Author Archives: garverj

Additional Disclosures May Be Required for Student Loan Borrowers

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U.S. Representative John Adler (D-NJ) recently introduction legislation that would require higher education institutions to provide information to student loan borrowers about the benefit of creating a power of attorney or living will for financial, legal, and medical decision making in the event of the death, incapacitation, or disability of the signer or cosigner.

The new legislation (H.R. 5458) would cover both private and federal loans. In addition the bill would require any private education lender to clearly define the borrowers’ obligation, including the effect the death, incapacitation or disability of the signer or cosigner would have on any such obligation.  Finally if there is a cosigner the private educational lender would have to discuss the benefit of credit insurance that would protect the signer and any cosigner in the event of death, incapacitation or disability.

The bill has been referred to the U.S. House Financial Services and Education and Labor Committees.

The Race for “Race to the Top” Funds is On

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Thirty-five states, plus the District of Columbia, have submitted proposals for Race to the Top dollars in hopes of capturing some of the remaining $3.4 billion in funds leftover from the first round. Only two states, Delaware and Tennessee, were awarded grants in the first round out of 40 applicants.  

After the first round of funds, many states re-examined submitted proposals. While other states, such as Washington, tried to learn from the first round in order to strengthen their application in the second round of funding.

As a result many states changed laws to revamp teacher evaluations, increased efforts to gain support from districts and teachers’ unions, and intensified efforts to turn around low-performing schools. Washington drafted and passed new legislation in the 2010 supplemental session (SB 6696) that included several education reform measures (i.e. alternate routes to teacher education).

The results for the second round of Race to the Top dollars will be announced in September 2010.

Revenue Collections for Washington Down 1.1% for the Quarter

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On Friday,  the State Economic & Revenue Forecast Council released it economic review for the quarter.

The official revenue forecast is scheduled for June 17, but the economic review hints at what can be expected in the coming weeks:

Arun Raha, Washington’s chief economic forecaster, reported that estimated revenue collections through the June 10 collection period are down by 1.1% or $48 million below what was expected over this period of time.

Overall, Raha stated the events that have unfolded since the last forecast (February 2010) have done so along predictable lines.

According to Raha, “the current U.S. forecast is, therefore, similar to the forecast adopted in February. Major state economic variables are also coming in very close to what we had expected. As a result, the revisions to the Washington state economic forecast are minimal.”

Candidate Pool for Washington’s U.S. Senate Seat Narrows

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The Republican candidate pool for the office of one of Washington’s U.S. Senate seats narrowed this week.

State Senator Don Benton announced that he would end his campaign for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Senator Patty Murray.  Senator Benton went further by endorsing Republican candidate Dino Rossi.

Senator Murray is the only Democratic candidate running for this seat.  Given the recent decision by Sen. Benton, nine Republican candidates still remain active in the race for this seat. They include Dino Rossi, Arthur Coday Jr, Clint Didier, Wayne Glover, Scott Johnson, Rod Rieger, Sean Salazar, Chris Widener, and Craig Williams. Richard Curtis has filed as an independent in this race.

Review of Released Common Core Standards Expected Soon in Washington

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Today State Superintendent Randy Dorn announced that the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) would begin review of the recently released Common Core State Standards during the next month before provisionally adopting the standards.

The Common Core State Standards were released earlier this week by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and the Council of Chief State School Offices.

Washington is one of 48 states along with two territories and the District of Columbia that agreed to consider adopting the English language arts and math common core standards. The adoption of the standards are also a part of Washington’s Race to the Top application.

OSPI is required to deliver a detailed report in January 2011 to the Washington State Legislature including a comparison of Common Core and the current State Learning Standards for reading, writing, and math, and an estimated time-line and costs to the state and districts to implement the standards.

OSPI cannot officially adopt the changes to the state’s learning standards until after the 2011 legislative session. With this in mind, the roll-out plan for the Common Core State Standards will not be implemented in public school classrooms until the 2012-13 school year and will not be fully tested in schools until spring 2015.

Chair of U.S. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Introduced Legislation to Improve Vet Benefits Program

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This week Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, introduced the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2010 (S. 3447)  as a starting point for discussion among Congress, veterans service organizations, and concerned Americans who want to improve the program.

The Act is intended to improve the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits program by improving educational assistance for veterans who served in the Armed Forces after September 11, 2001 and for other purposes.

Concerns Rise Regarding State Budget

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Doubt is emerging about anticipated federal funds for Washington.

Washington State’s budget was balanced based on four strategies: (1) Reductions to public services and programs, (2) Transfer of funds to the General Fund, (3) Increases in revenues, and (4) Incorporation of approximately $618 million of approved/anticipated additional federal relief to Washington State.

The 2010 supplemental operating budget anticipated $480 million in additional resources based on the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) enhancement being extended by an additional six months through June  2011.

In addition, based on  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reversal of the decision to disallow state savings from Medicare Part D “clawback” payments for prescription drugs, the state expected to receive $87 million in additional federal resources beyond the current level assumed in the state budget.

At the time the state budget was signed into law, Congress was considering legislation that would extend the enhancements beyond the current end date, December 2010. Legislation that both the House and Senate had considered before and passed.

However, today states, including Washington, are running into roadblocks with regard to the anticipated funds in Congress.

Last week the U.S. House of Representatives stripped language for a six-month, $23 billion extension. Washington is seeking approximately $480 million of these funds as part of the four-strategy approach to balancing the state’s most recent shortfall (2010).

Without these funds ($480 million) the dollars in reserves ($450 million) planned as a cushion would be eliminated, leaving the state vulnerable to changes in tax revenues.

Governor Gregoire along with 47 other governors, both Democrat and Republican, have asked for the extension. More than 30 states counted on these dollars in their budgets.

The legislation now moves to the Senate where the bill could be taken as soon as after the Memorial Day week long recess.

Stay tuned…

Common Core State Standards Released

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This week the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) released a set of state-led education standards, the Common Core State Standards.

The standards built on the foundation of standards states have set. The standards were developed on behalf of 48 states, two territories, and the District of Columbia.

The standards are:

  • Aligned with college and work expectations;
  • Clear, understandable and consistent;
  • Include rigorous content and application of knowledge through high-order skills;
  • Build upon strengths and lessons of current state standards;
  • Informed by other top performing countries, so that all students are prepared to succeed in our global economy and society; and
  • Evidence- and research-based.

The release of the standards signals the start of the adoption and implementation process by the states.  In the coming months, each state will follow its own procedures and processes for adoption of the Common Core State Standards.

Candidate Pool Narrows in Washington’s Third U.S. Congressional District

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The Democratic candidate pool for the Office of Washington’s U.S. Representative for the Third District narrowed substantially this week. The Third Congressional District represents The Evergreen State College.

In a press release from the National Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, current Washington State Senator Craig Pridemore (D-Vancouver) cites the long state legislative session as an impediment to fundraising, setting him too far behind.

Three Democratic candidates are still in the running for this congressional seat. They include Denny Heck, Cheryl Crist,  and Maria Rodriguez-Salazar. In addition, four Republican candidates also remain active in the race for this seat. They include David Castillo, David Hendrick, Jaime Herrera, and Jon Russell.

Senator Pridemore issued the following statement with regard to his decision to drop out of the race for the Third Congressional District.

“I want to first of all thank all of the individuals and organizations who supported my campaign. I am so grateful to have earned your trust, and look forward to continued service in the State Senate. I am especially humbled by the endorsements of organizations and friends who have rallied in recent weeks, knowing that we left the session with a steep hill to climb. Thank you.

I regret the need to exit this race, but it is clear to me that the long session placed our campaign at a clear disadvantage. While I wish I had been able to focus on my campaign earlier, I am proud that my focus this winter was where it needed to be: addressing the real issues facing the working families and small businesses of Southwest Washington. I entered politics to excel at public service, not the other way around.

I also want to congratulate and offer my immediate and full endorsement to Denny Heck, who is now in the best position–and is the best candidate–to win the seat in November. Denny is a bright, hard working and authentic SW Washington leader and we need his broad experience working for us in Congress. I encourage my supporters to help him and Senator Patty Murray in their elections this November.”

Legislation Introduced to Extend Perkins Loan Program

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Last week legislation (H.R. 5448) was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives to push the statutory deadline for returning the federal share of Perkins Loan collection from October 2012 to October 2013.

The legislation is intended to address confusion about when the Perkins Loan Program is scheduled to end. The re-authorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA) took several years, during which original dates for distribution of loan fund capital and subsequent collections stopped being updated.

In addition, current language in the HEA (Section 466) calls for schools to return their federal share by October 2012 even though the latest re-authorization of the HEA reauthorized the Perkins program through fiscal year 2014 (Section 461).

Finally, the Obama Administration has sent clear signals that it is interested in changing the Perkins Loan Program, though no changes have been made to date.

Sponsored by Rep. Tim Bishop (D-NY) and John Spratt (D-SC) the hope is that, if passed, the  legislation will allow the financial aid community additional time to sort through the future of the Perkins Loan Program.