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What’s Goin ’ On?. Michael Gruzeski Assistant Director Saint Louis University MOACAC Govt. Relations Chair. Agenda. Federal Level State Level. HEA Reauthorization. Current law is scheduled to expire this year
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What’s Goin’ On? Michael Gruzeski Assistant Director Saint Louis University MOACAC Govt. Relations Chair
Agenda • Federal Level • State Level
HEA Reauthorization • Current law is scheduled to expire this year • Topics that may be addressed in the new bill: student aid, for-profit colleges, cost of attendance • Unclear if Congress will take up the reauthorization in the 113th Congress
ESEA Reauthorization • No Child Left Behind was signed into law in 2002; expired in 2007 • Since 2007, Congress has passed a series of short term extensions • Different Approaches: House promotes flexibility; Senate promotes college readiness • Unclear if Congress will take up the reauthorization in the 113th Congress
Federal Budget, Sequestration, Debt Limit • 85 billion in across the board cuts in 2013 • A total of $1.2 trillion over 10 years in across the board cuts are scheduled • Virtually every federal program will be cut • In 2013, ED’s budget will be cut about $3 billion
Legislative Update -- 113th Congress • House is controlled by Republicans • 232 Republicans • 200 Democrats • 3 Vacancies • Senate is controlled by Democrats* • 53 Democrats • 45 Republicans • 2 Independents (caucus with Democrats, effectively giving them 55 seats) • * Need 60 votes to get just about anything passed
Legislative Update • NACAC PrinciplesCollege Access Agenda: • Quality School CounselingNeed-based Financial AidRigorous Curriculum for All Students • Student Protection Agenda: • Protect Students in the Admission Process • Protect Student Borrowers • Protect Taxpayer Dollars
Legislative Update • 2014 Budget • President’s FY 2014 budget has not been released (expected Mid-March; usually released first Monday in February) • House and Senate FY14 proposals not yet released • Sequestration • First round of across the board cuts kicked in March 1, 2013 • Approximately 5% cut to non-defense discretionary spending. This translates to a roughly $3 billion cut to Department of Education programs (only Pell is exempt from cuts in 2013) • Unless Congress acts, additional across the board cuts, including education (and Pell grants), will happen each year through FY 2021
Legislative Update • Budget Continued • These cuts will be on top of education cuts adopted by Congress in 2011. Funding for education programs (exclusive of changes to Pell grants) was cut in the aggregate by $1.25 billion (-2.7%) in Fiscal Year 2011, which generally provides funds to schools and colleges for the 2011-2012 school year. • The FY 2012 omnibus appropriations bill cut aggregate funding for the Department of Education by an additional $233 million. • Between FY 10 and FY 12 more than 50 education programs totaling $1.2 billion have had their funding completely eliminated.
Legislative Update – other issues • Student Protections • The ACCEPT Act (Senator Blumenthal)* • The Know Before You Owe Act (Senator Durbin) • Military Educational Benefits • NACAC supported several bills in the 112th Congress that aimed to provide veterans education counseling and/or protect their education benefits; it is unclear how many will be reintroduced in the 113th Congress. • * Expected to by reintroduced in the Spring 2013
Legislative Update – other issues • College Transparency • College Scorecard and Standardized Financial Aid Award Letter (Shopping Sheet): NACAC is working with the Department to help publicize these tools and urge the voluntary adoption of the Shopping Sheet. • Over 600 schools have agreed to utilize the Shopping Sheet, 200 of which are NACAC members
Legislative Update – other issues • College Scorecard: designed to provide better information to students and parents about college affordability and value to assist in the college search process Standardized Financial Aid Award Letter (Shopping Sheet): a standardized award letter from colleges/universities offering students an easy way compare financial aid packages and bottom-line college costs
Legislative Update – other issues • Comprehensive Immigration Reform • May include the DREAM Act (or a variation of) • Bipartisan groups in both the House and Senate are meeting in the hopes of finding a compromise • The Hill newspaperreported recently “A bipartisan House group is making ‘really good progress’ on immigration reform…” • A bipartisan coalition of senators released a set of agreed-upon principles earlier this year (these need to be translated into bill text)
Legislative Update – other issues • States with Tuition Equity LawsEquity Legislation Introduced in 2013 • California Arizona (referendum) • Connecticut Colorado (passed Senate) • Illinois Florida • Kansas Indiana • Maryland Iowa • Nebraska Massachusetts • New Mexico Mississippi • New York Missouri (did not pass) • Oklahoma New Hampshire • Texas New Jersey • Utah Oregon (passed House) • Washington Pennsylvania • Virginia (did not pass) • *University of Hawaii’s Board of Regents and Rhode Island Board of Governors for Higher Education approved in-state tuition for undocumented students; no law was passed in these states
Legislative Update – other issues • States that Ban Enrollment of Undocumented Students • Alabama • Georgia (not all schools) • Montana • South Carolina
AK State Laws & Policies on Access to Higher Education for Undocumented Students Updated 2/27/2013 WA ME MT ND VT OR MN NH ID MA NY SD WI CT RI WY MI NV PA IA NJ NE OH MD DE IN IL UT CO CA WV KS VA MO KY NC TN OK AZ NM AR SC GA MS AL TX LA FL AK HI States considering equity legislation 2013 States that ban enrollment of undocumented students States with Tuition Equity Laws States 2013 equity law introduced, died in legislature States where some college systems ban enrollment States with Tuition Equity Policies (Board of Regents Approved)
MO Legislative Update • SB 3 - Rupp - Creates the Early High School Graduation Scholarship Program for public high school students who graduate from high school early • SB 7 - Pearce - Modifies provisions relating to school accreditation for failing school districts • SB 8 - Pearce - Makes technical corrections and updates obsolete references in certain higher education statutes
MO Legislative Update • SB 17 - Munzlinger - Establishes the Advisory Council on the Education of Gifted and Talented Children and the Career and Technical Education Advisory Council • SB 18 - Munzlinger - Requires agencies to track federal fund usage, requires political subdivisions and charter schools to disclose indebtedness, requires the Governor to report withholdings, and removes the Auditor from the Board of Fund Commissioners
MO Legislative Update • SB 75 - Brown - Authorizes school districts and charter schools to provide training and education about firearms safety and addressing potentially dangerous or armed intruders • SB 95 - Justus - Requires the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to establish a voluntary prekindergarten program
MO Legislative Update • SB 106 - Brown - Requires higher education institutions to accept credits for military courses and professional licensing boards must consider military qualifications when considering licensing • SB 132 - Keaveny - Allows school districts to receive state aid for children ages three to five participating in a district-operated pre-kindergarten program
MO Legislative Update • SB 133 - Keaveny - Allows school districts and charter schools to receive state aid for children ages three to five who are eligible for free and reduced lunch and are participating in a district-operated pre-kindergarten program • SB 141 - Dempsey - Requires political subdivisions receiving more than 20% of their annual general operating revenues from traffic fines to send revenues in excess of such threshold to the state school system
MO Legislative Update • SB 168 - Chappelle-Nadal - Modifies the use of student assessment data when calculating a school district’s performance when a school district receives students as a result of a change in district boundary lines • SB 169 - Chappelle-Nadal - Requires certain financial information to be included in a school district’s bond filing and included on the ballot when voters authorize a school district bond issuance
MO Legislative Update • SB 171 - Chappelle-Nadal - Provides that charter school sponsors are responsible for all expenditures associated with the closure of a charter school they sponsor • SB 173 - Nasheed - Transfers governance of the St. Louis School District from the special administrative board to the elected school board when certain conditions are satisfied
MO Legislative Update • SB 193 - Schaefer - Establishes the Advisory Council on the Education of Gifted and Talented Children and requires the State Board of Education to designate a staff person in charge of gifted and talented education • SB 195 - Keaveny - Allows school boards to establish and adopt a unique professional development program for teachers in lieu of following statutory mandates
MO Legislative Update • SB 200 - Chappelle-Nadal - Allows school districts and charter schools to establish and implement an age-appropriate curriculum to educate students about domestic violence and teen dating violence prevention • SB 209 - Justus - Creates the Missouri Tuition Equity Act • SB 210 - Lamping - Requires the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to hold public meetings in each congressional district on the Common Core State Standards
MO Legislative Update • SB 211 - Rupp - Requires the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to develop guidelines for the training of school employees in the care needed for students with diabetes • SB 225 - Curls - Modifies laws regarding educational parental support for higher education • SB 344 - Parson - Requires the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to issue an annual report card for each public school that rates the school with a grade of A, B, C, D, or F
MO Legislative Update • SB 378 - Pearce - Modifies provisions of the A+ Program, Bright Flight Scholarship Program, and the Access Missouri Financial Assistance Program
MO Legislative Update • SCS HCS HB 2 Stream, Rick Appropriates money for the expenses, grants, refunds, and distributions of the State Board of Education and Department of Elementary and Secondary Education(LR# 0002S.04C) SCS HCS HB 3 Stream, Rick Appropriates money for the expenses, grants, refunds, and distributions of the Department of Higher Education(LR# 0003S.04C)
MO Legislative Update HB 56 Thomson, Mike Establishes the Career and Technical Education Student Protection Act and the Career and Technical Education Board to oversee and coordinate career and technical education and student organizations' activities(LR# 0538L.01I) HB 70 Kelley, Mike Allows a teacher or school administrator to carry a concealed firearm into a higher education institution or elementary or secondary school if he or she has a valid concealed carry endorsement or permit(LR# 0600L.01I
MO Legislative Update • HB 111 Solon, Sheila Establishes the Education Protection Act regarding enrollment of students from unaccredited school districts(LR# 0387H.02I) HCS HB 134 Allen, Sue Changes the laws regarding bullying in schools and establishes specific components that a district must include in its antibullying policy(LR# 0848L.02P)
MO Legislative Update HB 136 Hinson, Dave Requires high school students to complete at least two full semesters of science and two full semesters of math within the two semesters immediately preceding a student's graduation from high school(LR# 0540L.02I) HCS HB 179 Koenig, Andrew Specifies that the State Board of Education and other public school entities must encourage students to explore scientific questions and assist teaching strengths and weakneses of scientific theories of biological or chemical evolution(LR# 0440L.02C)
MO Legislative Update HB 224 Berry, T.J. Requires the State Board of Education to establish rules to authorize school boards to lease advertising on school buses(LR# 0597L.02I) HB 226 Berry, T.J. Exempts fuel used in school buses from the motor fuel tax when the bus is driven to transport students to or from school or to or from any place for educational purposes(LR# 0389L.01I)
MO Legislative Update HB 228 Sommer, Chrissy Allows school districts to install and operate school bus safety cameras to detect violations that require a driver to stop for a school bus that is receiving or discharging students(LR# 0748L.01I) HB 229 Sommer, Chrissy Grants physical education credit for participation in certain school-sanctioned sports or activities and allows students to take other courses instead(LR# 0751L.01I
MO Legislative Update HB 276 Brattin, Rick Authorizes any school district to designate a teacher or administrator as a school protection officer who may carry concealed firearms after he or she has met specified minimum training requirements(LR# 0608L.02I) HB 444 Hubbard, Penny Establishes the Parent Time For Missouri Program in the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to allow parents and legal guardians paid leave from work to help their children in their school(LR# 0443L.01I)
MO Legislative Update HCS HB 470 Barnes, Jay Allows a student to enroll in a school district other than the student's school district of residence for the purpose of attending virtual courses or programs(LR# 1469L.02P) HB 477 Morgan, Judy Changes the laws regarding bullying in schools(LR# 0447L.01I) HB 596 Wright, John Allows a school district to receive state aid for children ages three to five participating in a district-operated full-day pre-kindergarten program(LR# 1520L.02I)
MO Legislative Update HCS HB 675 Grisamore, Jeff Requires the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to develop guidelines for the training of school employees in the care needed for students with diabetes(LR# 1485L.03P) HB 743 Ellington, Brandon Requires the establishment of a process by which a student in an unaccredited district who is enrolled in a public school that is not A+ designated can receive reimbursement under the A+ Schools Program(LR# 0906L.01I)
MO Legislative Update HB 745 Thomson, Mike Changes the laws regarding the A+ Program, the higher education scholarship, commonly known as "Bright Flight," and Access Missouri(LR# 1736L.01I)
Questions, comments, suggestions? Michael Gruzeski Assistant Director for Admission Saint Louis University MOACAC Government Relations Chair 314-977-2419 gruzeski@slu.edu