2011 Legislative Conference Federal Advocacy Briefing: ESEA Reauthorization and Beyond

Transcription

1 2011 Legislative Conference Federal Advocacy Briefing: ESEA Reauthorization and Beyond CCSSO-NASBE 2011 Legislative Conference March 27-29, 2011 Washington, D.C.

2 Presentation Overview o o o o Federal Reform Landscape: Window of opportunity, focus areas, and influence of state leadership. "The New Normal:" The budget crisis and federal investments in education. ESEA Reauthorization: Central themes/debates, estimated timeline, waiver strategy, and key leaders on the Hill and in the Administration. Other Policy Entry Points: ESRA, WIA, IDEA, and beyond.

3 Federal Education Reform Landscape Education reform remains a high priority for the Obama Administration and leading Members of Congress: o Important window of opportunity to reshape federal law to better support state and local leadership and promote innovation, particularly through ESEA reauthorization. o Bipartisan agreement exists on key issues across the four core reform areas: (1) teacher and leader effectiveness; (2) CCR standards, assessments, and accountability; (3) data systems; and (4) school turn around. o Federal, state, local fiscal challenges may negatively influence policy approaches/decisions. o Multi-state efforts strongly influencing federal reform discussions. E.g., assessment collaborative, common core implementation and data initiatives.

4 ESEA Reauthorization ESEA negotiations feature a number of key themes and debates: o Approaching reauthorization through an NCLB "fixes" bill vs. comprehensive ESEA reform; o Establishing college- and career-ready standards as the law's baseline, without overreaching on the federal role; o Transitioning to systems of teacher and leader effectiveness without imposing mandates; o Adopting a "tight-loose" accountability model setting a high achievement bar, but mandating specific interventions only for persistently low performers; o Strategically integrating the education B-20 "pipeline and emphasis on Whole Child development; o Continuing funding "silos" vs. consolidating funding into broader allocations; o Promoting effective spending vs. focusing on new spending

5 Possible ESEA Timeline The outlook for completing ESEA in 2011 remains murky. March April May-June July August Sept. - Nov House hearings continue Senate negotiations continue/bill drafting Senate Committee Mark-Up House negotiations and drafting of discrete bills. Full Senate consideration. House mark-up of discrete bills. Recess President Obama's goal for finishing bill. House Senate Conference? U.S. Ed Waiver Strategy? Presidential race begins to influence Hill actions.

6 ESEA Leaders on the Hill Designated HELP Committee Negotiators: osen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) osen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) osen. Mike Enzi (R-WY) osen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) osen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA) osen. Richard Burr (R-NC) Other Key HELP Committee Senators: osen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) osen. Patty Murray (D-WA) osen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) osen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) Ed & Workforce Leadership: o Rep. John Kline (R-MN) o Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-MN) o Rep. George Miller (D-CA) o Rep. Dale Kildee (D-MI) Other Key Education and Workforce Committee Representatives: o Rep. Buck McKeon (R-CA) o Rep. Judy Biggert (R-IL) o Rep. Bucshon (R-IN) o Rep. Don Payne (D-NJ) o Rep. Rob Andrews (D-NJ) o Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA)

7 ESEA Leaders in the Administration Department of Education osecretary Arne Duncan ocarmel Martin, Assistant Secretary of Policy and Planning oemma Vadehra, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Planning odenise Forte, Deputy Assistant Secretary othelma Melendez, Assistant Secretary, OESE oalexa Posny, Assistant Secretary obrad Jupp, Special Advisor to the Secretary (teacher leader effectiveness) Domestic Policy Council omelody Barnes omark Zuckerman oroberto Rodriguez osteve Robinson

8 Budget Outlook - "The New Normal" In these challenging financial times -- what I call The New Normal -- governments at every level face a critical need to cut spending where we can in order to invest where we must. -Education Secretary Arne Duncan March 3, 2011

9 Fiscal Year 2011 Budget Outlook Facing a $1.5 trillion deficit, Congress has been unable to approve new Fiscal Year 11 spending levels for the U.S. Department of Education (or other agencies): o Congress has approved six continuing resolutions since September 2010 to fund government operations at FY10 levels (the March 18 CR reduced the USED budget by $890 million). o Legislators must strike a bipartisan compromise to complete the FY11 budget process or approve another temporary funding bill by April 8. o Education funding is not expected to decrease as dramatically as other government spending, but will likely be reduced.

10 Other Opportunities on the Horizon oesea Waivers by U.S. Department of Education Depends on Hill oeducation Sciences Reform Act Pending oworkforce Improvement Act Pending oidea Reauthorization/Funding "Glide Path" Authorization expires 2012 ohead Start Reauthorization Authorization expires 2013 ohigher Education Act Authorization expires 2014 onational EdTech Plan - Released

11 2011 Legislative Conference Federal Advocacy Briefing: ESEA Reauthorization and Beyond CCSSO-NASBE Annual Legislative Conference March 27-29, 2011 Washington, D.C.