Category: News

OCR Requests Public Comment on Section 504 (May 6, 2022)

On May 6, 2022, the U.S. Department of Educationā€™s (USDE) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced its request for public comments regarding general feedback on Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 for students with disabilities in K-12 and higher education institutions. 

OCR is seeking public comment to obtain information for a proposal to amend regulations for Section 504. Following this step, there will be an additional round of public input before being finalized by the USDE.

The Section 504 regulations have remained largely unchanged years since their release in 1977. The USDE said the review of Section 504 effectiveness aligns with the Presidentā€™s Unity Agenda, which includes reforms for mental health support in elementary and secondary schools and colleges.

For more from K-12 Dive, click here.
To view the Unity Agenda, click here.

Gov. Wolf Highlights Ed. Budget Increases (April 30, 2022)

During a April 29, 2022 visit with Philadelphia-area students and staff, Governor Tom Wolf highlighted his plan to build on the record education investments his administration has made over the past seven years with an additional $1.9 billion for education from pre-k through college.

The governorā€™s budget announced in February calls for building on the momentum of previous years with a generational investment of $1.9 billion in education from pre-k through college, including:

ā— $1.25 billionĀ inĀ basicĀ educationĀ fundingā€‹ through the Fair Funding Formula,Ā bringing the totalĀ going through theā€‹ formulaĀ toĀ more thanĀ $2 billion, or 26.5 percentĀ of state funding;
ā— $300 millionĀ for the groundbreaking Level UpĀ initiativeĀ launched last yearĀ to supportĀ the 100 most underfunded schools; and
ā— A $200 millionĀ increaseĀ for Special Education.Ā Ā 

To view the press release, click here.

USDE Grant Program Invests in Highly Effective Educators and Addresses Teacher Shortage; Focuses on Equity, Diversity, and Increasing the Educator Pipeline (April 28, 2022)

The U.S. Department of Education (USDE) is continuing to take action to support and invest in the teaching profession and address the teacher shortage many schools and districts across the country face. The Supporting Effective Educator Development (SEED) grant program is now accepting applications for efforts that increase the pipeline of highly effective educators.

The SEED program will award $65 million to support the implementation of evidence-based practices that prepare, develop, or enhance the skills of educators. These grants also will enable recipients to develop, expand, and evaluate practices that can serve as models that can be sustained, replicated, and scaled. This program is part of the Biden-Harris Administrationā€™s broader commitment to supporting targeted efforts that will provide comprehensive, high-quality pathways into the profession, such as residency and Grow Your Own programs, and evidence-based professional development all focused on building and supporting a more diverse educator pipeline and combating the teacher shortage nationally.

As states, districts, and schools are working hard to address the impact of COVID-19 on studentsā€™ social, emotional, mental health, and academic needs, many of them are facing significant challenges in attracting and retaining teachers. Preexisting teacher shortages in critical areas such as special education; multilingual education; science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM); career and technical education; and early childhood education have only been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemicā€”directly impeding student access to educational opportunity.

The SEED program fosters the use of rigorous evidence-based practices in selecting and implementing strategies and interventions that support educatorsā€™ development across the continuum of their careers. Support for educator preparation programs and high-quality professional development are vital to ensure that all students have access to well-prepared and qualified teachers, principals, and other school leaders. These programs invest in educators who are effective and likely to stay in the profession. Research shows that existing educator shortages disproportionately impact students of color, students from low-income backgrounds, students with disabilities, and, often, rural communities.

To learn more about the SEED program, please visit: https://oese.ed.gov/offices/office-of-discretionary-grants-support-services/effective-educator-development-programs/supporting-effective-educator-development-grant-program/. The FY 2022 SEED grant competition will close on June 3, 2022.

To read the USDE press release, click here.

Wolf Admin. Visits LCTI to Showcase Importance of Career and Technical Education (April 26, 2022)

Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Executive Deputy Secretary Dr. Debora Carrera Lehigh Career and Technical Institute (LCTI) to showcase the importance of career and technical education (CTE) celebrate LCTIā€™s 50th anniversary. She also recognized the governor’s  commitment to creating multiple pathways to success for students, as evidenced by a proposed $6 million increase for career and technical education in his final budget.

Over the past seven years, the Wolf Administration has invested $116 million in science, computer science and technical education, including $80 million in the innovative PAsmart program, and $36 million in apprenticeships and workforce training. Since 2015, the number of career and technical education students earning industry-recognized credentials has increased by 38.7 percent and the number of credentials earned by students enrolled in CTE programs has grown by 33.6 percent.

LCTI is one of the largest career and technical centers in the United States serving over 2,900 students, covering 47 acres, and offering more than 40 programs in areas like arts and humanities, business and communication technology, engineering and advanced manufacturing, health and human services, and industrial technology, as well as a wide range of academic classes in their Academic Center, which is designed to prepare students for success in college and their careers. The five-wing building includes 450,000 square feet of labs filled with cutting-edge technology.

According to a study, 80 percent of high school students who paired academic courses with rigorous CTE met college and career readiness goals, compared to 63 percent of students who focused solely on academics.

To view the entire press release, click here.