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This document records testimony from a joint meeting of the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education and the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Investment regarding the Nation's K-12 schools and institutions of higher education's use of the Education Stabilization Fund, including in the American Rescue Plan, to weather the pandemic and keep students learning; as well as the Department of Education's plan to ensure states, school districts, and institutions of higher education are using the Education Stabilization Fund as Congress intended. Member statements were provided by: (1) Honorable Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, Chairman, Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education; (2) Honorable Burgess Owens, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education; (3) Honorable Frederica S. Wilson, Chairwoman, Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Investment; and (4) Honorable Gregory F. Murphy, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Investment. Witness statements were provided by: (1) James Kvaal, Undersecretary, Department of Education; and (2) Cynthia M. Marten, Deputy Secretary, Department of Education. Additional submissions include: (1) Chairman Sablan--Letter dated November 16, 2021 from the Northern Marianas College; (2) Chairwoman Wilson--Letter dated November 15, 2021 from the Association of Public & Land-Grant Universities and Letter dated November 18, 2021 from the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities; (3) Ranking Member Owens--EdWorkingPaper No. 20-304, "Politics, Markets, and Pandemics: Public Education's Response to COVID-19," October 2020, The Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University; and "Teacher Union Resistance to Reopening Schools," Mike Antonucci, Defense of Freedom Institute; (4) Questions submitted for the record by: Chairman Scott; Honorable Joseph D. Morelle, a Representative in Congress from the State of New York; Honorable Joaquin Castro, a Representative in Congress from the State of Texas; Ranking Member Allen; Honorable Elise M. Stefanik, a Representative in Congress from the State of New York; and Honorable Julia Letlow, a Representative in Congress from the State of Louisiana; and (5) Responses to questions submitted for the record by: Ms. Marten and Mr. Kvaal.

The Committee on Education and Labor met to hear testimony on "Examining the Policies and Priorities of the United States Department of Education." The U.S. Department of Education was making a budget request for Fiscal Year 2022 and the Committee wanted to examine the Department's priorities to support students, educators, and communities. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Committee's hearing room was closed and it was conducted via Zoom. Opening statements were presented by: (1) Honorable Robert C. Scott, Chairman, Committee on Education and Labor; and (2) Honorable Virginia Foxx, Ranking Member, a Representative in Congress from the State of North Carolina. The following witness presented a statement: (1) Miguel Cardona, Secretary, U.S. Department of Education. Additional material was submitted by members of the Committee including (1) articles; (2) letters; (3) questions submitted for the record; and (4) responses to questions submitted for the record by Secretary Cardona.

The Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education met to hear testimony on "Back to School: Best Practices for Reopening Schools." The meeting was entirely remote. The aim of the meeting was to discuss the obstacles schools have faced in reopening safely under the cloud of the COVID-19 pandemic, how schools can get students in the classroom safely, and how States and districts can leverage American Rescue Plan funding to protect students and staff and get students back on track. Member statements were provided by: (1) Honorable Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, Chairman, Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education; and (2) Honorable Burgess Owens, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education. Witness statements were provided by: (1) Denise Forte, Interim Chief Executive Officer, The Education Trust; (2) Jesus F. Jara, Ed. D., Superintendent of Schools, Clark County School District; (3) Ashish K. Jha, MD, MPH, Dean and Professor of Health Services, Policy and Practice, Brown University School of Public Health; and (4) David Zweig, Journalist. Additional submissions include: (1) Questions submitted for the record by: Honorable Frederica Wilson, a Representative in Congress from the State of Florida; and Honorable Joseph D. Morelle, a Representative in Congress from the State of New York; and (2) Responses to question submitted for the record by: Dr. Jara and Ms. Forte.

The Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Investment met to hear testimony on "Homecoming: The Historical Roots and Continued Contributions of HBCUs." The meeting was entirely remote. The aim of the meeting was to explore the unique role that historically Black colleges and universities play in expanding access to affordable, high quality education. Member statements were provided by: (1) Honorable Frederica S. Wilson, Chairwoman, Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Investment; and (2) Honorable Gregory F. Murphy, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Investment. Witness statements were provided by: (1) Lezli Baskerville, President and CEO, National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education; (2) Glenda Glover, President, Tennessee State University; (3) Andre M. Perry, Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution; and (4) Angela Sailor, VP, The Edwin J. Feulner Institute, Heritage Foundation. Additional submissions include: (1) Honorable Alma S. Adams, a Representative in Congress from the State of North Carolina--"Action Needed to Improve Participation in Education's HBCU Capital Financing Program," U.S. Government Accountability Office, June 2018; "Blacks and STEM: Understanding the Issues," Dr. William E. Spriggs, Chief Economist, NAFEO; "Achieving Financial Equity and Justice for HBCUs," The Century Foundation, September 14, 2021; "'If not now, then when?': HBCUs press Congress for infrastructure funds in spending bill," PoliticoPro, September 30, 2021; and UNCF letter dated October 1, 2021; (2) Questions submitted for the record by: Chairwoman Wilson and Honorable Suzanne Bonamici, a Representative in Congress from the State of Oregon; and (3) Responses to question submitted for the record by: Ms. Baskerville and Mr. Perry.

The Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Investment met to hear testimony on ''Keeping the Pell Grant Promise: Increasing Enrollment, Supporting Success.'' The meeting was entirely remote. The aim of the meeting was to examine trends related to Pell eligible students' access to public four-year institutions, the State and institutional roles in helping students succeed, and how Federal legislation could help. Member statements were provided by: (1) Honorable Robert C. Scott, Chairman, Committee on Education and Labor; and (2) Honorable Gregory F. Murphy, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Education and Workforce Investment. Witness statements were provided by: (1) Robert J. Jones, Ph.D., Chancellor, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; (2) Justin Ortagus, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Higher Education Administration and Policy, Director of the Institute of Higher Education, University of Florida; (3) Michael B. Poliakoff, Ph.D., President, American Council of Trustees and Alumni; and (4) Darleny Suriel, Student, City College of New York. Additional submissions were provided by: (1) Chairman Scott ("Higher Education School Finance Inequity and Inadequacy in Virginia," ERN, July 2021 and "How to make good colleges want low-income students," "The Hill," July 14, 2021); and (2) Honorable Joseph Morelle, a Representative in Congress from the State of New York (Prepared statement of the Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD)).

This document records testimony from a hearing before the Committee on Education and Labor that was held to examine the policies and priorities of the Office of Federal Student Aid. Member statements were provided by: (1) Honorable Frederica S., Chairwoman, Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Investment; and (2) Honorable Gregory F. Murphy, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Investment. Witness statement was provided by: Honorable Richard Cordray, Chief Operating Officer, U.S. Department of Education Office of Federal Student Aid. Additional submissions include questions submitted for the record by: (1) Chairman Scott; (2) Chairwoman Wilson; (3) Honorable Joaquin Castro, a Representative in Congress from the State of Texas; (4) Ranking Member Foxx; (5) Honorable Jim Banks, a Representative in Congress from the State of Indiana; (6) Honorable Marianette Miller-Meeks, a Representative in Congress from the State of Iowa; (7) Honorable Lisa C. McClain, a Representative in Congress from the State of Michigan; and (8) Honorable Juia Letlow, a Representative in Congress from the State of Louisiana. Response to question submitted for the record by: Mr. Cordray.

This document records testimony from a hearing before the Committee on Education and Labor that was held to examine the protection of students and taxpayers by improving the closed school discharge process. Member statements were provided by: (1) Honorable Frederica S. Wilson, Chairwoman, Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Investment; and (2) Honorable Gregory F. Murphy, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Investment. Witness statements were provided by: (1) Preston Cooper, Research Fellow, The Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity; (2) Melissa Emrey-Arras, Director, Education, Workforce and Income security, U.S. Government Accountability Office; (3) Karyn Rhodes, Student Borrower; and (4) Robyn Sith, Senior Attorney, Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles. Additional submissions include: (1) Honorable Mark, Takano, a Representative in Congress from the State of California: Prepared Statement of Veterans Education Success; (2) Questions submitted for the record by: (a) Chairman Scott; and (b) Honorable Suzanne Bonamici, a Representative in Congress from the State of Oregon; and (3) Response to question submitted for the record by: (a) Ms. Emrey-Arras; and (b) Ms. Smith.

This document records testimony from a hearing before the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education that was held to discuss how to overcome obstacles to safely reopen schools. Member statements were presented by: (1) Honorable Rick W. Allen, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education; and (2) Honorable Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, Chairman, Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education. Witness statements were presented by: (1) Leslie Boggs, President, National Parent Teacher Association; (2) Mr. Michael Hinojosa, Superintendent, Dallas Independent School District; (3) Dr. Sean O'Leary, Vice Chair, Committee on Infectious Diseases, American Academy of Pediatrics; and (4) Ms. Penny Schwinn, Commissioner of Education, Tennessee Department of Education. Additional submissions were presented by: (1) Honorable Joe Courtney, a Representative in Congress from the State of Connecticut: Article--DeVos's Claim That Children Are Stoppers of COVID-19; (2) Honorable Virginia Foxx, a Representative in Congress from the State of North Carolina: Article--Considerations for Schools Operating Schools; Article--Preparing K-12 School Administrators for a Safe Return to School in Fall 2020; and COVID-19 Planning Considerations Guidance for School Re-entry; (3) Chairman Sablan: Remote Learning Synopsis; A Plan to Safely Reopen America's Schools and Communities; All Hands on Deck: Guidance Regarding Reopening School Buildings; AASA COVID-19 Recovery Task Force Guidelines for Reopening Schools: An Opportunity to Transform Public Education; and COVID-19 Planning Considerations Guidance for School Re-entry; and (4) Honorable Lauren Underwood, a Representative in Congress from the State of Illinois: Statement from the National Association of School Nurses (NASN). Questions for the record were submitted by: (1) Honorable Tim Walberg, a Representative in Congress from the State of Michigan; and (2) Ms. Schwinn, responses to questions submitted for the record.

This document records testimony from a hearing before the Committee on Education and Labor that was held to examine investing in improving schools, creating jobs, and strengthening families and the economy. Member statements were provided by: (1) Honorable Robert C. Scott, "Bobby", Chairman, Committee on Education and Labor; and (2) Honorable Virginia Foxx, Ranking Member, Committee on Education and Labor. Witness statements were provided by: (1) Mary W. Filardo, Founder and Executive Director, 21st Century School Fund; (2) Bob Lanter, Executive Director, California Workforce Association; (3) Neal McCluskey, Ph.D., Director, Center for Educational Freedom, Cato Institute; (4) Rasheed Malik, MPP, Senior Policy Analyst, Early Childhood Policy Center for American Progress; (5) Mark Mitsui, President, Portland Community College; and (6) Brian Riedl, Senior Fellow in Budget, Tax, and Economics, The Manhattan Institute. Additional submissions include: (1) Chairman Scott: Report, "State of Our Schools 2016: America's K-12 Facilities"; BlueGreen Alliance letter dated April 28, 2021; Paper from "Child Development," "Impacts of a Prekindergarten Program on Children's Mathematics, Language, Literacy, Executive Function, and Emotional Skill", Nov-Dec 2013; Executive Summary, "Investing in Our Future: The Evidence Base on Preschool Education", Society for Research in Child Development; Report, "A public investment agenda that delivers the goods for American workers needs to be long-lived, broad, and subject to democratic oversight", Economic Policy Institute; Report, "Condition of America's Public School Facilities: 2012-13", National Center for Education Statistics, March 2014; Research Brief, "Untangling the Evidence on Preschool Effectiveness: Insights for Policymakers", Learning Policy Institute, January 2019; Rebuild America's Schools letter dated April 28, 2021; American Federation of Teachers letter dated April 28, 2021; and Link: GAO Report 20-494 dated June 4, 2020, "K-12 EDUCATION--School Districts Frequently Identified Multiple Building Systems Needing Updates or Replacement"; (2) Honorable Frederica S. Wilson, a Representative in Congress from the State of Florida: Article from Communities In Schools, "3 Million Kids Missing From School Because of COVID-19 Is a Travesty", March 5, 2021; Article from "The 74," "Report Estimates 1 to 3 Million Students Missing From School Since March, But Data on Disrupted Learning is 'At Best a Moving Target'" October 21, 2020; and Article from "The Washington Post," "Unprecedented numbers of students have disappeared during the pandemic. Schools are working harder than ever to find them." February 25, 2021; (3) Honorable Glenn Grothman, a Representative in Congress from the State of Wisconsin: "The Drawbacks of Universal Pre-K: A Review of the Evidence"; and (4) Honorable Susan Wild, a Representative in Congress from the State of Pennsylvania: Prepared statement from SMART and NEMIC. Questions were submitted for the record by: Honorable Russ Fulcher, a Representative in Congress from the State of Idaho. Responses to questions were submitted for the record by: (1) Mr. McClusky; and (2) Mr. Reidl.

This document records testimony from a hearing before the Committee on Education and Labor that was held to examine lessons learned when charting the path to educational equity. Member statements were provided by: (1) Honorable Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, Chairman, Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education; and (2) Honorable Burgess Owens, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education. Witness statements and and prepared statements were provided by: (1) Selene A. Almazan, Esq., Legal Director, Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, Inc.; (2) Alberto M. Carvalho, Superintendent of Schools, Miami-Dade County Public Schools; (3) Jennifer Dale, Parent; and (4) Marc H. Morial, JD, President and CEO, National Urban League. Additional submissions by Honorable Robert C. Scott, ''Bobby'', a Representative in Congress from the State of Virginia, include: (1) Article: ''CDC report on Smithfield COVID-19 outbreak in Sioux Falls was redone with 'watered down' recommendations''; (2) Article: ''The CDC softened a report on meatpacking safety during the pandemic. Democrats say they want to know why''; (3) Article: ''Democrats demand answers from Labor Department on CDC recommendations for meatpacking plant''; (4) CDC guidelines on Operational Strategy for K-12 Schools through Phased Prevention; (5) NEA News: Six Ways ESSA Will Improve Assessments; (6) NWEA technical brief: Comparability analysis of remote and in-person MAP Growth testing in fall 2020; (7) Future Ed: A Smart Role for State Standardized Testing in 2021; (8) GAO WatchBlog: The Challenges of Going Back to School; (9) GAO WatchBlog: Racial Disparities in Education and the Role of Government; (10) Statement from the National Council on Disability; (11) Letter from the National Association of School Psychologists; and (12) Report from Common Sense and Hopelab--Coping with COVID-19: How young people use digital media to manage their mental health. Questions were submitted for the record by: (1) Honorable Federica Wilson, a Representative in Congress from the State of Florida; (2) Honorable Joseph Morelle, a Representative in Congress from the State of New York; and (3) Responses to questions submitted for the record by: Mr. Morial.

This document records testimony from a hearing before the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education that was held to discuss strengthening connections with students experiencing homelessness and children in foster care. Member statements were presented by: (1) Honorable Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, Chairman, Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education; and (2) Honorable Burgess Owens, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education. Witness statements were presented by: (1) Gretchen Davis, Foster Parent; (2) Jennifer Erb-Downward, Senior Research Associate, Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan; (3) James F. Lane, Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction, Virginia Department of Education; and (4) Michelle Linder-Coates, Executive Director, School District of Philadelphia. Additional submissions include: (1) Questions submitted for the record by: Honorable Lucy McBath, a Representative in Congress from the State of Georgia; and (2) Response to question submitted for the record by: Mr. Lane.

This document records testimony from a hearing before the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education that was held to discuss the future of higher education post COVID-19. Member statements were presented by: (1) Honorable Frederica S. Wilson, Chairwoman, Subcommittee on Education and Workforce Investment; and (2) Honorable Gregory F. Murphy, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Education and Workforce Investment. Witness statements were presented by: (1) Lindsey M. Burke, Director, Center for Education Policy, and Mark A. Kolokotrones Fellow in Education, The Heritage Foundation, Washington, DC; (2) Eloy Ortiz Oakley, Chancellor, California Community Colleges, Sacramento, California; (3) Keith Thornton, Student, Florida International University, Miami, Florida; and (4) Daniel A. Zibel, Vice President and Chief Counsel, National Student Legal Defense Network, Washington, DC. Additional submissions include: (1) Honorable Suzanne Bonamici, a Representative in Congress from the State of Oregon: Report dated May 19, 2020 from the Brookings Institution, "Commercials for College? Advertising in Higher Education"; (2) Honorable Mondaire Jones, a Representative in Congress from the State of New York: Report dated October, 2020 from National Student Legal Defense, "Protection and the Unseen: Holding Executives Personally Liable under the Higher Eduction Act"; (3) Honorable Teresa Leger Fernandez, a Representative in Congress from the State of New Mexico: Article dated March 16, 2021 from the Santa Fe Reporter: "New Mexico College Students Face Food Insecurity"; and Link: GAO Report 19-95 dated December 21, 2018, "FOOD INSECURITY: Better Information Could Help Eligible College Students Access Federal Food Assistance Benefits"; (4) Honorable Ilhan Omar, a Representative in Congress from the State of Minnesota: Link--GAO Report 19-522 dated August 19, 2020, "Higher Education: More Information Could Help Student Parents Access Additional Federal Student Aid"; (5) Questions submitted for the record by: Honorable Jim Banks, a Representative in Congress from the State of Indiana; Honorable Russ Fulcher, a Representative in Congress from the State of Idaho; Honorable Diana Harshbarger, a Representative in Congress from the State of Tennessee; and Honorable Mikie Sherrill, a Representative in Congress from the State of New Jersey; and (6) Responses to questions submitted for the record by: Dr. Burke, Mr. Oakley, and Mr. Zibel.

This document records testimony from a hearing before the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Investment that was held to discuss reauthorizing the National Apprenticeship Act: Strengthening and Growing Apprenticeships for the 21st Century. Member statements were presented by: (1) Honorable Susan A. Davis, Chairwoman, Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Investment; and (2) Honorable Lloyd Smucker, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Investment. Witness statements were presented by: (1) Daniel Bustillo, Executive Director, Healthcare Career Advancement Program; (2) Morna K. Foy, President, Wisconsin Technical College System; (3) Jace Noteboom, Talent Director: IBM Systems, Watson Health, Cognitive Enterprise Support, IBM; and (4) Tiffany P. Robinson, Esquire, Secretary, Maryland Department of Labor. Additional submissions include: (1) Honorable Brett Guthrie, a Representative in Congress from the State of Kentucky: Link to Consumer Technology Association--Why Tech Companies Should Offer Apprenticeships; (2) Honorable Pramila Jayapal, a Representative in Congress from the State of Washington: 2019 Annual Report--WSDOT Office of Equal Opportunity, Pre-Apprentice Support Services and On-the-Job Training Support Services Program; Article: Amber--Breaking Down Barriers to a Brighter Future; and WSLC: Washington Apprenticeship Growth and Expansion Study; (3) Honorable Robert Scott, a Representative in Congress from the State of Virginia: Statement from the Center for Law and Social Policy; (4) Questions submitted for the record by: Honorable Kilili Camacho Sablan, a Representative in Congress from the Northern Mariana Islands; and Honorable Josh Harder, a Representative in Congress from the State of California; and (5) Responses submitted for the record by: Mr. Bustillo, Ms. Foy, Ms. Noteboom, and Ms. Robinson.

This document records testimony from a hearing before the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education that was held to examine the impact of COVID-19 on the future of higher education. Member statements were presented by: (1) Honorable Susan A. Davis, Chairwoman, Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Investment; and (2) Honorable Lloyd Smucker, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Investment. Witness statements were presented by: (1) Mr. Shaun Harper, President, American Educational Research Association, Los Angeles, California; (2) Ms. Sharon J. Pierce, President, Minneapolis College, Minneapolis, Minnesota; (3) Mr. Scott Pulsipher, President, Western Governors University, Salt Lake City, Utah; and (4) Mr. Timothy P. White, Chancellor, The California State University, Long Beach, California. Additional submissions include: (1) Honorable Virginia Foxx, a Representative in Congress from the State of North Carolina: The Myth of State Disinvestment in Higher Education; (2) Honorable Ilhan Omar, a Representative in Congress from the State of Washington: Prepared statement; (3) Honorable Robert C. Scott, a Representative in Congress from the State of Virginia: Prepared statement from American Council on Education (ACE); Prepared statement from National Education Association (NEA); and Prepared statement; (4) Questions submitted for the record by: Honorable Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, a Representative in Congress from the Northern Mariana Islands; Mr. Scott; Honorable Mark Takano, a Representative in Congress from the State of California; Honorable David Trone, a Representative in Congress from the State of Maryland; and Honorable Mark Walker, a Representative in Congress from the State of North Carolina; and (5) Responses submitted for the record by: Mr. Harper, Ms. Pierce, Mr. Pulsipher, and Mr. White.

This document records testimony from a hearing before the Committee on Education and Labor that was held to examine ways to improve accountability and prevent fraud in for-profit college conversions. Member statements were provided by: (1) Honorable Robert C. Scott, Chairman, Committee on Education and Labor; and (2) Honorable Virginia Foxx, Ranking Member, Committee on Education and Labor. Witness statements were provided by: (1) Yan Cao, JD, Fellow, The Century Foundation; (2) Melissa Emrey-Arras, Director, Education, Workforce and Income Security Issues, U.S. Government Accountability Office; (3) Brian Galle, JD, LL.M., Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law Center; and (4) Andrew Gillen, Ph.D., Senior Policy Analyst, Texas Public Policy Foundation. Additional submissions include: (1) Ranking Member Foxx: Report, ''Cheap for Whom?'', AEI Public Policy Research, October 2011; Charts, ''Executive Compensation at Public and Private Colleges''; Table, ''Spending by Function''; Graphics, ''The College Completion Landscape''; Chart, ''Federal Student Loan Three-Year Default Rate''; and Article, ''Higher Education Has a Tax Problem and It's Hurting Local Communities'', "Time," April 7, 2021; (2) Honorable Alma S. Adams, a Representative in Congress from the State of North Carolina: Letter submitted by NAICU dated April 16, 2021; (3) Questions were submitted for the record by: Chairman Scott; Ranking Member Foxx; Honorable Scott Fitzgerald, a Representative in Congress from the State of Wisconsin; Honorable Diana Harshbarger, a Representative in Congress from the State of Tennessee; and (4) Responses to questions submitted for the record by: Ms. Cao; Mr. Gillen; and Ms. Emrey-Arras.

This document records testimony from a hearing before the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education that was held to discuss addressing the impact of COVID-19 on students with disabilities. For students with disabilities the problem is of equal education opportunity, and Federal law is grounded in a basic guarantee: access to free and appropriate education in the least restrictive environment that meets their needs. Member statements were presented by: (1) Honorable Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, Chairman, Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education; and (2) Honorable Rick W. Allen, Member, Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education. Witness statements were presented by: (1) Reade Bush; (2) Ronald M. Hager, Managing Attorney, National Disability Rights Network; (3) Danielle M. Kovach, Special Education Teacher, Tulsa Trail Elementary School; Hopatcong Board of Education; and (4) Kanika A. Littleton, Project Director, Michigan Alliance for Families. Additional submissions were presented by: (1) Chairman Sablan: Fulfill the Promise Coalition Comments to the House Education Committee re: COVID-19; and Executive Summary: "Disabling Inequity: The Urgent Need for Race-Conscious Resource Remedies," The Center for Civil Rights Remedies; (2) Honorable Robert C. Scott, a Representative in Congress from the State of Virginia: Prepared statement of the National Council on Disability; (3) Questions submitted for the record by: Chairman Scott; Honorable Jahana Hayes, a Representative in Congress from the State of Connecticut; and Honorable Frederica Wilson, a Representative in Congress from the State of Florida; and (4) Responses to questions submitted for the record by: Mr. Hager, Ms. Kovach, and Ms. Littleton.

This document records testimony from a hearing before the Committee on Education and Labor that was held to examine how COVID-19 widened racial inequities in education, health, and the workforce. Member statements were provided by: (1) Honorable Virginia Foxx, Ranking Member, Committee on Education and Labor; and (2) Honorable Robert C. Scott, Chairman, Committee on Education and Labor. Witness statements were provided by: (1) Camara P., Jones, Adjunct Professor, Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University, Senior Fellow and Adjunct Associate Professor, Morehouse School of Medicine, Past President, American Public Health Association Atlanta, Georgia; (2) John B. King, Jr., President and CEO, The Education Trust, Washington, DC; (3) Valerie Rawlston Wilson, Director, Program on Race, Ethnicity, and the Economy, Economic Policy Institute, Silver Spring, Maryland; and (4) Avik, Roy, Co-Founder and President, The Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity, Austin, Texas. Additional submissions include: (1) Mrs. Foxx: Article--"Failure in the Virtual Classroom"; (2) Chairman Scott: Report--"Black Workers Face Two of the Most Lethal Preexisting Conditions for Coronavirus, Racism and Economic Inequality"; Memorandum: Information Requested about Racial Disparities in Private Health Insurance and Medicaid and COVID-19 Related Issues; Memorandum: Responses to Various Elementary and Secondary Education, Higher Education and Homeless Youth Questions Related to the Ongoing Coronavirus Pandemic; and Memorandum: Equity Issues in the Labor Market and COVID-19; (3) Questions submitted for the record by: Honorable Joseph Morelle, a Representative in Congress from the State of New York; Honorable Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, a Representative in Congress from the Northern Marinara Islands; and Honorable Haley M. Stevens, a Representative in Congress from the State of Michigan; and (4) Mr. King responses to questions submitted for the record.

This document records testimony from a hearing before the Committee on Education and Labor that was held to examine Budget Cuts and Lost Learning: Assessing the Impact on COVID-19 on Public Education. Member statements were provided by: (1) Honorable Virginia Foxx, Ranking Member, Committee on Education and Labor; and (2) Honorable Robert C. Scott, Chairman, Committee on Education and Labor. Witness statements were provided by: (1) Eric Gordon, Chief Executive Officer, Cleveland Metropolitan School District, Cleveland, Ohio; (2) Mark Johnson, Superintendent of Public Instruction, North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, Raleigh, North Carolina; (3) Michael Leachman, Vice President for State Fiscal Policy Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Washington, DC; and (4) Rebecca Pringle, Vice President, National Education Association Education Association, Washington, DC. Additional submissions include: (1) Honorable Joe Courtney, a Representative in Congress from the State of Connecticut--Article: "Ripple Effects of Downturn Show Pandemic's Early Economic Toll was Just the Beginning" and Article: "Norwich Board of Education Cuts Staff, Rejects Closing Schools for now"; (2) Questions submitted for the record by: Honorable Suzanne Bonamici, a Representative in Congress from the State of Oregon; and Honorable Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, a Representative in Congress from the Northern Mariana Islands; and (3) Responses submitted for the record by: Mr. Gordon and Ms. Pringle.

This document records testimony from a hearing before the Committee on Education and Labor that was held to examine the Department of Education's implementation of Borrower Defense. Member statements were provided by: (1) Honorable Robert Scott, Chairman, Committee on Education and Labor; and (2) Honorable Virginia Foxx, Ranking Member, Committee on Education and Labor. Witness statements were provided by Honorable Betsy DeVos, Secretary, U.S. Department of Education. Additional submissions include: (1) Honorable Joe Courtney, a Representative in Congress from the State of Connecticut: Memorandum dated December 14, 2017 from the United States Department of Education; (2) Honorable Susan A. Davis, a Representative in Congress from the State of California: Prepared statement from United States of America Federal Trade Commission; (3) Honorable Raul M. Grijalva, a Representative in Congress from the State of Arizona: Letter dated August 30, 2018 from CLASP; (4) Honorable Johana Hayes, a Representative in Congress from the State of Connecticut: Letter dated January 9, 2017 from the Borrower Defense Unit; and Letter dated January 10, 2017 from the Borrower Defense Unit; (5) Honorable Ilhan Omar, a Representative in Congress from the State of Minnesota: Class Action Complaint; and Affidavit; (6) Chairman Scott: Letter dated October 24, 2016 from the Borrowers Defense Unit; Department of Education and Attorney General Kamala Harris Announce Findings From Investigation of Wyotech and Everest Programs; Borrower Defense Partial Relief Methodology Corinthian Colleges, Inc. (CCI) Programs December 2019; Borrower Defense Partial Relief Methodology Corinthian Colleges, Inc. (CCI) Programs December 2019; Borrower Defense Partial Relief Methodology ITT Educational Services, Inc. Programs December 2019; Borrower Defense Partial Relief Methodology ITT Educational Services, Inc. Programs December 2019; Policy Statement dated December 10, 2019; Federal Student Aid Enforcement Office Report on Borrower Defense October 28, 2016; Prepared statement of Chairman Scott; Form 8-K Current Report; Letter dated August 25, 2016 from the Department of Education; Litigation Release: SEC Charges Former Executive Officers for Their Role In Corinthian Colleges' Disclosure Failures; Letter dated December 10, 2019 from LSC; United States Department of Education First Report of the Special Master for Borrower to the Under Secretary September 3, 2015; United States Department of Education Second Report of the Special Master for Borrower to the Under Secretary December 3, 2015; United States Department of Education Third Report of the Special Master for Borrower to the Under Secretary March 25, 2016; United States Department of Education Fourth Report of the Special Master for Borrower to the Under Secretary June 29, 2016; and U.S. Department of Education Accepts Operating Plan from Corinthian Colleges Inc.; (7) Honorable Mark Takano, a Representative in Congress from the State of California: Defendants' Brief In Response To October 8, 2019 Order; (8) Honorable Glenn Thompson, a Representative in Congress from the State of Pennsylvania: Article--Bid To Buy For-Profit College By Former Obama Insiders Raises Questions; and (9) Honorable Susan Wild, a Representative in Congress from the State of Pennsylvania: Article--Education Department Appoints Special Master to Inform Debt Relief Process.

This document records testimony from a hearing before the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Investment, part of the Committee on Education and Labor that examines the Department of Labor's (DOL's) policies and actions regarding the Nation's apprenticeship system. First authorized by the 1937 National Apprenticeship Act, Registered Apprenticeships provide hundreds of thousands of workers each year with access to paid, on-the-job learning opportunities in high-demand fields. These programs place workers in apprenticeships that offer wages that increase as apprentices build their skills and competencies. It offers nationally portable and stackable credentials that are widely recognized and valued by employers and offers advancement in a rewarding career path. Member statements were presented by: (1) Honorable Susan A. Davis, Chairwoman, Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Investment; and (2) Honorable Lloyd Smucker, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Investment. Witness statement presented by: Mr. John Pallasch, Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. Additional submissions include: (1) Honorable Pramila Jayapal, a Representative in Congress from the State of Washington: Letter dated August 26, 2019 from the Attorney General of Washington, Letter dated November 18, 2019 from the Western Governors Association; and (2) Honorable Donald Norcross, a Representative in Congress from the State of New Jersey: Letter from Victor Rodeia, Letter from Steven Vellegas, Letter from Brent Brockley, Letter from Dennis Smith, Letter from Joshua Sherrard, Letter from Benjamin Stilson, Letter from Christian Gailardo, Letter from Larry Gibertson, Letter from Wesley Anderson, Letter from Raymond A. Smith III, Letter from Jarett Dziarkowski. Questions submitted for the record by: (1) Chairwoman Davis; (2) Honorable Russ Fulcher, a Representative in Congress from the State of Idaho; (2) Honorable Virginia Foxx, a Representative in Congress from the State of North Carolina; (3) Honorable Josh Harder, a Representative in Congress from the State of California; (4) Honorable Andy Levin, a Representative in Congress from the State of Minnesota; (5) Mr. Norcross; (6) Honorable Robert C. Scott, a Representative in Congress from the State of Virginia; (7) Honorable Elise M. Stefanik, a Representative in Congress from the State of New York; and (8) Honorable David Trone, a Representative in Congress from the State of Maryland and Mr. Pallasch response to questions submitted for the record.

On July 23, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) proposed a new rule that will restrict eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. On its own, the proposal will cut access to food assistance for about 3.1 million low income Americans, which will have significant consequences for individuals and families struggling to get by. Under the Community Eligibility Provision, nearly 2,000 schools across the country provide free school meals to all of their students because more than 40 percent of their students participate in an anti-poverty program such as SNAP. Schools participating in Community Eligibility appreciate the simplification of the program, the reduction of paperwork, and importantly, the elimination of stigma among students. For schools currently just above the 40 percent threshold, the proposed rule very well could kick enough students off SNAP that the school would lose access to the Community Eligibility Provision. As a result, these schools will be forced to go through the burdensome process of asking low income families to fill out individual applications for free or reduced price school meals. During the hearing to examine this proposal, statements were presented by: (1) Honorable Suzanne Bonamici, Chairwoman, Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Human Services; and (2) Honorable James Comer, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Human Services. Statement of Witness was presented by: Mr. Brandon Lipps, Deputy Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Additional submissions include: (1) Chairwoman Bonamici: Letterhead dated August 7, 2020 from National Education Association (NEA) on behalf of Alma Adams; and Letter dated October 15, 2019 from National Education Association (NEA); (2) Mr. Comer: Letterhead dated September 20, 2019 from Congress of the United States; and Letter from Congress of the United States; (3) Honorable Marcia L. Fudge, a Representative in Congress from the State of Ohio: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Comment Letter; Letter dated October 2, 2019 from Congressional Black Caucus; and Letter dated October 16, 2019 from This Mark Matters; (4) Honorable Jahana Hayes, a Representative in Congress from the State of Connecticut: Interreligious Work Group On Domestic Human Needs (DHN); and Letter dated September 23, 2019; (5) Honorable Susie Lee, a Representative in Congress from the State of Nevada: Letter dated September 20, 2019 from Mazon; (6) Honorable Glenn ''GT'' Thompson, a Representative in Congress from the State of Pennsylvania: Letter dated October 23, 2019; and Link: FNS Quality Control Process for SNAP Error Rate; (7) Honorable David J. Trone, a Representative in Congress from the State of Maryland: Notice of Proposed Rule Making from Maryland Hunger Solutions; Comment on FR Doc # 2019-15670; Comment on FR Doc: 2019-15670; and Community Eligibility: The Key to Hunger-Free Schools; (8) Questions submitted for the record by: Ms. Fudge; Mrs. Lee; Honorable Ilhan Omar, a Representative in Congress from the State of Minnesota; and Honorable Robert ''Bobby'' C. Scott, a Representative in Congress from the State of Virginia; and (9) Mr. Lipp's response to questions submitted for the record.

This document records testimony from a hearing before the Committee on Education and Labor to examine the policies and priorities of the United States Department of Education. Member statements were presented by: (1) Honorable Robert C. Scott, Chairman, Committee on Education and Labor; and (2) Honorable Virginia Foxx, Ranking Member, Committee on Education and Labor. Witness statement was presented by: Honorable Betsy DeVos, Secretary, U.S. Department of Education. Additional submissions include: (1) Honorable Joe Courtney, a Representative in Congress from the State of Connecticut: Memo dated December 27, 2017 from Patrick A. Bradfield, Director, Federal Student Aid Acquisitions, U.S. Department of Education; and Link: Reissuance of Final Audit Report; (2) Chairwoman Foxx: A Good Investment: The Updated Productivity of Public Charter Schools in Eight U.S. Cities; (3) Honorable Marcia L. Hubbard, a Representative in Congress from the State of Ohio: Link; and Evaluation of the Alabama Accountability Act: Academic Achievement Test Outcomes of Scholarship Recipients 2016-2017; (4) Honorable Jahana Hayes, a Representative in Congress from the State of Connecticut: Letter dated July 16, 2018 from Jason Botel, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education; Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Education Control Document; Email from Shaina Hilsey; Email from Christopher Rinkus; Email from Ashley Briggs; Email from Jason Botel; and Email from Meredith Miller; (5) Honorable Andy Levin, a Representative in Congress from the State of Michigan: Email from Navient; Email from Federal Student Aid; and Email from the Department of Education; (6) Honorable Lucy McBath, a Representative in Congress from the State of Georgia: United States District Court Northern District of Ohio Eastern Division; (7) Honorable Joseph D. Morelle, a Representative in Congress from the State of New York: Joint Status Report; and Addendum to Temporary Provisional Program Participation Agreements (TPPPAs) for Institutions Owned by Dream Center Educational Holdings, LLC (DCEH); (8) Questions submitted for the record by: Honorable Alma S. Adams, a Representative in Congress from the State of North Carolina; Honorable Joaquin Castro, a Representative in Congress from the State of Texas; Honorable Mark DeSaulnier, a Representative in Congress from the State of California; Honorable Russ Fulcher, a Representative in Congress from the State of Idaho; Ms. Fudge; Honorable Josh Harder, a Representative in Congress from the State of California; Honorable Susie Lee, a Representative in Congress from the State of Nevada; Ms. McBath; Mr. Morelle; Honorable Gregorio Kilili Sablan, a Representative in Congress from Northern Mariana Islands; Chairman Scott; Honorable Mark Takano, a Representative in Congress from the State of California; Honorable William R. Timmons, IV, a Representative in Congress from the State of South Carolina; Honorable Glenn Thompson, a Representative in Congress from the State of Pennsylvania; Honorable Lori Trahan, a Representative in Congress from the State of Massachusetts; Honorable Frederica S. Wilson, a Representative in Congress from the State of Florida; and Honorable Ron Wright, a Representative in Congress from the State of Texas; and (9) Secretary DeVos's response to questions submitted for the record.

This document records testimony from a hearing before the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Investment, Committee on Education and Labor that was held to discuss the critical role of community colleges, historically black colleges and universities, and minority-serving institutions in preparing students for success. Member statements were presented by: (1) Honorable Susan A. Davis, Chairwoman, Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Investment; and (2) Honorable Lloyd Smucker, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Investment. Witness statements were presented by: (1) Dr. Sandra L. Boham, ED.D., President, Salish Kootenai Colleges; (2) Dr. Glenn Dubois, Ph.D., Chancellor, Virginia Community College System; (3) Dr. Patricia McHatton, Ph.D., Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs, Student Success and P-16 Integration, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley; and (4) Dr. Reynold Verret, Ph.D., President, Xavier University of Louisiana. Additional submissions include: (1) Chairwoman Davis: Graduation Rate Initiative; (2) Honorable Mark Takano, a Representative in Congress from the State of California: Letter dated May 20, 2019, from SEARAC and Prepared statement from OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates; (3) Honorable David J. Trone, a Representative in Congress from the State of Maryland: HBCU's Make America Strong: The Positive Economic Impact of Historically Black Colleges and Universities; (4) Questions submitted for the record by: Honorable Rau´l M. Grijalva, a Representative in Congress from the State of Arizona; Honorable Andy Levin, a Representative in Congress from the State of Michigan; Honorable Donald Norcross, a Representative in Congress from the State of New Jersey; Honorable Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, a Representative in Congress from the Northern Mariana Islands; Honorable Robert C. ''Bobby'' Scott, a Representative in Congress from the State of Virginia; and Honorable Lori Trahan, a Representative in Congress from the State of Massachusetts; and (5) Responses to questions submitted for the record by: Dr. Boham; Dr. Dubois; Dr. McHatton; and Dr. Verret.

This document records testimony from a hearing before the Committee on Education and Labor that was held to discuss the cost of non-completion and improving student outcomes in higher education. Member statements were presented by: (1) Honorable Susan A. Davis, Chairwoman, Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Investment; and (2) Honorable Lloyd Smucker, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Investment. Witness statements were presented by: (1) Ms. Susan Dynarski, Professor, University of Michigan; (2) Dr. M. David Rudd, President and Distinguished University Professor of Psychology, University of Memphis; (3) Dr. Pam Y. Eddinger, President, Bunker Hill Community College; and (4) Mr. Kyle Ethelbah, Director of Federal Trio Programs, University of Utah. Additional submissions include: (1) Chairwoman Davis: Letter dated May 6, 2019 from California Community Colleges and Letter dated May 9, 2019 from Council of Graduate Schools; (2) Honorable Virginia Foxx, a Representative in Congress from the State of North Carolina: College Scorecard Data on HBCU's For-Profits and Community Colleges; (3) Honorable Pramila Jayapal, a Representative in Congress from the State of Washington: Letter dated May 30, 2019 from The Education Trust; (4) Honorable David J. Trone, a Representative in Congress from the State of Maryland: Link: Investing in Futures: Economic and Fiscal Benefits of Postsecondary Education in Prison; (5) Questions submitted for the record by: Honorable Suzanne Bonamici, a Representative in Congress from the State of Oregon; Honorable Ilhan Omar, a Representative in Congress from the State of Minnesota; and Honorable Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, a Representative in Congress from the Northern Mariana Islands; and (6) Responses to questions submitted for the record by: Dr. Eddinger; Mr. Ethelbah; and Dr. Rudd.

This document records testimony from a hearing before the Committee on Education and Labor that was held to examine the Federal Government's response to school communities impacted by natural disasters and the diverse challenges our schools face on the road to recovery. Member statements were presented by: (1) Honorable Rick W. Allen, Ranking Member, Subcommittee Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education; and (2) Honorable Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, Chairman, Subcommittee Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education. Witness statements were presented by: (1) Frank Brogan, Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education, U.S. Department of Education, Washington, DC; (2) Glenn Munã, Coventry, Commissioner, CNMI Public School System, Saian, M.; (3) Rosa Sota-Thomas, President, St. Croix Federation of Teachers AFT Local 1826, Kingshill, St. Croix, Virgin Islands; (4) John L. Winn, Florida Commissioner of Education, Tallahassee, Florida; and (5) Steve Herrington, Superintendent of Schools, Sonoma County Schools, Santa Rosa, California. Additional submissions include: (1) Questions submitted for the record by: Honorable Robert C. Scott, a Representative in Congress from the State of Virginia; and Honorable Van Taylor, a Representative in Congress from the State of Texas; and (2) Responses to questions submitted for the record by: Mr. Brogan and Mr. Winn.

This document records testimony from a hearing before the Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Human Services, part of the Committee on Education and Labor to hear testimony on the Equality Act, H.R. 5, ensuring the right to learn and work free from discrimination. Member statements were presented by: (1) Honorable Suzanne Bonamici, Chairwoman, Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Human Services; and (2) Honorable James Comer, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Human Services. Witness statements were presented by: (1) Sarah Gallagher Warbelow, Legal Director, Human Rights Campaign; (2) Patrick Hedren, Vice President of Labor, Labor, Legal and Regulatory Policy, National Association of Manufacturers; (3) Lawrence Lorber, Senior Counsel, Seyfarth Shaw LLP; and (4) Kimberly Shappley, Nurse, Ojeda Middle School, Del Valle ISD, Faith Outreach Coordinator, Equality TX. Additional submissions include: (1) Chairwoman Bonamici: Letter from the Women's Rights and Gender Justice Organizations, Letter from the Business Coalition, Letter dated April 5, 2019, from the National Women's Law Center, Letter dated April 8, 2019, from AAUW, Map: Education, Prepared statement from the National Center for Transgender Equality, Letter dated April 8, 2019 from the Chamber of Commerce, Letter dated April 8, 2019 from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Letter dated April 8, 2019 from American Atheists, Letter dated April 9, 2019 from Alaska Air Group, Letter dated April 10, 2019 from UCLA School of Law Williams Institute, Letter dated April 12, 2019 from HR Policy Association, Letter dated April 12, 2019 from UCLA School of Law Williams Institute, Letter dated April 17, 2019 from University of Massachusetts Amherst, Letter dated April 17, 2019 from University of Michigan, Letter dated April 18, 2019 from UCLA School of Law Williams Institute, Letter dated April 19, 2019 from American Psychological Association, Letter dated April 22, 2019 from Equality California, Letter dated April 22, 2019 from Aspen Snowmass, Letter dated April 22, 2019 from UCLA School of Law Williams Institute, Letter dated April 22, 2019 from UCLA School of Law Williams Institute, Letter dated April 22, 2019 from The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Letter dated April 22, 2019 from Lambda Legal, Letter dated April 22, 2019 from ADL, Prepared statement from Center for American Progress, United States Court of Appeals (Case 18-2574), Letter from the National LGBTQ Task Force, The Equality Act and Religion, Link: Intersecting Injustice, Link: UCLA School of Law Williams Institute; (2) Mr. Comer: Letter dated March 20, 2019, from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Letter dated April 4, 2019, from the Women's Leberation Front, Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee, Hands Across the Aisle, Letter dated April 5, 2019, from the American Association of Christian Schools (AACS), Letter dated April 8, 2019, from the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI), Letter dated April 8, 2019, from the Family Policy Alliance, Article: The Transgender War on Women, Letter dated April 23, 2019 from the C12 Group; (3) Mr. Hedren: Letter dated April 5, 2019, from Salesforce, Prepared statement from Center from General Mills; (4) Honorable Robert C. Scott, a Representative in Congress from the state of Virginia: Letter from the National Women's Law Center, Prepared statement from the Congressional Research Service, Questions submitted for the record; and (5) Honorable David J. Trone, a Representative in Congress from the state of Maryland: Letter dated April 9, 2019, from the National Association of Manufacturers, and Ms. Warbelow responses to question submitted for the record.

This paper presents the first joint hearing of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies of the Committee on Homeland Security and the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education of the Committee on Education and the Workforce. The subcommittees met to examine data collection and privacy concerns in education, specifically the privacy and security of students' Personally Identifiable Information (PII). In recent years, the number of school districts using educational software and cloud services has exponentially increased. Today, nearly 95 percent of school districts are using these services. These services can provide numerous advantages to school administrators and educators, including individualized learning, State examination assessments and administrative functions such as attendance records. While these services can be helpful to students' development, it is vitally important that the the privacy and security concerns of sharing such sensitive information are understood. A report by the Fordham Law School found that cloud services used by school districts are poorly understood and have a lack of transparency, finding 20 percent of school districts do not have proper policies in place for the use of these services. Fewer than 7 percent restrict the sale of student information by vendors. Cyber criminals have become more sophisticated in their tactics and techniques, evidenced by the increasing number of cyber breaches at universities, schools, and retailers. Greater transparency is needed on behalf of the school districts and the vendors with which they contract. Parents enrolling their children in school should have a clear understanding of what information is collected, stored, and shared. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is the Federal law that governs the privacy of student records. FERPA establishes when, and what type, of information school districts can share with private vendors. However, there are concerns that because FERPA was enacted in 1974, long before the advent of these technologies, it doesn't reflect the current reality in the classroom and changes in how data is collected and shared. Testimony is also given about gaps that exist in the laws that oversee the protection of student information. This joint hearing seeks to examine the sharing of student information with educational software and cloud service vendors, and the laws and guidelines that govern them. Testimonies are given from a distinguished panel, including representatives from the Fordham Law School, Software and Information Industry Association, the Idaho State Department of Education, and the Alliance for Excellent Education.

The purpose of this hearing was to examine how charter schools can be used as a tool to drive innovation in schools. Specifically discussed was legislation introduced by Rep. Polis that would expand access to outstanding charter schools. This hearing kicked off a larger conversation about how the country can educate its way to a better economy by overhauling the nation's primary education law. Hon. George Miller [chairman of the committee] presided. Those who presented prepared statements before the committee included: Hon. Bill Cassidy, Representative in Congress From the State of Louisiana; Hon. Jared Polis, Representative in Congress From the State of Colorado; Eva Moskowitz, CEO and Founder, Harlem Success Academy; Robin J. Lake, Associate Director, Center on Reinventing Public Education; Thomas Hehir, Professor, Harvard Graduate School of Education; Greg Richmond, President & CEO, the National Association of Charter School Authorizers; Eileen M. Ahearn, Project Director, National Association of State Directors of Special Education; Caprice Young, President and CEO, KC Distance Learning; Board Chairman, National Alliance for Public Charter Schools; and Vernon J. Ehlers, Representative in Congress From the State of Michigan.