This document provides an overview of education policy issues in the 112th United States Congress and Obama Administration. It summarizes the partisan makeup of Congress, key education committees and their chairs, the Department of Education leadership, and major education reform initiatives like Race to the Top, Common Core, and ESEA reauthorization efforts. It also outlines adult education legislation, immigration and integration policies, and advocacy resources on education issues.

1. Education Policy Outlook
John Segota, CAE
Associate Executive Director for Public Policy & Professional Relations
2011 TexTESOL State Conference

2. Overview
• 112thCongress
• Obama Administration
• Education Policy
– Reform
– ESEA
– WIA
– Immigration
• Advocacy

3. 112th Congress
• House of
Representatives
– 240 Republicans
– 192 Democrats
– 3 Vacancies
• Senate
– 53 Democrats*
– 47 Republicans

4. House of Representatives
• Leadership
– Speaker of the House – Rep. John Boehner (R-OH)
• Education and Labor
– Chairman – Rep. John Kline (R-MN)

5. U.S. Senate
• Leadership
– Majority Leader - Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV)
• Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
– Chairman – Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA)

6. Congressional Focus
• American Jobs Act (AJA)
• Budget Control Act
– “Supercommittee”
• Appropriations
– Ominbus or “minibus”

7. U.S. Department of Education
• Arne Duncan - Secretary of Education
• Russlynn Ali - Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

8. U.S. Department of Education
• Rosalinda Barrera, Assistant Secretary, OELA Director
• Brenda Dann-Messler, Assistant Secretary, Vocational and Adult
Education

9. Education Reform
• American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
– Race to the Top Fund
– Enhanced Assessment Grants
• Common Core State Standards initiative

10. Elementary and Secondary Education Act
• Blueprint for Reform
– College- and Career-Ready
Students
– Great Teachers and Leaders in
Every School
– Equity and Opportunity for All
Students
• ESEA Flexibility

11. Elementary and Secondary Education Act
• HR 2445 - State and
Local Flexibility Act
• Senate Elementary and
Secondary Education
Reauthorization Act
• English Learning and
Innovation Act (S 1158)

12. Adult Education
• Workforce Investment Act
• Adult Education & Economic Growth Act
(H.R. 2226)
• National Adult Education & Family Literacy Week –
Sept. 15-16, 2011
• Adult Literacy
Caucus

13. Integration & Immigration
• Deportation Waivers
• DREAM Act
– S. 952 / H.R. 3842
• Strengthen and Unite
Communities with Civics
Education and English
Skills Act (H.R. 1617)

14. Online Resources
• TESOL’s U.S. Advocacy Action Center
– http://capwiz.com/tesol
E-mail: jsegota@tesol.org
Twitter: @JohnSegota
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