September 11, 2024

We would like to start this update by taking a moment to remember the lives lost 23 years ago in the brutal attacks on the twin towers, and how it changed the lives of many in our communities in the aftermath. 

Leading the news this week: Congress is back, the general elections ramp up with everything - both chambers of Congress, and the white house - up for grabs, and the Department of Education remains busy. 

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

Congress Returns to Deal with Government Funding 

This week, both the Senate and the House returned from their monthlong district/state work period. With less than three weeks left before government funding runs out, the first and likely only thing of major importance that will move through Congress will be legislation to address funding beyond September 30. Both chambers are miles apart from an compromise on overall funding levels for fiscal year 2025, much less programmatic allocations. It is clear that an extension, also known as a Continuing Resolution (CR) will be needed to keep the government open past this month. But even there lawmakers cannot agree.

Speaker Johnson and the House majority is seeking a six month extension, effectively punting FY 25 funding negotiations to a new Congress and a new President.  However, the legislation, which was originally scheduled for a floor vote today, has been delayed until next week as Speaker Johnson faced opposition from several factions of the republican conference for reasons ranging from fiscal conservatism to defense hawks' concern with the impact on military readiness. 

Meanwhile, the Senate is moving at a slower pace but in a bipartisan manner, preferring a CR that runs through December to allow this Congress to wrap up negotiations on FY 25 funding in the lame duck session. The Republican lead on the Senate Appropriations committees, as well as several appropriators across the aisle seem to prefer this approach to a longer, six-month CR. We will keep you up to date as new developments occur but we do not envision a government shutdown occurring right before the general election.  

Department of Education Office of Career, Technical & Adult Education Updates

Today the Department of Education's Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE) published two notices in the Federal Register inviting public comments on proposed revisions to the Department’s two principal information collections for the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (Perkins V): (1) the Perkins V State Plan Guide, which collects State plans, plan revisions, and State-determined performance levels for the core indicators of performance and (2) the Perkins V Consolidated Annual Report (CAR), which collects data on student participation in Career and Technical Education (CTE), the use of Perkins V funds, and the progress of States in achieving State-determined levels of performance. The Department is proposing to make changes to both information collections to help ensure that performance reporting is aligned with the law, to promote greater consistency in performance data across States, to fill some information gaps about critical aspects of Perkins V administration, and to inform whether future rulemaking is appropriate.

Community colleges and their partners are invited to review the proposed changes to the information collection requests and submit comments with feedback on the Department's plans. In order to do so, college should visit the pages in the federal register linked above and submit comments by November 12, 2024.

ACCT Activities & Webinars 

Over the last several weeks, ACCT held several webinars to inform community colleges of various funding opportunities and initiatives undertaken by the Center for Policy and Practice and the Government Relations teams. We held a webinar with guests from the Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) to provide information on the Good Jobs Challenge Grant opportunity. Separately, the Center for Policy and Practice held a webinar culminating the work we have been doing in developing a playbook for community colleges who wish to serve as a bridge and support states as they moved towards a model of skills-based hiring that removes bachelor's requirements for roles that do not need a four year degree. Finally, ACCT unveiled a report, and interactive dataset, and webinar that outlines state funding models for community colleges based on enrollment type. This tool can help inform colleges and state leaders on areas that may be explored at the state level to continue supporting and uplifting the work community colleges do for their students, the local economy, and industry partners.  

• 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
• Novermber 12 - Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act State Plan Guide Comments Due
• November 12 - Consolidated Annual Report for the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act Comments Due

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.

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