Legislative Action
Job Training
The Senate Subcommittee on Postsecondary Education, Training, and Lifelong Learning held a hearing last week on proposals to reform job-training and vocational-rehabilitation programs.
Regulatory Moratorium S 219
The Senate last week unanimously approved a bill to give Congress 45 days to review new federal regulations. The measure is an alternative to a House-passed proposal that would ban the promulgation of new federal regulations through the end of the year. The issue now moves to a conference committee.
Welfare Reform
The Senate Finance Committee continued hearings on welfare reform last week, focusing on the Supplemental Security Income program for low-income disabled children and adults.
The Education Department
Magnet Schools Final Rule
The Education Department published in the March 20 Federal Register new rules implementing legislative changes in the Magnet Schools Assistance Program. The rules make consortia of school districts eligible for funds. Also, districts are now required to describe how the aid will help them increase student achievement and how it will be used in conjunction with the Goals 2000: Educate America Act. In addition, reading skills and geography were added to subject areas “in which instruction may be provided in magnet-schools projects.” The rules go into effect on April 19.
