education organizations have responded with some myth-busting on what modern CTE and by highlighting the role of community colleges in transfer pathways....

US Department of Education Activities: On 2/2 ED announced it will open applications for a new weighted student pilot on 2/7. The application will be due on 3/12. The pilot will...

Congress: On 2/1 Chairman Alexander (Senate HELP, R-TN) released a white paper on his vision for the Higher Education Act Reauthorization. A few hours after the release from Chairman Alexander, Senate Democrats released their principles for a HEA reauthorization. Of particular note from the proposals...

Other Initiatives: Today the University Ventures Fund issues a report on “Making Apprenticeships Work: Five Policy Recommendations”.  The report is targeted squarely at...

1/29/18: Education Update

Executive Branch and Administration: On 1/30 the President will deliver his first State of the Union. While education is unlikely to be a significant theme of the address, the President may speak to these education-related issues...

US Department of Education Activities: On 1/25 Sec. DeVos addressed the United States Conference of Mayors. In her remarks she encouraged mayors to...

Congress: On 1/25 the Senate HELP Committee held a hearing on HEA reauthorization on Access and Innovation. Highlights include....

On 1/30 the Senate HELP Committee will hold a hearing on HEA reauthorization. The topic is “Accountability and Risk to Taxpayers” and the committee is expected to consider higher education accountability and risk-sharing proposals, such as having colleges be responsible for a percentage of debt repayments if a student defaults on his federal loan.