Politics, Amiright ?

1. Politics, Amiright? Learn how to actively advocate for Students

2. Presenters • Jessica Largent • Admissions Counselor University of California, San Diego • Amy Brennen • College Counselor & Student Advocate Insight Education, LLC • Breanne Boyle- WacacGrac@Wacac.org • Chair, WACAC Government Relations Committee • Senior Director & Master Counselor Collegewise

4. Session Agenda • Who is GRAC? What do we do? • Go over WACAC stances on three topics – Take note of what topic is important to you! • Take the topic you care most about from the three topics we discussed. • NOW we will give you tools to affect change!

5. WACAC Government Relations & Advocacy Committee (GRAC) Educating WACAC members on legislative issues related to higher education, counseling, and student access to college • Visits with state and federal elected officials • State legislative conference in Sacramento in February (2019: 2/11-2/12) • Organizing workshops, trainings, and webinars • Collaborate with and advise WACAC lobbyist • National legislative conference in DC • Serve on the NACAC government relations committee

6. National Advocacy

7. NACAC Legislative Priorities • DEFERRED ACTION FOR CHILDHOOD ARRIVALS (DACA) • REAUTHORIZATION OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT (HEA) • ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION ACT/EVERY STUDENT SUCCEEDS ACT (ESSA)

8. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

12. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) • NACAC advocates for a clean DACA/Dream Act Solution • On termination of DACA (Sept 2017) – NACAC signed on to several letters, including the HACU letter (Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities) • What about the Development, relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act? • DREAM Act introduced 2001 by Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Orion Hatch (R-UT) • DREAM Act of 2017 Visit NACAC’s Action Center to sign a petition against the Prosper Act.

13. Reauthorization of theHigher Education Act (HEA) • PROSPER Act (HR4508) is the House bill, which NACAC opposes: • Move to one loan, one grant, and one repayment program (Public Service Loan Forgiveness would be eliminated).  • Eliminate the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant program • Federal assistance grant reserved for college students with the greatest need for financial aid to attend school.

14. Reauthorization of theHigher Education Act (HEA) • PROSPER Act (HR4508) continued… • Eliminatessubsidized loans for undergraduates • Reduces funding for the TRIO program by $50 million • TRIO includes eight programs targeted to serve and assist low-income individuals, first-generation college students, and individuals with disabilities to progress through the academic pipeline from middle school to post baccalaureateprograms • Would eliminate gainful employment, borrower’s defense (targeted at for-profits) – instated by the Obama Administration in 2014

15. Reauthorization of theHigher Education Act (HEA) • Oversight: Cuts off loans to colleges if their graduates do not earn enough money to pay off their student debt • The collapse of the for-profit chain Corinthian Colleges (Everest, Heald, and WyoTech) • Sanctions in 2015 led to a flood of applications for loan discharge via borrower defense, a little-cited statute • Corinthian grossly over inflated employment statistics leading to almost 30 million in fines from US Department of Education

17. Reauthorization of theHigher Education Act (HEA) • Senate education committee released a white paper in March that covered what they hope to do; it includes dropping 90/10 rule and gainful employment rule. • House and Senate will each pass their version of HEA and then will need to reconcile the two versions; if successful, compromise will go to POTUS to sign (or veto)

18. Elementary and Secondary Education Act/ Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) • Signed into law December 2015: less federal involvement, more state/local involvement • ESSA created student support and academic enrichment grants (SSAEG) – Title IV, Part A – • These eliminate and consolidate programs; lets states decide how to spend the funds they receive • Money will go to states after congress passes spending bill

19. Elementary and Secondary Education Act/ Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) • EESA’S SSAEG (TITLE IV, PART A) PROGRAMS COMPETING FOR FUNDING INCLUDE • Art • College And Career Counseling • Computer Science And Accelerated Learning Courses • Foreign Languages • Increased Student Access To Stem • Mental Health Services To Students • Music • Physical Education • Support For Effective School Library Programs • NACAC SUPPORTED THE FULL FUNDING ($1.6 BILLION) FOR THIS PROGRAM AND ENCOURAGES STATES TO PRIORITIZE COLLEGE AND CAREER COUNSELING. • ENCOURAGE CA STATE REPRESENTATIVES TO UTILIZE SSAEG FUNDING TO SUPPORT POST-SECONDARY COUNSELING.

20. NACAC Legislative Action Center • SCHOOL SAFETY The Federal Commission on School Safety was formed in response to the shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School. The Commission is chaired by Secretary DeVos and is charged with exploring ways to make schools more safe. The Commission is accepting comments and recommendations at safety@ed.gov. TITLE IV; PART A Because Title IV-Part A is a flexible block grant, funds are distributed to each state and the state is responsible for determining use. There are three “categories” the money can be used for. NACAC encourages members to reach out to their elected officials and encourage the funding be put toward improving college and career counseling and professional development for counselors. • PROSPER ACT The House has created the Prosper Act to replace the HEA and, as we mentioned earlier, it is not supported by NACAC or WACAC. You can go to the NACAC Action Center and sign the petition TODAY.

21. California Highlights • Calif.'s 2-year system signs transfer agreement with UC. • California districts to take part in groundbreaking school safety study. • Calif. attorney general issues guidance on undocumented students. • Tuition fight comes to Sacramento as students protest proposed tuition increase. • Lawmakers question Gov. Brown's plan to overhaul funding for California's community colleges.

22. Now it’s your turn to take control

23. WACAC as a Resource for Legislators & Staff

24. Individual Activity: What Would You Say? • Tell a legislator your thoughts about one of these topics. • Consider: • Why does this issue matter to you personally? • Share your story! You are the expert! • Be specific.

25. Group Activity: Staffer and Constituent • Give name and address. • Why does this issue matter to you? • Staffer will listen to concern. • You do not need to defend your position. • YOU are their boss. You have this right.

26. 1) FWD.US (Automatic Phone Dialing) - Call Congress Easily

28. 2) Callyourrep.Co (Phone Number And Office Address) 3) Callmycongress.Com (Includes Voting Record, Twitter, Phone) 4) Thesixtyfive.Org (Scripts)

29. 5) Resistbot. Text “Resist” To 50409

30. Who Are Your Reps? 1. FED: COUNTABLE.ORG SEN. DIANE FEINSTEIN - (415) 393-0707 SEN. KAMALA HARRIS- (415) 981 - 9369 2. STATE: FINDYYOURREP.LEGISLATURE.CA.GOV 3. LOCAL: VISIT THE CALIFORNIA SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION

31. Get out your phone. No, really. Look up your legislator! Save the number of your legislator! Make a call today!

32. Take Action Now!

33. Thank YOU!NOW GO, CHANGE THE WORLD!