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What’s Happening in Washington D.C.

What’s Happening in Washington D.C. Sharon Walsh University of Hartford UCONN UCEDD March 25, 2014. 1. 2. 2. 2. Agenda. Congressional Climate Federal Budget Early Learning ESEA Assessment Other Congressional Activity. 3. 113 th Congress.

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What’s Happening in Washington D.C.

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  1. What’s Happening in Washington D.C. Sharon Walsh University of Hartford UCONN UCEDD March 25, 2014 1

  2. 2 2 2

  3. Agenda • Congressional Climate • Federal Budget • Early Learning • ESEA • Assessment • Other Congressional Activity 3

  4. 113th Congress Only 56 bills passed and were signed into law in the first session Reputation - No compromise Senate approved change in filibuster rules for Judicial and Legislative Appointments Congress Adjourned Before Holidays 2nd Session of the 113th began January 7th Election of 114th Congress November 2014 114th Congress convenes in January 2015 4

  5. Is Compromise Becoming Valued Again? Maybe….Maybe Not… 5

  6. New USA Today Poll 3/24/14 • Do you approve of the way the U.S. Congress is doing its job? • Strongly approve 2% • Somewhat approve 17% • Somewhat disapprove 29% • Strongly disapprove 48% • Don’t know/no opinion 4%

  7. Budget Agreement Reached December 2014 Funding Passed in January Debt Ceiling Increase Completed 7 7

  8. Federal Budget FY 2012 8

  9. Budget Control Act of 2011 9 Agreement reached August 2011 Raised $14.3 T debt ceiling by $2.1T Created a Super Committee to find solution – Not successful Agreed to budget caps to be enforced through sequestration (automatic cuts) Requires $1.2 T cuts in 10 years

  10. No Deal Last Year - March 1st Sequestration went into effect with $85 billion in across-the-board cuts Domestic programs cut about 5% Defense discretionary programs cut 7.8% Sequestration cuts taken from 2013 IDEA cuts 7/1/13 grants 10

  11. Funding Cuts Due to Sequestration 2013 9

  12. Sequestration = Full Funding Plunges to 14.5% 11

  13. Final IDEA FY 2013

  14. FFY 2014 – Began October 1, 2013 February 2013 - President’s Budget Request House Passed Budget Senate Budget $91 billion gap in spending levels between the two chambers No Conference Committee Deadline of September 30, 2013 No Continuing Resolution Passed

  15. Senate Appropriations FFY 2014 Bill Labor-HHS-Education • $783.4 billion spending bill • Head Start up $1.6 billion   • CCDBG up $176 million • New Preschool Development grants $750 million • IDEA Part B 611 – up $125 million • IDEA Preschool level at FY 13 • IDEA Infants and families +$21 million

  16. House Labor, Health, Education Appropriations • Mark-up postponed "due to scheduling uncertainties with the floor schedule and…full committee mark up “ • Only one of 12 House spending bills not considered by an Appropriations subcommittee. • Ranking member Nita Lowey (NY) said plan would: • Use budget ceilings of 2011 Budget Control Act • But not across-board cuts • Greater cuts to domestic spending to avoid significant cuts to defense programs • Could have been up to a 22 % cut in one year • Exact cuts to specific programs were unavailable.

  17. Federal Government Shut Down • No agreement was reached by 9/30/13 • Shutdown started October 1, 2013 – first day of the 2014 fiscal year • After much arguing, debating, pointing fingers, meetings and sending bills back and forth … • October 16th hours before the midnight deadline on debt ceiling… • Agreement reached

  18. What Was Final Resolution? • CR to extend funds for programs at 2013 levels including sequestration cuts through January 15, 2014 • Suspended debt ceiling enforcement to February 7, 2014 • Created a budget conference committee • Required stricter income verification for ACA subsidies

  19. Mandatory Budget Committee • Budget committee was charged to report back by December 13, 2013 • What to do about the sequestration process, entitlement spending, and revenues? • Bipartisan, bicameral group • Chaired by Senate Budget Committee Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) and House Budget Chair Paul Ryan (R-WI)

  20. #1- Budget Deal Reached In December 2013 • Ryan and Murray announced budget deal $1.012 trillion • Two year agreement • Halfway between the Senate’s $1.058 trillion and House’s $967 billion • $65 billion in automatic spending cuts restored through Sept. 30, 2015 • House approved by a vote of 332-94 • Senate approved by a vote of 64-36

  21. #2 - Appropriations Bill for 2014 • Agreement reached based on budget • Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2014 • No sequester needed for 2 years • Passed House on January 15, by 359-67 • Passed Senate on January 16, by 72-26 • President signed omnibus bill on January 17th • 2.6 percent increase over the post-sequester budget for FY 2013. 

  22. IDEA Funding Levels FFY 2014 2014 Pre-sequestration Levels and some increases!

  23. FFY 2014 Funding Levels • $154 million increase for the Child Care & Development Block Grant • $194 million increase for WIC • $1.025  billion increase for Head Start • $400 million for Head Start • $100 million for COLA • $25 million for redesignation activities • $500 million for the expansion of Early Head Start and for new discretionary Early Head Start /Child Care Partnership grants

  24. FFY 2014 Included New Preschool Development Grants $250 million for grants to States for preschool grants Two application public comment periods so far – over 500 comments and one public hearing Grants to be awarded to states by December 2014 Jointly administered by the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services  States apply for grants to build the capacity to develop, enhance or expand high-quality preschool programs States may subgrant to LEAs & other early learning providers (“including but not limited to Head Start programs & licensed child care providers”) or consortia.

  25. FFY 2014 Included Early Head Start/Child Care Partnerships Grants partner new or existing Early Head Start with local center and family-based child care providers serving subsidized infants and toddlers, to provide training and technical assistance as well as funding to help child care programs meet the Early Head Start standards. The goal of the Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships is to expand quality learning opportunities to as many toddlers and infants as possible and help provide flexible child care programs for working parents. This partnership is possible through the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF).

  26. Plans for Partnership Panels will be set up to review submitted partnership applications in the late summer or fall of 2014.  More information on the Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships can be found at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ecd/early-head-start-child-

  27. Partnership Overview Resources Register for a webinar to learn more about the partnerships View a Powerpoint overview of the Early Head Start – Child Care Partnerships (EHS-CC) Initiative View the EHS-CC Partnerships Briefing for Tribal Partners Read the Technical Assistance guide, 101: Early Head Start and Child Care Partnerships Explore additional webinars, tools, and resources related to the partnerships

  28. FFY 2015 Funding President’s Budget for 2015 released March 4, 2014 Appropriations must be completed by September 30, 2014 No sequester in 2015!! Request of $68.6 billion in discretionary funding for the U.S. Department of Education, an increase of $1.3 billion -- or 1.9% -- over the Fiscal Year 2014 level. 

  29. President’s Budget • Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships:  $800 million increase in discretionary funds (a total of $950 million increase if both parts of the request are funded). • Preschool Development Grants: an additional $250 million increase in discretionary funds (a total of $750 million above FY 2014 if both parts of the request are funded). • No sequestration cuts in FY 2016 and beyond.

  30. Early Learning • Child Care & Development Block Grant: $57 million increase in discretionary funds. Of the total CCDBG discretionary amount, $200 million would be targeted for quality improvements. In addition, the request calls for $750 million increase in mandatory funding. • Head Start, Early Head Start and Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships: $270 million increase in discretionary funds, of which $100 million is designated for cost of living adjustments and $150 million would go to Early Head Start expansion and Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships to bring the Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships grants to $650 million.

  31. President’s Budget – FFY 2015 • Title I local educational agency grants: frozen at last year’s funding level. • IDEA Part C early intervention: a $3.3 million increase for early intervention. • IDEA 619 special education: frozen at last year’s funding level.  • Voluntary home visiting (MCVIE): $100 million increase in mandatory funds over the current authorized levels for a total of $500 million in FY 2015; a request for $15 billion over ten years

  32. New Race To The Top Program $300 million in Race to the Top-Equity and Opportunity grants Creates incentives for states and school districts for change in identifying and closing achievement and opportunity gaps.  Enhance data systems to sharpen the focus on the greatest disparities and invest in strong teachers and leaders in high-need schools.  Grants would also support other strategies that mitigate the effects of concentrated poverty, such as expanded learning time, access to rigorous coursework, and comprehensive student supports.

  33. Opportunity, Growth and Security Initiative Budget request if additional funds are available through new revenues and program cuts $56 billion in spending beyond original request, split equally between domestic and defense programs. The domestic share includes needed expansions in pre-k and other education, job training, apprenticeships and temporary jobs, juvenile justice programs, research and manufacturing innovation, infrastructure rebuilding, and other initiatives. Paid for half by savings such as reduced crop insurance payments and increased airline passenger fees and half from reducing tax benefits from multi-million dollar retirement accounts

  34. New Competitive IDEA Grant • Freeze to Part B. Preschool 619 and Part D • $100 million state competitive grant for Part B and Part C • To support state efforts for State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP) • Part B – up to 10 awards from $4 million to $14 million each • Part C- up to 15 awards from $500,000 to $800,000 each

  35. New SPP/APR for FFY 2013-2018 • Reflects OSEP’s new IDEA Results Driven Accountability initiative • Balances focus on improved educational results and functional outcomes while considering compliance as it relates to those outcomes and results • Requires new State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP) indicators for Part B and Part C

  36. Timelines • Draft package was released April 15, 2013 • Written comments were due June 14, 2013 • Next draft published this week with 30-day comment period • Final SPP/APR package will be released when finalized after comments considered • States must submit FFY 2013 SPP/APR on February 2, 2015 • Includes targets for 5 years on new APR

  37. FFY 2015 President’s Budget • MCH Block grant - $634 million; same as FFY 2014; $604.9 in 2013 • University Centers for Excellence - $36.8 million; same as FFY 2014; $36.6 in 2013 • DD Councils - $70.9 million; same as FFY 2014; $70.6 in 2013 • Autism and Other DD (including LEND) - $47.2 million; same as FFY 2014; $44.7 in 2013 • Universal Newborn Screening - $17.8 million; same as FFY 2014; $17.7 in 2013 • www.aucd.org

  38. House Budget Committee •  House Budget Committee's majority staff released a new report, "The War on Poverty: 50 Years Later." • In-depth look at the federal government's efforts to alleviate poverty • In fiscal year 2012, Washington spent at least $799 billion on 92 programs to help low-income families. • The report indicates some programs are duplicative or even counterproductive.  • Head Start is “failing to prepare children for school,” and “a consolidated, well-funded system would be better.” • Chairman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin issued the following statement: • “We need to take a hard look at what the federal government is doing and ask, 'Is this working?' • "This report will help start the conversation. It shows that some programs work; others don't. And for many of them, we just don't know. • "Clearly, we can do better. We can rework these federal programs and help families in need lead lives of dignity.

  39. Full Funding of IDEA • Annual effort toward mandatory full finding of IDEA Part B • IDEA Full Funding Act (H.R. 4136), • Van Hollen (D-MD), McKinley (R-WV), Walz (D-MN), Gibson (R-NY), Huffman (D-CA) and Reichert (R-WA) • Full funding is when the Federal government pays 40% of the extra cost of educating students with disabilities • Current investment is 15.3%. 

  40. Current Head Start Profiles Posted March 19, 2014 CLASP announced the release of its 2012 Head Start State Profiles (March 2014) and a new interactive map Provides state-by-state data on all Head Start programs in the state: Early Head Start, Head Start preschool, and Migrant/Seasonal Head Start. Include information on Head Start participants, families, staff, and programs. Based on the 2012 Program Information Report (PIR) data, which all Head Start programs are required to complete on an annual basis

  41. Race to the Top Early Learning First year of the RTT-ELC competition, 9 states funded (CA, DE, MA, MD, MN, NC, OH, RI, WA) In 2012, five more states (CO, IL, NM, OR, and WI) were funded Six new awards, $280 million in Fall 2013 Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Vermont More information about the Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge 41

  42. New Early Learning Legislation • S. 1697 and H.R. 3461 • “Strong Start for America’s Children Act” • Introduced in November to authorize the President's Early Learning initiative • No mandatory funding; does not include the tobacco tax increases • Funds dependant on the annual appropriations process • Disability groups advocating for IDEA revisions including set-aside

  43. Outline of the Bill • Title I – Prekindergarten Access • Title II – Early Learning Quality Partnerships • Title III – Child Care • Title IV – Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program • Sense of the Senate

  44. Congressional Hearings • House Education and Workforce Committee February 5th • House Committee Chairman John Kline (R-MN): • “The president and I agree more can be done to help kids get an early start on the path to success,… However, with 45 federal programs tied to early childhood development and a $13 billion annual taxpayer investment, we owe it to the American people to examine the strengths and weaknesses of current initiatives before crafting new ones.” • Senate HELP Committee Thursday February 6th

  45. ESEA Reauthorization • Was scheduled for 2007 • Bills introduced since then but no progress has been made • More and more districts in more and more states not meeting Adequate Yearly Progress • Getting closer to 2014 deadline of 100% proficiency • Bills in both House and Senate now • IDEA reauthorization is after ESEA

  46. American Association of Administrators, Policy Insider Oct 2011

  47. ESEA Administrative Waivers Established in Sept 2011 • 4 Conditions: • Adopt College & Career Ready Standards • Develop Assessments that Measure Student Growth • Develop Differentiated Accountability System • Develop Guidelines for Local Teacher and Principal Evaluations Based on Effectiveness

  48. What Was Waived? • Remove 2014 AYP deadline • Funding Flexibility • Changes to Accountability • Flexibility for HQT Plans

  49. ESEA WAIVERS 49 42 States + Washington, DC have waivers

  50. Student Success Act (HR 5) House Version of ESEA Much of the education & disability community does not support the bill • July 19, 2013: Passed House by 221-207 vote; all Democrats and 12 Republicans voted against • Two days of debate • 18 amendments passed • 4 amendments defeated • 4 withdrawn

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