Congress returned from their August recess this week and is planning to be in session until October 8.
Improving Student Testing Act
Senators Russ Feingold (WI) and Pat Leahy (VT) this week introduced S. 3771, Improving Student Testing Act, which would provide grants to States, SEAs, LEAs and schools to design and implement high-quality and innovative assessments, including adaptive assessments, performance assessments, standardized portfolio assessments, interim assessments, and other assessments that measure higher-order thinking skills and are aligned with common core standards or State challenging academic content standards and challenging student academic achievement standards. This bill is aimed to be a part of the larger Elementary and Secondary Education Act reauthorization which will likely not happen until next year.
Education Jobs Fund
The U.S. Department of Education has approved 46 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands and the Northern Marianas for Education Jobs funding. Texas’ application was denied because it did not contain assurance to spend the money on education over the next three years. Department officials have asked the state to reapply. South Carolina and Wyoming do not have their applications posted on the Department’s website.
Tags: accountability, Congress, federal grants, federal legislation, funding, NCLB/ESEA, Public Policy, Secondary