DC Shuttle …
House Passes ESEA Reauthorization. The House voted 359 to 64 to approve the Every Student Succeeds Act, to replace the outdated No Child Left Behind Act. The final language must now be passed in the Senate before being sent to the president. The bill would significantly reduce the federal role in elementary and secondary education, according to the Washington Post. While it would give greater control over accountability and school improvement to states, it would keep in place transparency requirements, including annual testing, and continue to focus on identifying failing groups of students and flailing schools. The Senate is expected to take up the legislation as soon as this week and has already approved similar language. Education Secretary Arne Duncan released a statement on Friday that was very supportive of the legislation and suggests that the White House will be supportive of signing the bill into law.
Administration Backs Off Recruiter Rules. The U.S. Department of Education announced that it will no longer prohibit colleges from paying recruiters a commission tied to students’ graduation or completion rates, Inside Higher Ed reports.
Departures from the Department of Education. Deputy Under Secretary Jamienne Studley announced that she would be leaving her position, effective Dec. 18. Richard Culatta, who directed the U.S. Department of Education’s office of educational technology announced that he will resign. His position at the agency will be filled by his deputy, Joseph South, who will serve as acting director for educational technology.
Massachusetts AG Asks for Loan Forgiveness. Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey sent a letter to Education Secretary Duncan and Special Master Joseph Smith asking them to wipe away the student loan debt of students who attended the now-closed Corinthian campuses in Brighton and Chelsea.
We publish the DC Shuttle each week featuring higher ed news from Washington collected by the New England Council, of which NEBHE is a member. This edition is drawn from the Higher Education Update in the Council’s Weekly Washington Report of Dec. 7, 2015. For more information, please visit: www.newenglandcouncil.com.
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