By Della Cronin
December 2018
Advocate for Math Education
Midterm elections are over, and although the final results of some races are still being determined, the overall impact is that the U.S. House of Representatives will be run by Democrats for the 116th Congress and Republicans will remain in charge of the Senate. At the state level, Democrats picked up a few states. Overall, both parties saw wins and losses.
On Capitol Hill, there will be some changes important to education policy conversations. In the House, Representative Bobby Scott (D-Va.) will take over the House education committee and will rename it the “Education and Labor Committee.” He is expected to focus on civil rights issues and school infrastructure and will certainly call Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos before the panel as part of the Democrats’ intentions to invoke Congressional oversight authority.
In the Senate, Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) will work with his Democrat colleague, Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.), on efforts to revise the Higher Education Act in Congress. The Senate held hearings on the issue this Congress, but never unveiled a comprehensive proposal. Representative Scott introduced his Aim Higher Act earlier this year; it will be the House panel’s starting point for debate next year, rendering the PROSPER Act largely moot. NCTM will be watching both the House and Senate as they proceed on this matter, as that law affects grants and loan forgiveness for teachers, as well as investments in teacher preparation programs.
Regardless of the expectations on changes to education policy, some are wary of the FY 2020 appropriations cycle. President Trump has told agencies to prepare for a 5 percent cut to budgets. These pressures on the federal budget means that the education community will have to fight to keep federal investments at current levels. NCTM will be calling on membership to add their voice to this campaign in 2019.
As for what might happen before the end of the year, NCTM is eagerly awaiting the release of the White House’s five-year STEM education strategic plan. It is expected to be released in early December, and the White House will be looking for allies in the community to share it and support it. The report is expected to reflect the Administration’s emphasis on supporting educational efforts that result in workforce-ready workers. In the meantime, NCTM has met with STEM staff at the Department of Education to discuss the importance of quality mathematics education in high school, the role success in algebra plays in a student’s academic endeavors, and how NCTM might collaborate with the agency to support math educators.
In December, the 115th Congress will return to town to take care of some unfinished business, such as spending bills for FY 2019 that have not been completed, including the Commerce, Justice, and Science spending bill that invests in the National Science Foundation and other research agencies.
What Can You Do?
As the education advocacy community gears up for the 116th Congress, NCTM members should make sure they know their two senators and one representative and explore their positions on issues important to mathematics educators. When Congress convenes in January, these lawmakers could very well address issues important to NCTM; knowing who represents you and their positions will be helpful in any advocacy efforts.