September 6, 2023

Happy first week of September! As many students make their way back into the classroom, Members of Congress are making their way to DC. The Senate is officially back in session and the House is scheduled to return next Tuesday. 

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

Funding Deadline Looms

With members of Congress returning to Washington, all eyes are watching the calendar as the current fiscal year ends on September 30. Both chambers still have much work to do before passing their respective FY 2024 government funding bills, not to mention negotiating a compromise between the two bills. A continuing resolution, which would extend current funding levels temporarily and avoid a government shutdown, seems all but certain and Congressional Leadership on both sides of the aisle have expressed support for one. ACCT will continue monitoring the situation as it unfolds and advocating for key community college fiscal priorities.

Back to School Bus Tour 2023: Raise the Bar

Yesterday, Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona embarked on week-long, multi-state road trip that will demonstrate how states, districts, schools and higher education institutions are working boldly and creatively to Raise the Bar for education.  He will be making stops in Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota where he will spotlight how institutions are fostering academic recovery, investing in mental health supports, and building new career pathways to efforts to increase college access and affordability. 

To read the full press release, click here. 

Latest Action in Washington LIVE 

Join ACCT's Government Relations Team for a recap of recent Congressional activity that took place before the August recess and what Congress left unfinished, where community college priorities stand, and what we can expect to see in the coming months.

The webinar will take place Tuesday, September 12 at 2:00 PM EST. To register, click here. 

• July 3 - Prison Education Program (PEP) applications open on a rolling basis

• September 12 - Latest Action in Washington LIVE Webinar
• September 25 - deadline to apply for Postsecondary Student Success Grant
• October 2023 - deadline to apply for Advanced Technological Education
• November 14 - deadline to apply for Strengthening Community College Training Grants
• November 30 - deadline for letters of intent for Climate Ready Workforce for Coastal and Great Lakes States, Tribes, and Territories Initiative

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. 

We also put together an outreach toolkit and an advocacy guide to share best practices for meeting with elected officials and set your team up for success.

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) E-Alert network. To join, simply e-mail publicpolicy@acct.org with 'LAW Alert' in the subject of the e-mail.

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