Education Report for April 3, 2009

Highlights under each section of the attached report include:

1. Budget and Appropriations
-House and Senate passed FY 2010 Budget Resolutions along party lines--this will amount to an 8 percent increase in domestic spending and major gains for education.
-Controversy about how the budget process should progress continues in the Senate over the prospect of reconciliation--a maneuver that allows legislation to move forward without the threat of a fillibuster. Republicans are strongly opposed to its use since it would take away their only recourse for influencing the proceedings.
-Now that the resolutions have passed, the next step involves hammering out the funding for specific federal agencies by subcommittees.

2. Department of Education Guidance on ARRA Funds
-Guidance from ED released on how the first $44 billion in education funding from the stimulus will be made available to states and schools.
-Details of three phases of fund distribution that will take place (see report for specifics and timing)
-Two funding types:
1) awards based on previously submitted applications--$ from the State Fiscal Stabilization Funds will be awarded in this way and will be distributed during the first two phases
2) new competitive grants--these will be distributed during the third phase between the fall of 2009 and Spring 2010 (See report for some of the specific grants/funds).
-A few words from Arne Duncan during the announcement of guidelines concerning EDs emphasis

3. In Brief, headings include:
-SECRETARY DUNCAN DISCUSSES STIMULUS, BUDGET AND OBAMA'S AGENDA
-INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMITTEE HOLDS HEARING ON ARTS FUNDING
-SERVE AMERICA ACT HEADED BY PRESIDENT
-SENATE AGRICULTURAL COMMITTEE HOLDS HEARING ON CHILD NUTRITION
-OBAMA ANNOUNCES NEW ADMINISTRATION POST AT ED
-VETERANS AFFAIRS SUCOMMITTEE HEARING ON VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION
-AMERICAN YOUTH POLICY FORUM (AYPF) HOLDS BRIEFING ON TECHNOLOGY IN HIGH SCHOOLS
-HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUT REDUCTION
-HOUSE RESEARCH AND SCIENCE EDUCATION MARKUP

Be sure to also scan sections #4 ("New Publications") and #5 ("In the News"), for articles of interest.