SEHD Impact

Ed Review (08/02/24)

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TITLE IX REGULATIONS

On August 1, the Department’s 2024 Title IX regulations went into effect in states across the country.  These regulations restore and strengthen vital protections, while clarifying longstanding provisions to help schools better fulfill Title IX’s promise that no person experiences sex discrimination — including sex-based harassment or sexual violence — in federally funded education.  In addition, the regulations offer schools appropriate discretion and flexibility to meet the needs of their unique educational community, while reaffirming the Department’s core commitment to fundamental fairness for all parties, the rights of parents and guardians to support their minor children, and respect for complainants’ autonomy.

To support schools implementing the amended regulations, the Department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has released several resources, including:

·       2024 Title IX Regulations: Pointers for Implementation;

·       Brief Overview of Key Provisions of the Department of Education’s 2024 Title IX Final Rule;

·       Resource for Drafting Nondiscrimination Policies, Notices of Nondiscrimination, and Grievance Procedures with 
, designed to help schools draft policies and procedures that comply with the regulations; and

·       Small Entity Compliance Guide.

Despite the amended regulations alignment with Title IX’s nondiscrimination mandate and responsiveness to extensive stakeholder feedback, discrete provisions of the 2024 final rule have been challenged in multiple lawsuits.  As of July 31, 2024, pursuant to federal court orders, the Department is enjoined from enforcing the 2024 regulations in the states of Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming, as well as these schools.  Pending further court orders, the Title IX regulations, as amended in 2020, remain in effect in these states and schools.

Visit OCR’s Title IX landing page for the latest information.

 

STUDENT DEBT RELIEF

The Biden Administration has started emailing all borrowers with at least one outstanding federally held student loan to provide updates on potential student debt relief and inform them that they have until August 30 to call their servicer to opt out — if they do not want this relief.  The rules that would provide such relief are not yet finalized, and receiving a message does not guarantee specific borrowers will be eligible.  The Department will provide additional information to borrowers once the rules are finalized this fall (
).

The proposed rules build upon the Administration’s existing work, approving more than $168 billion in student loan relief for nearly 4.8 million borrowers through many actions.  If finalized as proposed, these rules would bring the total number of borrowers eligible for student debt relief to over 30 million.  The proposed rules would authorize the Secretary of Education to provide partial or full debt relief for all the following groups of borrowers: those who owe more now than they did at the start of repayment; those who have been in repayment for decades; those who are otherwise eligible for loan forgiveness but have not yet applied; and those who enrolled in low-financial value programs.

The Department expects that all proposed forms of relief would be provided to eligible borrowers without requiring any action from them; no application would be needed.  Those who opt out will not be able to opt back in, and they will also be temporarily opted out of forgiveness due to enrollment in an income-driven repayment plan until the agency is able to automatically assess eligibility for that benefit in a few months.  Moreover, borrowers will only be eligible for relief if they have entered repayment at the time that the Department determines eligibility, after the proposed rules are finalized.

 

COLLEGE SCORECARD TOOLKITS

The Department introduced two new innovative toolkits last week to extend the utility and capabilities of its College Scorecard: one tailored for classroom teachers, and another tailored for school counselors and college access advisors.  Collectively, these resources are designed to equip educational professionals with the information and tools they need to guide students toward their best postsecondary education decision.  Relatedly, to help inform that process with up-to-date, objective information, the agency recently refreshed several of the College Scorecard’s key data points, such as post-completion earning calculations at the program and institutional levels.

The “College Scorecard for the Classroom: Empowering Data-Driven Decision-Making” toolkit empowers teachers to transform the classroom into an interactive learning environment where students can navigate the complexities of selecting a postsecondary institution.  Educators are provided with a series of integrated teaching materials that begin with an introduction to the College Scorecard, detailing its importance and value in the higher education landscape.  The journey continues as teachers guide students through the nuances of navigating the tool, learning to extract and analyze data.  Finally, the toolkit engages students with practical exercises that apply this data to their educational future.

Similarly, the “Professional Development Toolkit for College Access Advisors” equips counselors and college access advisors with the knowledge to utilize the College Scorecard at the professional level.  This toolkit begins by familiarizing advisors with the features of the College Scorecard.  It then enhances their ability to navigate this resource efficiently, so they may provide informed and effective supports.  Lastly, it prepares advisors to share their knowledge by providing resources that convey complex information in a fully accessible way.

 

GRANTS FORECAST

Be sure to review the Fiscal Year 2024 Grants Forecast, which lists virtually all programs and competitions under which the Department has invited or expects to invite applications for new awards and provides actual or estimated dates for the transmittal of applications under programs.  The lists are in the form of charts — organized according to the Department’s principal program offices — and will be updated regularly through the end of the month.  (This document is advisory only and not an official application notice of the U.S. Department of Education.)

For example, the Department recently issued a Notice Inviting Applications for some $4 million under the Promise Neighborhoods Program (video).  The purpose of this program is to significantly improve the academic and developmental outcomes of children living in the nation’s most distressed communities, including ensuring school readiness, high school graduation, and access to a community-based continuum of high-quality services.  The deadline for applications is September 10.

 

RECOGNITION PROGRAMS

The Secretary praised the 2024 President’s Education Awards Program (PEAP) recipients, saluting elementary, middle, and high school graduates on their educational accomplishments.  Since 1983, PEAP has bestowed individual recognition from the President to students whose outstanding efforts have enabled them to meet challenging standards of excellence.  School principals determine the number of qualifying students; there is no limit, as long as students meet the selection criteria.  Students receive a certificate and congratulatory letter signed by the President and the Secretary of Education.  This year, the Department again posted all materials online (press release).

Also, check out three new site visit videos and a new audio story spotlighting successful practices of 2023 National Blue Ribbon Schools: “All Learning Beyond the Four Walls” at North Lakeland Elementary School in Manitowish Falls, Wisconsin; “Student Driven Learning in Marine Science and Beyond” at Marine Science Magnet High School in Groton, Connecticut; “All Hands on Deck for Differentiated Instruction” at Laurel Magnet School of the Arts in Laurel, Mississippi; and “Embracing Change for Better Literacy Outcomes” at Enders Road Elementary School in Manlius, New York.

 

ODDS AND ENDS

On July 22, the Biden Administration convened U.S. officials, civil society leaders, youth advocates, academic researchers, and other experts to announce new actions to advance children’s online health, safety, and privacy.

 

QUOTE TO NOTE

“Today, my Administration took another major step to cancel student debt for approximately 30 million Americans.  By providing more information to borrowers on how they can take advantage of our upcoming debt relief programs, borrowers will be prepared to benefit swiftly once the rules are final.  [W]e won’t stop fighting to provide relief to student loan borrowers, fix the broken student loan system, and help borrowers get out from under the burden of student debt….  From day one, I promised to fight to ensure higher education is a ticket to the middle class — not a barrier to opportunity.  I will never stop working to make higher education affordable and make sure our Administration delivers for the American people.”

— President Joseph Biden (7/31/24), in a statement on next steps on student debt relief

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

The next session in the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Black Americans’ Power Up series— taking place virtually — is scheduled for August 13. These events directly engage the Black community, grassroots organizations, national stakeholders, and federal agencies on important issues.

Register today for the next You Belong in STEM webinar, August 14 from 1 to 2:15 p.m. Eastern Time, focused on inclusive higher education STEM pathways.

Please join the Department’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) for Smart Beginnings 2024, August 27-29 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. ET each day.  Each session, with a specific audience and resources for those participants, has a different registration link: August 27 — educators and administrators; August 28 — parents and families; and August 29 —