Prosecutors back Pell Grants for prisoners Presented by Comcast

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Quick Fix

— The nation’s largest association of prosecutors is backing legislation to reverse the federal ban on Pell Grants for incarcerated students.


— Some education groups are worried about an FCC proposal that they say could jeopardize funding for school and library broadband.

— Now that a bipartisan budget deal is on its way to becoming law, congressional spending leaders are gearing up for a fall appropriations scramble to keep the government funded beyond Sept. 30.

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Driving the Day

PROSECUTORS BACK EFFORT TO RESTORE PELL GRANTS FOR PRISONERS: The National District Attorneys Association, which represents thousands of elected and appointed prosecutors across the country, is throwing its weight behind a congressional effort to restore Pell Grants to incarcerated students.

— “The bottom line is that Pell grant restoration for incarcerated students will continue ongoing efforts to reduce recidivism while improving outcomes for individuals released from prison,” the group said in a statement.

— “Restoring Pell grant eligibility for incarcerated students will improve the criminal justice system and serve as a second step following implementation of the FIRST Step Act,” the group said, referring to the bipartisan criminal justice reform law President Donald Trump signed last year. “We will continue working alongside Congress to ensure prisoners are given access to federal Pell grant funding for increased educational opportunities.”

— The endorsement follows growing bipartisan support for lifting the ban on incarcerated students receiving Pell Grants. Most recently, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce backed the effort along with a wide range of education and labor groups.

— Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has called for making her department’s Second Chance Pell pilot program permanent. And the White House has said it wants to see Congress expand federal student aid “for workforce training programs to prisoners eligible for release.”

— A slew of 2020 Democratic presidential contenders also support restoring Pell Grants for incarcerated students. Former Vice President Joe Biden, who championed the 1994 crime bill that cut off Pell funding to incarcerated students, called for providing the grants as part of individuals' reentry into society after leaving prison. His campaign didn’t respond to a request to clarify his position on students using Pell Grants while incarcerated.

— In Congress, Sens. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) introduced legislation, S. 1074 (116), that would end the ban on Pell Grants for incarcerated students. Senate HELP Chairman Lamar Alexander has said that making them available to incarcerated students “in the right circumstances is a good idea.”

K-12

EDUCATION GROUPS FIGHT FCC PROPOSAL ON BROADBAND: Education groups are mounting opposition to a proposed FCC rule that they say could jeopardize funding for affordable telecommunication services and internet access in schools and libraries.

— The FCC has proposed a single spending cap on Universal Service Fund programs. The four USF programs help provide internet access in hard-to-serve areas; voice and broadband subsidies for low-income people; telecom services for rural health care providers; and discounts on telecom and internet services for schools and libraries through the "E-Rate" program.

— The programs each have individual spending caps, but the FCC wants to create a single cap to ensure "adequate funding" for the programs "while minimizing the financial burden on ratepayer." Local companies recover their contributions to the USF through a surcharge on monthly phone bills.

— The Council of Chief State School Officers said it "strongly opposes" the proposal and urged the commission to ensure the schools and libraries program maintains a separate cap.

— During a House subcommittee hearing in April, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai defended his decision to explore the new cap as "a way to ensure that there's public confidence that every single dollar spent through the universal service fund is going to be spent wisely."

— What’s next: An extended deadline for filing comments ended July 29, and the deadline for filing reply comments has been extended to Aug. 26, according to the commission. Nicole Gaudiano has more.

In Congress

CONGRESS PASSES BUDGET, SETS STAGE FOR FALL APPROPS SCRAMBLE: The Senate on Thursday gave final approval to a two-year bipartisan budget deal, sending the measure to President Donald Trump’s desk. The White House has said Trump will sign the $2.7 trillion agreement, H.R. 3877 (116), that would raise spending limits over the next two fiscal years.

— The measure eases the path to funding the government for the coming fiscal year that begins Oct. 1. But that won’t happen automatically. After a monthlong August break, lawmakers will face a scramble to pass appropriations bills when they return.

— On Thursday, Senate spending leaders said they were still working through partisan disagreements over the top-line numbers for the 12 fiscal 2020 funding bills. That includes the allocation for the bill funding the Education Department. Pro's Caitlin Emma has more.

SENATE CONFIRMS TRUMP PICK TO LEAD REHABILITATION SERVICES: The chamber on Thursday confirmed Trump’s nominee to lead the branch of the Education Department that helps individuals with disabilities in the workforce.

— On a voice vote, the Senate confirmed Mark Schultz as commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration, which is housed in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. The unit supervises federal vocational rehabilitation grants and programs.

— Schultz previously oversaw vocational rehabilitation in Nebraska as a deputy commission in the state’s education agency. He's also a past president of the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation.

— DeVos welcomed the news in a tweet: “Congrats on your confirmation, Mark! We’ve long-awaited your arrival at @usedgov. Your knowledge & expertise will be a tremendous asset at RSA as we continue to #RethinkEducation & ensure all Americans have the tools they need to pursue successful careers in our booming economy.”

For-Profit Colleges

FOR-PROFIT COLLEGE OPERATOR AGREES TO $30M SETTLEMENT WITH FTC: Career Education Corporation, an operator of for-profit colleges, told investors today that it had reached a $30 million settlement with the Federal Trade Commission to resolve an investigation into its marketing practices.

— The company disclosed in SEC filings that it would pay $30 million to the FTC — which could be used for restitution to students — and would also agree to “enhance” its internal processes for complying with federal consumer protection laws “with respect to prospective student leads purchased from lead aggregators.”

— Career Education said the settlement stemmed from an FTC investigation that began in 2015. The company previously told investors it believed the FTC planned to allege that it was responsible for misrepresentations made to prospective students by lead generation companies it hired and for illegal telemarketing calls to prospective students.

— The settlement must still be approved by FTC commissioners and a federal judge, according to the company. Career Education said it was “not admitting any wrongdoing” and “chose to settle the FTC inquiry after almost four years of legal expenses and cooperating with the FTC’s investigation.”

— Flashback: Career Education earlier this year reached settlements with 49 state attorneys general to resolve allegations of fraud and unfair business practices. Those agreements called for the company to wipe out nearly $500 million of debt owed by former students.

Report Roundup

— Third Way is out with a new report, “Accountability for Institutions and Programs: Striking the Right Balance in HEA.”

Movers and Shakers

— The National Center on Education and the Economy has installed three new members to its board of trustees: Peggy Brookins, president and CEO of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards; Robert L. Joss, professor and dean emeritus of Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business; and Joanne Weiss, president of Weiss Associates and former chief of staff to Education Secretary Arne Duncan.

Syllabus

— Some New Mexico school districts protest proposed medical cannabis rule: The Associated Press.

— New York City formally adopts “culturally responsive” education in schools: The Wall Street Journal.

— Senate confirms Kratsios as Trump's first chief technology officer: POLITICO Pro.

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