Following is a summary of bills recently introduced in Congress that may be of interest to those in elementary and secondary education. Copies of the bills may be obtained by writing the Senate Documents Office, Rm. S325, U.S. Capitol Bldg., Washington 20510 or the House Documents Office, Rm. H226, U.S. Capitol Bldg., Washington 20515.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
HR 6183--Social Security. A bill to extend by 5 months (through Sept. 1982) the date by which a child must have been enrolled in a postsecondary school to be eligible for benefits under Title II of the Social Security Act and to require that such a child must have graduated from high school by the close of such period. By Representative Luken (D-Ohio) and five others.
HR 6225--Education savings accounts. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code to allow the deduction of contributions to education savings accounts. By Representative Ford (D-Tenn.) and 10 others.’
IN FEDERAL AGENCIES
Excellence-in-education hearings. The Education Department announced, in the March 4 Federal Register, the dates of hearings before the National Commission on Excellence in Education. Contact: Milton Goldberg, Executive Director, National Commission on Excellence in Education, 1200 19th St., N.W., Washington 20208; (202) 254-7920. The hearings still to be held are scheduled for the following times and places:
--May 12, 8:30 A.M.-5:30 P.M., on teaching and teacher education, to be held in the Urban Life Center Auditorium of Georgia State University, Atlanta. (A description of this meeting appeared in the April 14 Federal Register.)
--June 23, 8:30 A.M.-5:30 P.M., on admissions standards, Chicago.
--Sept. 16, 8:30 A.M.-5:30 P.M., on education and the student’s life work, Denver.
--Oct. 7, 8:30 A.M.-5:30 P.M., on gifted and talented students, Boston.
Indian students. The Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs announced, in the April 30 Federal Register, a meeting of the Advisory Committee for Exceptional Children on May 12, 1 P.M.-4:30 P.M., and May 13-14, 8:30 A.M.-12 P.M., at the Howard Johnson’s Motel at National Airport, Arlington, Va. The primary purpose of the meeting is to study the unmet needs of handicapped Indian children. The public is welcome and may file written comments concerning the issues discussed. Contact: Dixie Owen, Bureau of Indian Affairs; (202) 343-4071.
Meal programs. The Department of Agriculture published, in the April 30 Federal Register, final regulations that eliminate the state plan requirements for the National School Lunch Program, the Special Milk Program for Children, and the School Breakfast Program. States are no longer required to submit state plans to the federal food and nutrition service for approval. Contact: Stanley C. Garnett, Branch Chief, Policy and Program Development Branch, School Programs Division, Food and Nutrition Service, usda, Alexandria, Va. 22302; (703) 756-3620.
National School Lunch Program. The Department of Agriculture published, in the April 30 Federal Register, revised regulations for the Interim Assessment Improvement and Monitoring System (aims), which is used to assess and to foster improvement in the management of the National School Lunch Program, to monitor the use of federal funds, and to protect the nutritional integrity of meals served under the program. Contact: Stanley C. Garnett, Branch Chief, Policy and Program Development Branch, School Programs Division, Food and Nutrition Service, usda, Alexandria, Va. 22302; (703) 756-3620.
Student loans. The Education Department’s office of postsecondary education published, in the May 3 Federal Register, the amended family contribution schedule for the Guaranteed Student Loan Program. This amends the schedule that was published in the Federal Register on Sept. 11, 1981, and will apply to loans for instruction between July 1, 1982, and June 30, 1983.
