August 15, 2024

Leading the news this week: Both the House and Senate are on off for their August recess.  Meanwhile the Biden administration continues to push through its agenda.

Publishing note: LAW alerts will take a break throughout the August recess period, unless there is breaking news on any of our top priorities.  

Now let's dive into the latest news in higher education!

Good Jobs Challenge 

Recently, the Department of Commerce's Economic Deveopment Administration (EDA) published a Notice of Funding Opportunity for the FY 2024 Good Jobs Challenge. The deadline to apply is September 27, 2024, at 4:59 PM EST

The Good Jobs Challenge supports regional workforce training systems to establish sectoral partnerships that train and place workers in good jobs. Good jobs are those that align with the Departments of Labor and Commerce Good Jobs Principles.  

The Good Jobs Challenge is looking for awardees who will expand opportunities across diverse populations, regions, and communities, focusing on coordinated and comprehensive approaches to removing systemic barriers for workers through support services such as childcare and transportation, and opening doors to a variety of paid on-the-job training opportunities.

In order to help prepare community colleges who are considering applying to this grant, ACCT will host a webinar next week on Thursday August 22, 2024, at 2:00 PM EST with a guest speaker from EDA to share an overview of the funding opportunity and answer questions colleges may have about the competition. To attend the webinar, please register here. 

Transitioning Gang-Involved Youth to Higher Education Program

The Department of Education earlier this month issued a notice inviting applications (NIA) for fiscal year 2024 for the Transitioning Gang-Involved Youth to Higher Education (TGIY) Program. Eligible applicants are institutions of higher education (IHEs) that are public or private nonprofit IHEs, and public and private nonprofit organizations and agencies that partner with IHEs. Applications are due September 30, 2024.

The purpose of the TGIY Program is to provide a funding opportunity for organizations that work directly with gang-involved youth to help such youth pursue higher education opportunities that will lead to certification or credentials. Gang involved youth are 30% less likely to complete high school and 58% less likely to earn a four-year degree compared with their non-gang peers. For individuals who were previously incarcerated, those who enroll in postsecondary education programs were found to be 48 percent less likely to be reincarcerated than those who do not.

FAFSA Request for Information  

Earlier this week, the Department of Education (ED) opened a new a Request for Information (RFI) soliciting feedback on ways to improve the “help text” of the 2025-2026 FAFSA® form as well as for the development of supporting materials. ED also seeks feedback on ways they can provide additional support to ensure applicants and contributors complete the FAFSA and institutions of higher education and state grant agencies have support for the processing and packaging of student aid

You can read more in ED's Electronic Announcement (EA), or can review the RFI in the Federal Register. The Department encourages comments from institutions of higher education; schools and school districts (including school and district leaders); state educational agencies; state higher education agencies; school counselors and college advisors; college access organizations; student support professionals; students and their families; stakeholders within the education community; and other members of the public.  Comments are due by September 13, 2024.

August Recess Outreach Prep

August recess allows federal lawmakers to spend a substantial amount of time in their home states and districts connecting with their constitutes. This presents a window of opportunity for community college leaders to strengthen relationships with their lawmakers.

ACCT encourages our membership to start planning for recess as soon as possible as lawmakers will soon be flooded with invitations. Use this time to think of a speaking engagement, welcome back to school event, or tour you can invite your member or offer your campus to them as a location for an upcoming event they may be hosting. You should also consider how your team can best use the opportunity to advocate for your institution's federal priorities. For more guidance on hosting federal officials in your campus, check out our advocacy toolkits on ACCT Connect. If you have not yet created an account, click here.

• September 12 - CTE Research Grants
• September 16 - YouthBuild Grant
• September 22 - Good Jobs Challenge Grant Webinar
• September 23 - Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program 
• September 24 - Strengthening Community College Training Grants Round 5
• September 27 - Good Jobs Challenge Initiative
• September 30 - Transitioning Gang-Involved Youth to Higher Education Program

Outreach Efforts

Is your institution meeting or hosting an event with federal elected officials?

We created a Congressional Contact Form that will help us track outreach efforts of community college leaders across our membership. By filling out the form, you are better informing ACCT's advocacy efforts and our advocacy team is able to continue those conversations with congressional staff in DC. 

ACCT NOW is the go-to resource for issues affecting community colleges. Our new website features original reporting and research, as well as of-the-moment legislative updates. ACCT NOW also includes articles, reports, and research from outside sources that benefit the ACCT community. Read the Latest Articles on ACCT NOW:

Have a Question?

Contact us with any questions or concerns about public policy and ACCT's advocacy on behalf of two-year colleges and two-year college trustees. ACCT's Latest Action in Washington alerts are sent to interested ACCT members to keep you up to date on important legislative activities that impact community colleges.

If you no longer wish to receive ACCT's Latest Action in Washington alerts, reply to this email with UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line. For more information about ACCT's advocacy services, visit acct.org/advocacy

Spread the Word.

Please encourage your fellow trustees, presidents and colleagues to stay up to date about legislation that affects their community colleges by joining the Latest Action in Washington (LAW) Alert network. To join, simply register here. 

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