This week, the House Appropriations Committee released their proposed FY 2027 appropriations bill for the Departments of Education (ED) and Labor (DOL). While the bill provides a small increase for Perkins, it proposes deep cuts to many education and workforce programs, including eliminating Adult Basic Education State Grants. The bill was approved by the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee and now moves for consideration by the full Appropriations Committee. Read more updates below.  

• Committee Releases FY 2027 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill: On June 4, the House Appropriations Committee released the FY 2027 bill for the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee. On June 5, the bill was considered in subcommittee. Read our breakdown of the bill on the CTE Policy Watch blog.  

• House Committee Holds Hearing on AI in Postsecondary Education: On June 3, the House Education and Workforce Committee hosted a hearing on AI in postsecondary education. Readers can watch a recording of the hearing here and read a summary of the hearing here.  

• NCFL Launches In-demand STEM Careers Grant: This week, the National Center for Families Learning (NCFL) launched a grant program aimed at expanding STEM workforce credentials and learning opportunities for middle and high school students and their parents. Applicants—which can include schools, districts, nonprofit organizations and government agencies—must submit their proposals by June 18. 

• BlackRock Launches Skilled Trades Grant: This week, BlackRock launched a $25 million grant program to expand the nation’s skilled trades workforce training programs. Nonprofits must submit their proposals by July 10. 

• ED and HHS Announce Grant Competition Under Family Engagement and School Support Partnership: On May 29, ED and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the School Safety Enhancement (SSE) program’s FY 2026 competition to bolster school safety and school infrastructure security. The SSE program provides competitive grants to state educational agencies to develop, implement, and strengthen statewide school safety systems and the physical security of schools. Applications are due July 28, 2026.  

• ED and DOL Launch Postsecondary Grant Program: On June 3, ED and DOL announced the launch of the Postsecondary Student Success Grant Program (PSSGP). One of the focuses of the program is expanding short-term career pathway programs, and applications from nonprofits and postsecondary institutions are due on June 29.  

• ED Projections on Workforce Pell Reach: ED officials projected 184,000 students could take advantage of Workforce Pell in FY 2027–28, the second year of the policy’s implementation. They also predicted that as many as 28,000 existing undergraduate certificate programs could be eligible based on program requirements. They did acknowledge that making programs eligible will take time and come at some cost for states and higher ed institutions.  

• Nursing and Health Groups Sue ED: This week, 10 nursing groups as well as the American Academy of Physician Associates sued ED over its reclassification of specific health occupations, excluding them from the federal definition of “professional degree” programs and limiting how much students can borrow through federal loans.  

• FCC Announces Review of E-Rate: On May 3, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced they would be conducting an evaluation of their E-Rate program that supports internet access for schools and libraries. They are considering reforming or ending the program altogether as part of their review.   

• National Spring 2026 Postsecondary Enrollment Figures Released: On June 4, the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center released national postsecondary enrollment data for the Spring 2026 semester. Skilled trades programs continue to experience enrollment increases.  

• OESE Programs Move to the IES: Four programs under the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education moved to the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) this week. The programs include the Comprehensive Centers Program, Equity Assistance Centers Program, Education Innovation and Research Program, and the Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Program 

• Secretary of Education Linda McMahon Visits Vermont on National Tour: On June 2, Secretary of Education McMahon toured the Center for Technology, Essex in Essex Junction, Vermont, a career and technical education school preparing roughly 400 students for a wide range of high-demand technical fields.