Legislative News & Updates

Federal Legislative News and Updates

• Before the winter recess the President signed into law the FY 2012 appropriations bill that funds the Department of Education and the Magnet Schools Assistance Program (MSAP). Overall, the Department of Education's budget was reduced by $153 million, which includes a (.189%) across the board cut to most grant programs. The Magnet Schools Assistance Program did not escape these cuts and was reduced by $188,000 for the current fiscal year.
  
  To see the funding levels for all the Department of Education programs click here.
  
  
• The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee recently passed a comprehensive bill to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), also known as No Child Left Behind (NCLB). The bill would remove (AYP) measurement and the 2014 proficiency deadline. It would keep the law's testing system and requires states to measure the performance of subgroups of students, but lacks an overall achievement target. Instead, it requires schools to show "continuous improvement." The legislation would also allow the lowest performing schools to convert to magnet schools as part of a "restart strategy."
  
  The U.S. House of Representatives has also begun work on reauthorization of the ESEA/NCLB. It has released three separate bills addressing different aspects of the law. The first would eliminate 42 education programs, the second would increase and expand funding for the charter schools program and the last would allow states and school districts to transfer funds from any ESEA formula grant program to another including some IDEA programs.
  
  Both the House and Senate must agree on a final version of the reauthorization bill before it can be signed by the president. With little time left in a crowded congressional schedule, it is unlikely this will occur before the end of the year. Many states and school districts are now focusing on the upcoming deadlines to apply for NCLB waivers through the U.S. Department of Education.
  
  
• The Committee for Education Funding, the nation's largest education coalition, released their official "Response" to the president's education budget for FY 2012. This report details each item of the president's budget and includes different members of the education community's position on the proposed levels of funding. To access the report click here. To view the corresponding Power Point presentation click here. 
  
  
• President Obama released his proposed FY 2012 budget for the federal government. The budget would provide a $2 billion increase to the U.S. Department of Education. It would eliminate 11 education programs and consolidate 38.  The most important development for magnet schools, is the president's proposed $10 million increase for the Magnet Schools Assistance Program (MSAP). This is the second fiscal year in a row that the president has requested an increase to MSAP. To see the proposed budget click here.
  
  
• The Obama administration released its blueprint for the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), which includes a proposal for the continuation and expansion of the Magnet School Assistance Program. To read the blueprint click here. 
  
  
• To read the current authorization of the Magnet School Assistance Program click here.

• MSA submitted comments in response to the Notice of Proposed Requirements regarding School Improvement Grants. A copy of those comments can be accessed here.
  
• Department of Education releases Notice of Proposed Requirements regarding School Improvement Grants. The Notice can be accessed here.
  
• MSA recently submitted comments in response to the Notice of Proposed Priorities for the newly-created Race to the Top fund. A copy of those comments can be accessed here.