What ’s Happening in DC?

October 8, 2014

DEC Conference St. Louis

1

What’s Happening in Washington?

Ashley Lyons, DEC Christy Kavulic, OSEP Ginger Sheppard, OSEP Sharon Walsh, DEC Deborah Ziegler, CEC

Agenda

       DEC Advocacy Update Executive Branch Update  MSIP   RTP Collaborative Efforts Context and Election Budget & Funding Strong Start 113 th Congress What ’s Next?

And now….Madame Secretary

6 6 6

113

th

Congress – 2

nd

Session

 Summer recess Aug 4 th to Sep 8 th   Sept 18 th - recess until after election Election of 114 th Congress November 2014 

15 Day Lame Duck session November 12 th after the election

 Many more members are working well together; but little progress on issues important to both parties  Only

86 bills

signed into law by April 2014

USA Today Poll - Spring 2014

 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%

Congressional Champions

Thank You Tom Harkin & George Miller

New 114

th

Congress

 New Congress convenes in January 2015  Which party will have the majority in House?

 Which party will have the majority in Senate?

 Majority determines Chairperson and majority of members on Committee  Majority controls “rules” and which bills get consideration at Committee level and which bills get to the floor for a vote

Senate HELP Committee Senate Appropriations Committee House Education & the Workforce Committee House Appropriations Committee

IDEA FY 2013 Sequestration

IDEA Part B IDEA Part B Section 619 IDEA Part C IDEA Part D SpEd Research $10.97 Billion $353.24 Million $419.65 Million $225.14 Million $47.30 million Decrease of $602 Million Decrease of $19 Million Decrease of $23 Million Decrease of $13 Million Decrease of $2.5 Million 14

Government Shut Down over FFY 2014

 Last year “shutdown” while we were at DEC  No agreement; shutdown 10/1/13  After much arguing, debating, pointing fingers, meetings and sending bills back and forth …  October 16 th hours before the midnight deadline on debt ceiling…  Agreement reached 15

Agreement #1- Budget Deal Reached In December 2013

   Ryan (WI) and Murray (WA) announced budget deal Two year agreement for 2014 and 2015 Halfway between the Senate ’s $1.058 trillion and House ’s $967 billion  $65 billion in automatic spending cuts restored through Sept. 30, 2015  

No sequestration for 2 years

July 2014 House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) released a “discussion draft” of his budget plan to fight poverty Expanding Opportunity in America

Agreement #2 – 2014 Appropriations Bill for 2014 – January 2014

 Agreement reached based on deal  Consolidated Appropriations Act 2014 

No sequester

 Passed House January 15, by 359-67  Passed Senate January 16, by 72-26  2.6 percent increase over the post sequester budget for FY 2013.

FFY 2014 Funding Levels

 Part B of IDEA - $500 million increase  IDEA Preschool 619 – no increase  Part C of IDEA - $19 million increase  $154 million increase for the CCDBG  $194 million increase for WIC  $1.025 billion increase for Head Start

IDEA - Part C

44%

12%

Federal Funding Increase since 1999 Increase in children/families served Source: The Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center: http://ectacenter.org/

37%

Decrease Federal share per child

1999: $1979/child 2013: $1257 /child

IDEA - Preschool

47%

9% 41%

Federal Funding Increase since 1992 Increase in children served Decrease Federal share per child Source: The Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center: http://ectacenter.org/

Lowest Amount in 27 Years!!

1992: $804/child 2014: $471/child

IDEA SCHOOL-AGED PROGRAM

Source: NEA

INVESTING IN SPECIAL/GIFTED EDUCATION

IDEA National Programs (R&D) National Center for Special Education Research Javits Gifted & Talented Students Act Only 2% of IDEA budget, far too low Cut by 30% in 2011 resulted in 75% fewer grants in 2013 Resurrected in 2014 but only $5 million

FFY 2015 Funding – Started 10/1/14

 States receive these IDEA funds July 1, 2015  Continuing Resolution (CR) passed before election recess  Funding at FFY 2014 levels into December  Another CR needed in December  Final spending agreement needed by lame duck or new 114 th Congress  Could be full year CR or omnibus or minibus 

FFY 2016 funding looks very grim as the agreed-upon caps are much lower!

Keeping Early Learning In Spotlight

 “Early Learning Builds Our Future” on Capitol lawn 9/17/13  Moms Rising and National Women ’s Law Center  Many photos of Members of Congress and Secretary Duncan with young children  Up to 10 White House Early Learning Regional Summits expected in Fall 2014.

 Possibly in CA, WA and OH and other locations culminating in Washington DC event

ED Secretary Duncan

“It’s time to get together, both Democrats and Republicans,” to build kids up “because it’s long overdue,” said Senator Hatch.

President Obama at Northwestern University - Last Week

“If we make high-quality preschool available to every child, not only will we give our kids a safe place to learn and grow while their parents go to work; we ’ll give them the start that they need to succeed in school, and earn higher wages, and form more stable families of their own. In fact, today, I ’m setting a new goal:

By the end of this decade, let ’s enroll 6 million children in high-quality preschool. That is an achievable goal that we know will make our workforce stronger.

”

New Early Learning Legislation

 S. 1697 and H.R. 3461  “Strong Start for America’s Children Act”  Introduced in November 2013 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 28

Coalition Recommendations Submitted Related to IDEA



New purpose statements

“to increase access to appropriate supports so children with disabilities and other special populations can fully participate in high quality early education programs ” 

Funding set-aside

for preschool students with disabilities reserve, at a minimum,

5% for 619



Funding set-aside

for infants & toddlers with disabilities reserve, at a minimum,

5% for Part C

 New expanded

screening requirements

Senate Mark-up Up of Bill

 Chairman Harkin ’s bill was voted out of committee for floor consideration in May 2014  Senator Alexander offered amendment “Early Learning Innovation & Flexibility Act of 2014 ”  Block grant of federal early childhood programs at state level including IDEA  Voted down on party lines  Passage is on Harkin ’s wish list to complete before he retires

House Plans

 House Education and Workforce 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.

”

Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2013

 Reauthorize the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG)  First time in over 17 years.

 Senate passed S. 1086 by vote of 96-2 in March 2014  Bipartisan, bicameral bill announced in September before recess  Passed House on September 15 th 32

Expected Passage of CCBDG Agreement in November

  Senator Patrick Toomey (R-PA) placed a “hold” Indicated support, but wanted Senate vote on Protecting Students from Sexual and Violent Predators Act (S. 1596)  Bill introduced by Toomey last year would require LEAs to conduct background checks for teachers and other school staff  Senator Reid has scheduled a cloture vote on November 13th  Senate expected to pass bill and President is expected to sign into law

NAEYC Summary of Compromise

       Requires providers (except relatives) subject to licensing, annual inspections, criminal background checks; providers who are license-exempt to be inspected for health and safety.

Requires more transparent information for families who are seeking child care options and assistance; Prohibits the use of child assessments for high stakes purposes for children and programs; Raise minimum quality set-aside (4%-9 %) over 5 yrs Places additional focus/resources on quality infant/toddler care; Continues flexibility in the types of innovations and systems work for use of CCDBG quality funds Eligibility at min of 12 months, regardless of change in family ’s income/work, training, or education status.

Autism CARES Act

     “Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support Act of 2014 ” Designates official in HHS to oversee the implementation of the law and ensure accountability; Changes the make-up and authority of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC); Authorizes a review and federal report concerning challenges of youth with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) transitioning from school to post-secondary education, employment, and adult supports and services; and Focuses attention to the provision of respite services for families of children and adults with ASD.

Some Other Bills

 Home Visiting was facing hard sunset September 30, 2014

and received an extension

in March 2014  Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), signed by President Obama on July 22 reauthorizes the nation ’s workforce development and adult education programs  CR extends the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program through December 11. Congress will need to take action on another TANF extension

Online Updates

 Dept Education's

Office of Early Learning list serv and monthly newsletter at www.ed.gov/early-learning



White House Disability Group email [email protected]

and provide your full name, city, state, and organization.



Bi weekly Ed Review email

[email protected]

“We in America do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.”

— Thomas Jefferson

Thank You!