Reauthorization of Perkins Percolating on Capitol Hill

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House Committee Passes Perkins Reauthorization. The House Education and the Workforce Committee unanimously approved a reauthorization of the Perkins Career and Technical Education Act. The Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, introduced by Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA) and Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-PA) would make changes to the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act, which was last reauthorized in 2006. The bill focuses on reducing bureaucracy, increasing flexibility and trying to ensure that the programs are better aligned with workforce demands. The bill would allow states and local areas to have more influence when states are deciding how to spend Perkins money, according to a fact sheet. It would also make it easier for states to apply for federal funds.

ED Proposes Regulations on Assessment. The U.S. Education Department published draft regulations on assessments and the innovative assessment pilot created by the Every Student Succeeds Act, USNews reported. The draft regulations have been published in the federal register here and here. The Education Department’s proposal includes language that allows districts to administer a “locally selected, nationally recognized test” in lieu of the state test for accountability. That can include the ACT, SAT, PARCC or Smarter Balanced tests. The department released a fact sheet on the proposed regulations.

Lawmakers Write VA about For-Profits. Twenty-eight Senate Democrats, led by Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), wrote a letter to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) calling for more oversight of for-profit colleges that enroll students using the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Lawmakers asked the agency to more closely collaborate with federal and state authorities that are investigating problems at for-profit schools. The letter also says that the agency itself should be more aggressive in conducting reviews of the colleges that accept federal GI Bill benefits. In a separate letter, Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA), Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) and 17 other House Democrats echoed those concerns and called on Veterans Affairs to form a working group with other federal agencies to develop recommendations on improving federal oversight of colleges that serve veterans.