This week in Washington, most activity revolved around the appropriations process. The expiration of the current continuing resolution that is keeping the government open is steadily approaching on November 17. To keep Government operations in full-swing, Congress will have to enact another continuing resolution before the deadline or enact full-year 2024 funding bills, which is not likely at this point. The Senate has currently passed three bills while the House has passed 7 of the 12 bills. Only Military Construction-VA has been passed by both chambers. Read more news and updates below:

• Department of Commerce Releases Progress Report on Building the Semiconductor Workforce: DOC has released a brief on the implementation of the Chips and Science Act signed into law by President Biden in August of 2022. The brief outlines the Administration’s vision for CHIPS, which includes goals such as doubling the semiconductor workforce, tripling the number of graduates in semiconductor-related fields and training 100,000 new technicians. Read more on the CTE Policy Watch Blog.

• Department of Education Announces Initiatives for Elevating the Teaching Profession: ED has announced the launch of a campaign that is aimed at elevating the teaching profession and promoting educator diversity by inspiring young people—especially those from underrepresented communities—to become teachers..

• Department of Education Convenes Postsecondary Leaders to Address Student Transfer and Degree Completion: This week, ED hosted “Raise the Bar: Tackling Transfer to Increase Access, Improve Completion, and Prepare Today’s Workforce National Summit,” an event that focused on helping students transfer from two-to four-year postsecondary institutions . The agency also released new data that shows the most productive transfer partnerships between community colleges and four-year institutions.  

• White House Holds Workforce Hub Convenings in Augusta and Pittsburgh, Announces Commitments to Expand Pathways into Good-Paying Jobs: The Biden-Harris Administration held a series of workforce hub convenings across Augusta, Georgia, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that focused on enhancing equitable workforce development. Augusta focused on developments in its new registered apprenticeship program and the over $1 million in employer investments for workforce pipelines. Pittsburgh outlined its goal to create over 1,000 new jobs and expand apprenticeship programs throughout industries spurred by legislation from the Investing in America Agenda.

• Department of Education Announces Increase of Borrowers Enrolled in SAVE Plan: ED has announced that approximately 5.5 million borrowers are now enrolled in the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan, the Department’s new income-based student loan repayment plan.

• Office of Civil Rights Releases New Dear Colleague Letter: On November 7, the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights issued a Dear Colleague Letter outlining schools’ legal obligation to protect all students from discrimination in light of recent increases in hate crimes and harassment.