By Della B. Cronin

A few weeks ago, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and her team released a list of priorities that will govern the agency’s competitive grant programs. The noticepublished in the Federal Register outlines 11 priorities. Once the Department of Education (ED) receives comments from the community (which can be submitted up until November 13), the agency will issue final priorities.  Then, according to the agency, the Secretary “may choose to use one or more” of the priorities in new competitive grant award cycles.  ED says, “These priorities align with the vision set forth by the Secretary in support of high-quality educational opportunities for students of all ages.”

What are the 11 priorities? 

1. Empowering Families to Choose a High-Quality Education that Meets Their Child’s Unique Needs.
2. Promoting Innovation and Efficiency, Streamlining Education with an Increased Focus on Improving Student Outcomes, and Providing Increased Value to Students and Taxpayers.
3. Fostering Flexible and Affordable Paths to Obtaining Knowledge and Skills.
4. Fostering Knowledge and Promoting the Development of Skills that Prepare Students to be Informed, Thoughtful, and Productive Individuals and Citizens.
5. Meeting the Unique Needs of Students And Children, including those with Disabilities and/or with Unique Gifts and Talents.
6. Promoting Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Education, With a Particular Focus on Computer Science.
7. Promoting Literacy.
8. Promoting Effective Instruction in Classrooms and Schools.
9. Promoting Economic Opportunity.
10. Encouraging Improved School Climate and Safer and More Respectful Interactions in a Positive and Safe Educational Environment.
11. Ensuring that Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families Have Access to High-Quality Educational Choices.

While educators care about each of these, the two that most directly affect NCTM and its members are number 6 and number 8.  It is worth noting that the first priority focuses on school choice options—a priority that Secretary DeVos has been talking about since her name was first floated as a nominee for her current post.  Further, that priority is woven into others. For example, priority 6 includes a sub priority that supports using education technology to expand school choice options.  Arguably, that sub priority is misplaced in number 6, since it isn’t really about STEM education or computer science.  It’s about using technology to support school choice.  So, there will clearly be some comments from the community on this priority and many others.

The immediate analysis of this release was predictable: With 11 priorities, what’s really a priority? Further, the STEM education community is aware that priority #6 is a result of a Presidential Memorandum that further stipulates that the Secretary “establish a goal of devoting at least $200 million in grant funds per year to the promotion of high‑quality STEM education, including Computer Science in particular.”  That goal isn’t evident in the proposed priorities.

The education community is scrambling to respond to the priorities, with single sentences and detailed missives being submitted as comments. NCTM will be considering its response as well.

Over on Capitol Hill, the education community continues to wait on two actions.  The first is the passage of final spending bills for FY 2018.  The final numbers won’t come before December, but the Senate’s recent budget debate suggests that both the House and Senate might be willing to increase required spending caps.  That’s good news for education and other domestic programs. Republicans support higher spending to invest in the country’s defense systems.  Democrats will argue those increases have to come with some growth in domestic spending as well. 

In addition, 59 senators recently wroteto Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Patty Murray (D-WA), the leaders of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, urging them to act on the long-languishing Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act.  The House passed a bipartisan bill overwhelmingly earlier this year, but the Senate has yet to release a proposal or even discuss a timetable for considering the matter.  Maybe the urging of 59 colleagues will produce some action.  

More drama ahead.