All4Ed Flash

House Democrats bring a new Health and Emergency Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act to the table, with a lower overall price tag but more dedicated funding for education and home internet. Congress and the White House agree to a temporary stopgap to keep the government open through mid-December—including good news for advocates working to prevent child hunger during the pandemic. HE...

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is forced to abandon her policy to shuttle more funding to private schools with COVID-19 relief funds. The U.S. Senate can’t quite muster the votes for Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) COVID-19 legislation. The U.S. House of Representatives passed the first federal legislation on school integration in more than thirty years. Federal Judge Rules Against Secre...

In today’s Federal Flash, a flurry of activity across multiple federal agencies. First, we cover the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) eleventh-hour reversal to extend waivers that have made it easier for school districts to serve free school meals, plus the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) new guidance that ends state reimbursement for cloth face masks and personal protectiv...

In today’s Federal Flash, we cover the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) refusal to extend waivers that give schools flexibility on where and how to serve students meals during the pandemic and an injunction halting Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos’s rule on equitable services under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. In addition, we breakdown both political p...

In today’s Federal Flash, we break down the education proposals in the Senate Republicans’ coronavirus relief package, known as the Health, Economic Assistance, Liability Protection, and Schools (HEALS) Act, and cover the reaction to it. We also provide an update on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) new guidelines for reopening schools.   Senate Republicans Introduce HEALS A...

In today’s Federal Flash, a breakdown of new data shows that the homework gap is much larger than previously thought—especially for students of color, students from low-income backgrounds, and those living in rural areas. We’ll also provide an update on Senate Republicans’ coronavirus relief proposal and school nutrition advocates’ push to extend a key flexibility for school meal programs.  As sch...

Today’s Federal Flash, covers the backlash over the White House’s push to reopen school buildings full time in the fall. It also shares updates on the House education spending bill for next fiscal year, the Education Department’s postponement of the Civil Rights Data Collection, and a lawsuit to overturn Secretary DeVos’ rule on equitable services under the CARES Act.   The Trump Administration’s...

In today’s Federal Flash, we cover the largest coronavirus aid package proposed in Congress to date to support education and childcare. Plus, two significant actions affecting private schools: a new rule from Secretary DeVos on equitable services under the CARES Act and a Supreme Court decision on the participation of religious schools in private school choice programs.  Senator Murray's Coronavir...

In today’s Federal Flash, we cover major Supreme Court rulings to protect Dreamers from deportation and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and/or questioning (LGBTQ) employees from workplace discrimination. We’ll also share highlights from two congressional hearings on the challenge of reopening schools and competing proposals for police reform. Supreme Court Ruling on DACA In a 5-4 decis...

In today’s Federal Flash, we pay tribute to the life of George Floyd and countless others whose killings show how much more must be done to address systemic racism in our country. We’ll also share new recommendations for prioritizing equity in the response to COVID-19 as well as several items from the U.S. Department of Education (ED). Our Voices Must Be Heard We at the Alliance for Excellent Educ...

In today’s bonus episode of the Federal Flash, we’ll summarize what is, and is not, included in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s $3 trillion coronavirus relief proposal. We’ll also discuss the U.S. Department of Education’s (ED’s) final Title IX regulations. Health and Emergency Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act This week, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi unveiled a $3 trillion proposal called the He...

In today’s Federal Flash, we have updates on three coronavirus-related issues: (1) legislation to support home internet access and close the homework gap during the pandemic; (2) a House Education Committee briefing on remote learning and education equity; and (3) new guidance from the U.S. Department of Education (ED) on equitable services and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (C...

The quest to educate students in the K–12 and higher education systems during the COVID-19 pandemic continues. Today’s Federal Flash covers four coronavirus-related issues: (1) recommendations from U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos on further flexibility under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), (2) federal relief for state education agencies to support K–12 schools, (3)...

As governors extend stay-at-home orders to slow the spread of COVID-19, thirty-four states and counting have mandated or recommended that schools remain closed for the rest of the school year, affecting 38.6 million children. In today’s Federal Flash, we’ll discuss three coronavirus-related issues: funding for governors to support education, new legislation to close the homework gap, and the clash...