Education

U.S. Department of Education (ED)

• On March 24,2021 the Department of Education announced plans to aid schools as they embark on their journey to safely reopen and release $81 billin in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding.
• The Department of Education has provided guidance regarding student assessments during the pandemic.
• The U.S. Department of Education has announced a national survey in order to effectively gather important data regarding school reopening.
• The Department of Education has extended the deadline for the Emergency Assistance for Non-Public Schools (EANS) Program from February 8 to February 22, 2021.
• The Department of Education has extended the deadline for Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) reporting from Feb. 1, 2021 to Feb. 8, 2021.
• The Department of Education has extended the deadline for submitting amendments to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act consolidated state plans. The new deadline has not, yet, been specified. The Department of Education has extended the deadline for Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) reporting from Feb. 1, 2021 to Feb. 8, 2021.
• The Department of Education has extended the deadline for submitting amendments to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act consolidated state plans. The new deadline has not, yet, been specified. 
• On January 18, ED published an addendum of providing services to English learners during COVID-19.
• On January 19, ED updated FAQs regarding impacts of COVID-19 on Accountability Systems Required under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. The new FAQs address spring Assessments.
• Due to COVID-19, the Department of Education has extended the student loan forbearance period through January 31, 2021.
• The Department of Education has updated the COVID-19 flexibility FAQ’s to include a letter for GEAR UP and TRIO grantees.
• ED revised the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) FAQs on November 20 for question 49 regarding allowable expenditures for executive and administrative salaries.
• The Department of Education has released information on CARES Act quarterly reporting, including prime recipients being able to use monthly reporting requirements under the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) of 2006 to meet monthly requirements. 
• The Department of Education has provided an updated Q&A regarding the procurement, loaning and donating of PPE purchased with federal funds.
• The Department of Education has announced three information collections for the Higher (HEERF) Education Emergency Relief Fund, the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund (GEERF) and Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSERF). All are due on December 2, 2020.
• The Department of Education has posted the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) reporting form, with first reports to be posted on the institution websites by Friday, October 30th. FAQ’s can be found here.
• The Q&A updated October 20th for the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) has been released to address Part C, the provision of services in the COVID-19 environment.
• On October 16, The Department of Education updated FAQ in response to inquiries concerning the administration of the State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services and American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation Services (AIVRS) programs.
• On October 14, ED Combined all Higher Education Relief Fund (HEERF) FAQs in one rollup document. 
• The Department of Education (ED) posted COVID-19 Title IV FAQs with new questions regarding the waiver for returning title IV funds for students who withdraw due to COVID-19.
• On October 9, ED announced new FAQs for providing equitable services to students and teachers in non-public schools under the CARES programs.
• On October 7, ED updated the extension of availability of State formula grant funds authorized by Perkins Act and Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AFELA).
• The Department of Education has posted the initial state reports for the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) and the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund (GEER). 
• The Department of Education has published new FAQ’s regarding the uses of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF).
• U.S. Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos has announced more than $126 million in student-centered work awards to further encourage entrepreneurship and economic growth amidst the COVID-19 public health emergency.
• On September 28, 2020, the Department of Education released the Q&A for the Part B implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).  
• Materials for Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) have been released. First reports on awards covering the period between the first award through September 30 are required to be posted on the institution’s website by October 30, 2020.
• The Department of Education will not be appealing the court ruling on equitable services regarding CARES Act funding and services to private schools.
• In order to assist schools with meeting certain obligations under Federal Civil Rights laws, the Office for Civil Rights has released a COVID-related Q&A.
• The Department of Education has revised its higher education FAQ’s, addressing questions regarding the use of CARES Act funds for student scholarships.
• Due to the current conditions regarding the COVID-19 public health emergency, states are offering flexibility regarding the requirement that 21st Century Community Learning Center Programs operate during non-school hours. The letter and template for such requests were included in the notice.
• The Department of Education has released a memorandum regarding a waiver for the Individuals With Disabilities Act (IDEA) Part C funds for FY 2018. The announcement was also accompanied by a request to extend the fund availability until September 30, 2021.
• The Interim Final Rule (IFR) regarding the Equitable Services Rule is no longer in effect, as the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia released an order that invalidated the IFR.
• The Department of Education has been prohibited from enforcing IFR in Massachusetts, meaning colleges and universities are prohibited from distributing Higher Education Emergency Relief Funding to those students who are not eligible to non-emergency financial aid under the Higher Education Act.
• On September 9, U.S. Department of Education updated the guidance regarding reopening the application period for institutions intending to apply for Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund. See the federal register notice here.
• On September 4, the district court of Columbia knocked down the interim final rule that required local educational agencies (LEAs) provide equitable services to non-public schools under the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund (GEER Fund). The summary judgement applies nationwide. See the interim final rule here.
• ED issues a Notice Inviting Applications (NIA) for the FY2020 Education Stabilization Fund-Reimagine Workforce Preparation (ESF-RWP) Grants program.
• ED posts the notification to extend the availability of Perkins and Adult Education Grants.
• ED announces FAQs for Education Stabilization Fund program for outlying areas-state educational agencies (ESF-SEA) and governors.
• ED updates the fact sheet stating that grant funds can be used to cover the cost of contracted services not performed due to COVID-19.
• ED posts equitable services to students and teachers in non-public schools. The department published an Interim Final Rule (IFR) on the interpretation of the equitable services provisions in the CARES Act.
• On August 31, ED published revised notice of public posting requirement of grant information for Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) grantees.
• On August 21, ED implemented the President’s memorandum extending the Student Loan Relief through the end of the year.
• The Department of Education (ED) has extended the deadlines for COVID-19 related flexibilities.
• On August 19, ED launched a $28 million grant program to promote resilience amongst institutions and the expansion of educational opportunities for students. 
• The Bureau of Indian Education has released their reopening plan, providing general guidelines and protocols to the reopening of schools.
• The deadline for the Education Stabilization Fund-Reimagining Workforce Preparation (ESF-RWP) grant applications is August 24th.
• The Department of Education has released an updated list of states who have requested, and received, extensions for grants authorized by the Perkins Act.
• On August 6, DE updated the question regarding availability of no-cost extension on the FAQs of Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF).
• On August 6. Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) posted plans for reopening of school sites during COVID-19.
• On August 6, ED grated waivers under CARES Act.
• The Department of Education announces new grant funding of $180 million for states reconfiguring education to better serve students during COVID-19 pandemic.
• The Department of Education has released revisions for the Education Stabilization Fund- Reimagine Workforce Preparation (ESF-RWP) grant program regarding the eligible entities for the fund.
• The Department of Education has released additional reporting requirements for 538 institutes of Higher Education for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) under the CARES Act.
• The Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) has posted an updated FAQ’s page regarding education funding under the CARES Act.
• The Department of Education has posted the FY2020 webinar for the Enrollment Stabilization Fund, from July 16, 2020.
• On July 10, ED announced extensions for Campus and Fire Safety Report, Equity in Athletics Disclosures, and Fiscal Operations Report. 
• The Department of Education releases priority states for Education Stabilization Fund-Rethink K-12 Education Modules (ESF-REM). The states are currently experiencing the heaviest load of COVID-19.
• ED announces a communication document regarding updates on required CARES Act quarterly reporting