Transcripts For CSPAN Education 20240703

Good morning. Today, were having a hearing on the Biden Administrations fiscal year 2025 budget request for the department of education. And then happy to welcome secretary cardona to her subcommittee once again. Mr. Secretary, looking forward to working in a bipartisan manner again this year with senator capito to help develop h hhs villa billick and pase come pass a senate, pass the senate be signed into law by the president. We did her last year but House Republicans insistence on partisan policy writers had to coding cuts that set our children young people up for success led to repeated shutdown, showdowns and crs. That culminated in passing final appropriation bills in march that we should a past months before. That can askance does nothing to help ensure our federal resources are used most effectively to serve the people we represent. It causes federal agencies to waste time and money instead of working to ensure every dollar we appropriate served our constituents. We cannot play politics with our childrens future. We need to do better, and mr. Secretary, this budget is a good first step in that direction. It outlines important investments that are necessary to ensure that all students receive the education and support they need to fulfill their potential and move our nation forward. Mr. Secretary, you are aware of the opportunities and challenges across the education spectrum. Child care and preschool are often unaffordable or simply unavailable. There are efforts by lawmakers to ban books from classroom shelves. We are seen young kids bullied and discriminate against in schools and on social media, just because of who they are. Post secondary education costs too much for too many families, and leave some students saddled with insurmountable debt. The written Technical Education is not as widely available as it should be, and employers are often unable to find the workers with the skills they need for available jobs. These are some of the concerns i hear across wisconsin. All said, we have some challenges. Mr. Secretary, investments propose in the president s budget would help tackle many of these issues head on. There is so much we need to do to improve the quality and affordability of post secondary education. The president s budget request contains investments to continue this important work including investment in the cornerstone of our Financial Aid system, that Pell Grant Program. I look forward to working with you to protect and sustain the Pell Grant Program so it can continue to provide this critical assistance to millions of students around this country. I am pleased the budget request supports student parents and activities to help students complete a Postsecondary Education to further their careers. A growing number of post secondary students are nontraditional students, and our colleges need to adapt to help ensure they can succeed. The president s budget request for the child. Access means parents in schools programs would help parents from lowincome backgrounds afford childcare so that they can attend post secondary education. Additional proposed investments in the post secondary Students Success Program with support evidencebased activities to improve postsecondary persistence and completion rates, particularly among nontraditional students. The budget also rightly invest in our nations hbcus, minority serving institutions and tribal colleges. I have seen firsthand the important Educational Opportunities and tribal colleges provide native students in wisconsin and the how important it that we continue to invest in tribal colleges, hbcus, and the size including widely their research infrastructure. This budget also proposes additional investments for administering federal student Financial Aid programs. This year a very challenging rollout of the new simplified fafsa has upended the Financial Aid application process around the country. Leading to much uncertainty for students and their families. Im deeply concerned about low fafsa completion rates, particularly given the promise of pfaff says implication, to make it easier for students to apply and ultimately help more students pursue Postsecondary Education. I know you and your staff are working hard to fix these issues but i cannot emphasize enough how important it is that we get this right. Accessing this aid can mean the difference between somebody able to go to college or not. I am committed to working with you to correct any ongoing issues and improve completion rates of the fafsa this year. At the same time we also need to be working to ensure that next years fafsa is available on time this fall, and rolled out smoothly to students and their families. Mr. Secretary, because not every student will choose a fouryear pathway, i know you share my interest and passion in career and Technical Education, and Important Role that highquality cte can play in preparing students for both college and toward careers. The budgets proposed increase in cte would help states, School Districts and colleges approved the quality of cte programs and better ensured cte programs educate students for jobs of the future. Mr. Secretary, i am also pleased to see that this budget continues support for important investments in key federal elementary and secondary education programs. Building on the increases weve been able to provide in recent years. The budget doubles down on our commitment to title i a programs to provide additional funding to schools serving students from low income families. And also build on our investment in the idb a state grants to boost the federal share of the additional cost of meeting the needs of students with disabilities. I. D. E. A. Paraplegia budget also proposes extra investments for schoolbased Mental Health programs that will increase access to support students in need. The budget also proposed, proposes increased funding for the full Services Community schools programs which can also increase access to needed Mental Health programs. While wisconsin marked 2023 as a year of Mental Health, we know that much work needs to be done to address the significant Mental Health challenges facing too many of our youth. A few alarm statistics from wisconsins office of childrens Mental Health 2023 annual report make that clear. The report indicates 34 of High School Students reported feeling sad or hopeless. 18 of teenagers reported seriously considering suicide. And 40 of lgbtq youth reported seriously considering suicide. Each indicator is going in the wrong direction. National reporting tells the same tragic story. We need to do more to ensure that all students receive the support they need to succeed. Finally, i would be remiss if i did not address the ongoing protest on College Campuses across the United States, colluding in my home state of wisconsin. Peacefully protesting is a fundamental right that all people in this country are entitled to. It is an important tool for people to have their voices heard, and what i support. However, when these protests turn to threats, intimidation, violence and in recent cases at the semitism, they must be called out and condemned in no uncertain terms. Hate has no place in any Educational Institution in america, full stop. I am glad to see that the president s budget help address this had on and rightfully requests an increase in funding for educations office of civil rights. Every student from Early Childhood education to our College Campuses deserve a safe place to learn. Free from hate, bullying or discrimination. This is a fundamental idea that uncommitted to through and through. I key tool in helping make that a reality for Educational Institutions receiving federal assistance is the office of civil rights. In recent months some have called for increased efforts to root out antisemitism in Educational Institutions which i fully agree we must do. But they have been ted talk sickly called for cutting of funding for the very office that leads that work. To help eliminate all forms of discrimination we have to put our money where our mouth is. We need to provide ocr, the office for civil rights and with the Additional Resources it needs to get the job done. In in a moment i will turn it r to Ranking Member capito for her opening remarks. Following senator capito is Opening Statement we will hear from you, secretary cardona, and after that senators will each have five minutes for rounds of questions. I will now turn it over to Ranking Member capito. Thank you, chair baldwin. And thank you, secretary cardona, for coming and being with us today to discuss the Department Budget for 2025. Ask our chair said, last summer this committee was able to Work Together to pass 12 bipartisan appropriation bills out of the great hard work of senator collins here and senator murray leading the charge for us. While i regret it was so very delayed, last Month Congress to pass the final bipartisan funding bills or 2024. We were able to successfully complete the twin 24 process because everyone worked together to find some Common Ground. Fiscal year 2025 is likely to face similar if not greater challenges but im hopeful that we will once again be able to come together to produce a bipartisan 2025 bill, labor bill that prioritizes programs that help provide the opportunity for high quality education for all. While the Budget Proposals proposed to continue spending money on programs and activities that we simply cant afford, i appreciate the somewhat tempered approach this year compared to the previous budget. The fiscal responsibility act continues to be the law of the land and will govern what is possible for moving forward just like last year were going have to make some tough choices. So i am concerned this budget attempts to go around the fra on the fiscal responsibility act by proposing 140 billion in new mandatory spending for programs that this country simply cant afford and that the congress has consistently rejected. Expensive new federal programs like free college art of advice and unlikely to be considered endemic in your spending is over and when you get down to business. The challenges facing k12, i dont need as a former educator or a lifelong educator i should say, facing k12 education are downright alarming for the current generation of our students. We are facing a crisis of chronic absenteeism and failing test scores or falling test scores in this country the number of kids counted as chronically absent missing at least 10 of school days each year is double what it was before the pandemic. In West Virginia my home state, 20 of the children in School Missed more than 18 days of school last school year. Thats almost one month of school. This is it okay and when kit still go to school they dont learn, they dont thrive and they dont grow. Not just academically but also socially. I know you share this concern ii hope your department will continue working to give states and districts the support they need to up get kids back into the classroom. Federal education spending should support states and policies that afford the greatest opportunity for kids to learn and achieve academically. Formula Grant Funding like title i, i. D. E. A. , career Technical Education grants put education decisions as close to the local schools as we can to the teachers, the parents, and also provide the crucial flexibility local committees need to best meet the needs of their students. While in place of Budget Priorities does that with these essential programs. Weber, your budget proposes to slash of the funding entity to help public School Students succeed. For instance, the Charter School program. Senator cardin owner, this is your fourth in front of the committee so it shouldnt come as a surprise to that account to Charter School spending that that goes well in a bipartisan environment. The 40 40 million cut is n false claims declined demand for the program when billy the departments actions are to blame. The departments imposition of burdensome new Program Rules and failure to adequately staffed the Program Office are the real reason for any challenge in this program. With enrollment and traditional Public Schools declined following the pandemic, Charter School enrollment increased. Thats a pretty clear indication of increased demand. The budget includes a 600 million or 3 increase to funny for the office of federal student aid. Yet the office of federal student aid also received 2 billion a year and is not clear what the American Students are getting and people are getting for their investment. I am particularly concerned by the disastrous rollout of the new fafsa for 2025 school year. I dont normally come before folks who are doing the best they can do in the jobs are in, but this is just got me totally undone because its got everybody in my state and across the nation just appalled at how this could be handled so ineptly. Congress passed the fafsa supplication act or so before the chairwoman said this, and abu the process of applying for federal aid by december 2020 or more than three years ago. Yet this administrations the publication of the law has not made things better for students or administrators. It is not an understatement to say this is been unmitigated disaster caused by inexcusable failure of leadership. Implementation of this bipartisan congressional priority should of been a top priority for the Biden Administration. It took us a long time to pass that simplification act. We could get more Alexandra Zapruder tell us how long. The deadline to update the fafsa should come as no surprise Lamar Alexander august the the administration and asked you to get blueprints that are prioritizing this important work the Political Leadership at the department of ed chose to spend time, resources and personnel to advance the administrations priorities of an canceling student debt. To me that is indefensible. I have spoke with so many West Virginians this past summer months who were angry about the departments misplaced priorities and feel discouraged about the future because of the bungled fafsa implementation period fafsa completions are down 36 nationally, compared to this time last year. In my home state of West Virginia the number of High School Students that have completed fafsa is down almost 40 compared to this time last year. For nontraditional aid students in West Virginia, students age 255 and up, ask a completion rates are down 35 . Maybe students put off post education to work or to care for a family member. That because of this mess theyre having to delay their goal furthering their education. Some students may never end up in raleigh a post secondary education because the hurdles to complete the fafsa are just too high. And many of those have managed to overcome the difficulties and submit their fafsa are still left in the dark about what Financial Aid are eligible for in the fall. This is obvious a huge issue for students and their families. Its a challenge for colleges and universities because of delays and challenges concerning the rollout of the new nasa, 482 million is hanging in the bounds balance for students in West Virginia. Severely jeopardizing College Access and affordability for those students, and many of them will be the first in a families to go to college. Tomorrow is may 1. Traditionally known as College Decision day. In a typical Year High School graduates across america will be finalizing their decisions as to which college or university to attend. But this year your Department Just yesterday said sent colleges the correct information to packages aid awards. Students are still unable to make plans and informed Financial Decisions likely to be one the most expensive and consequential choices that they will make in their lives. I agree with your statement that theres nothing more important right now at the department of and and help moving from you will be focused on addressing outstanding issues and assuring that these problems are not repeated in the in the 2a cycle. Our students do deserve better. On that note i am concerned with all the regulations come out of the department right now are expected to be including the new plan b student loan forgiveness title ix new Cash Management rules that would increase the cost of educational materials for our students do. I urge you to abandon these efforts. Finally, i would ask you to take action to protect our jewish students and restore order on College Campuses across america. Discrimination based on National Origin violates title vi of the Civil Rights Act, and your department is required to enforce the law. No students have to fear for their safety while attending school. Last week, 26 of my republican colleagues and i sent your letter on the topic and i look forward to your response. Mr. Secretary, we have a lot of important issue to discuss today i want to thank you so much for being here with us. I see we are joined by the vice chair of the full committee, senator collins, would you like to make an obese seven . Thank you madam chair. Im just going to make a few comments because senator capito has raised many of the issues, as has the chair. But have to tell you, secretary cardona, how disappointed i am in your leadership. What happened with the fafsa system is simply inexcusable and inexplicable. As our Ranking Member, senator capito, has said, the department had three years to implement the revisions, and then another year to simplify the revisions to the federal Financial Aid application. And ive heard from countless families, students, Financial Aid counselors and administrators who have expressed their extreme frustration with the system. And i believe the department owes them an apology. This is inexcusable. This wasnt something that was dropped on the department at the last moment. It goes back four years. So there was plenty of time to get this right. And the fact is that students in my state have been up in the air about what do they do . They dont know what package of assistance are going to receive. And as senator capito points out, may 1 is usually decision day. Yet, the colleges just got information they needed yesterday. This is just inexcusable. I am also extremely concerned about the treatment of some jewish students and faculty on far too many of our College Campuses, as has been pointed out under the civil rights laws, the department has the authority to act on the complaints. And there are more than 100 investigations that have been filed since october 7 last year. Every day we hear from jewish students who tell me that they are frightened on campus. I just cannot believe the rise of antisemitism on our College Campuses. That is not to say that people dont have the right to peacefully protest. They do, but that is not what is happening in far too many areas. I am very concerned about the budget for Rural Education. In maine, the majority of our schools are small and rural, which is why back in 2002 i coauthored the Rural Education achievement program. We got a 5 milliondollar increase in the program the last fiscal year, but the administrations budget leveled funds that actually doesnt love a fun, that would okay. Instead, the department is going back to fiscal year 2023 levels. And finally, although theres so many other issues that i would love to touch on in my Opening Statement, including the trio program which is a wonderful program, and im pleased theres an increase in their, i. D. E. A. , what we need to start getting those numbers. But a concern i have is a return to a single investigator model under your new title ix regulation. When that model has been ruled by multiple courts as unlawful. So i just dont understand why the department would ignore those Court Rulings and go back to a a model that has been so heavily criticized. Again, i think theres a lot of issues to cover today at a very much appreciate the opportunity to touch on some of them. Thank you. Thank you, senator collins. I witnessed today is miguel cardona, the Secretary Department of education. Secretary cardona, thank you for joining us you have five minutes for your opening remarks and you may begin. Thank you. Thank you chair baldwin, Ranking Member capito advise chair collins. And distinguished members of the committee. Thank you for the opportunity to testify today. Im president presidel year 2025 budget request to the United States department of education. Thank you for your leadership and continued partnership. I am proud of how we Work Together in a bipartisan fashion during this administration to raise the bar for american education. Together, we prioritize substance over sensationalism can defend the Public Education set defunding it. And recognizing that investing in education is investing in a Better Future for all of us. It is in that spirit that a camera today to discuss a budget that is not only about our priorities of the department of education but about what were hearing directly from parents and others all over this country. In red and blue states alike. About where we have Common Ground when it comes to our hopes for our children. This budget is about making responsible choices. Together, to invest in the foundation of American Opportunity and raised the bar for our nations future. Its about sustaining academic recovery from the back of the pandemic through 82. 4 billion in tax Credit Investments to accelerate learning and success at a crucial time for our students to regain lost ground. While also adhering to the bipartisan fiscal responsibility. Its about investing to the stronger future for all americans by boosting funding to close achievement gaps in lower income communities through title i, support for students with disabilities to i. D. E. A. , support multilingual learners through title iii, and retain, recruit and develop great teachers. Its about investing in safer schools and the Mental Health of our students by making more funding available for more School Counselors and Mental Health professionals, and more fullservice beauty schools. Its about getting more than people access to the American Dream by building more pathways to rewarding careers, and Opening Doors to Higher Education for all students, by improving college affordability, retention and completion, including through free Unity College and increased student support. While making this investment at our nations future, while fully honoring the caps under the bipartisan agreement to reduce the deficit. Make no mistake, while we look beyond the headlines and all the noise, theres so much Common Ground in our country about what matters for our students. Whether its getting all students to read by third grade, providing Mental Health support in the midst of a youth Mental Health crisis, opening career and College Pathways somewhere students have options for reporting lives and careers, r making Higher Education more affordable and accessible to those who choose that path. And i know we will continue to Work Together to build on that Common Ground. Advertising results over rhetoric. We can raise the bar for our nation together and i look forward to working with you to do so. Thank you. We are going to now begin rounds of fiveminute questioning, and i will start that out. Secretary cardona, like many of my colleagues i am troubled by the ongoing fafsa in the mentation issues, and am also deeply concerned that the number of our High School Seniors who have fully completed their fafsa is down nearly 30 from last year. And even lower among students in low income schools. I know if your staff is working hard to fix this. But as i said earlier, the department has to get this right, and fast. Can you briefly describe what you and your staff are doing right now to get fafsa back on track, including increasing completion rates this year so students dont lose access to Financial Aid . Yes. Thank you, senator. I can assure you that the speech is something i take very seriously, very personally. And acknowledge the frustration and challenges families and schools are facing. 30 years ago when i was ready to make decisions about Higher Education, i never filled out the fafsa. I was probably eligible but it was such a big path that i think timmy, i did want to put the pressure on my family to go through the process. Felt too difficult. For far too long in this country too many students that have potential have missed out on federal aid dollars to chase their dreams. So i recognize the frustration, the challenge, but the problem that has been, has not been touched in 40 years. The rollout of the better fafsa has been riddled with delays and challenges, and is been something we prioritized at the department of education. Were doing everything every day to make it right. Were holding fafsa clinic. We are providing daily communication to colleges. Have sent information out over a month ago to schools and we are on daily calls with College President , Financial Aid directors come hundreds of webinars in different languages. We are visiting states and helping with clinics or families. We have come if the visit ed. Gov come theres a spot where you can see resources for better fafsa. Just yesterday i was on the call with the National Committee base organizations who site up to hold clinics to make sure theyre connecting the dots with schools. And were providing daytoday support to educators, parents can students based on what we are hearing i would like us imports of this and doing everything in our power to make sure we are providing more opportunities for students to develop a better fafsa. At the end of the day we are expecting a better fafsa can open the doors to additional 600,000 students for Higher Education. Thats a huge difference for the potential of our country and the potential of our students. Thank you for the answer. While we are still working on fafsa this cycle, we know that next year is right around the corner. And students cannot bear another year of delays. So can you commit to an ontime launch for the 2526 fafsa by october 1 of this year . And we you commit that colleges will get all the data that they need from the fafsa as soon as the fafsa is launched . Thank you come yesterday is is something weve been focusing on while rolling of this years fafsa think about mixtures fafsa. I commit to make sure were moving all of our resources to make sure that we adhere to the timeline and do everything in our power to make sure that only we are staying true to the timelines but also communicating with parents, students and schools. Okay. So would you be able to reach the october 1 deadline . That is our expectations. Okay. Mr. Secretary, i appreciate the work of the Department Administration an increasing access to Mental Health services for children and youth and related proposals in the in the president budget. While youve made some progress, while we made some progress, certainly more needs to be done to overcome challenges. That i hear back in wisconsin, frankly, every day. What i care about is kids, getting kids the support they need. And i am also aware of the interest back of and the departments schoolbased Mental Health programs. Funded out of these School Safety National Activities program. We provided 216 million for the program in the budget that we just passed, and direct the department use any funds not needed for current activities for new schoolbased Mental Health grants. Do i have your commitment to use every available dollar de School Safety National Activities program for new Mental Health grants just as we directed in the recently passed by . Yes, we are committed to adhering to that. Thank you. And can you describe how this budget request would expand and approved schoolbased Mental Health services for kids . Absolutely. I have to tell you that one of the things that i feel pretty strong but as an educator who has had experienced it before the pandemic addressing Mental Health needs in our schools that the distraction of the pandemic result in us going back to the system that we had providing Mental Health for student. We are fairly astute. We are in a youth Mental Health crisis and a fortunate across the country we have emergency models of Mental Health support, meaning after the trauma. We are committed to ensuring that funding and support for schools are available to make sure students have the proactive support they need. I have to say thanks to the bipartisan Safer Communities act weve invested already 571 million in Mental Health services for students in k12. We are committed to continuing to provide support, funding in a Budget Proposal that is geared towards community fullservice kennedy schools, will also bring in community provided to students and families with Mental Health needs. Theres a 40 million grant to k12 Mental Health services. What were seeing is some of it is proactive, just helping students understand how the feeling and communicate emotions. We are seeing an increase in support providers. Theres been a 40 increase in School Social workers. Thats significant given what we are as a country that we see an increase of 25 of School Nurses just begin something that i know for the families in student that benefit from them they are thankful. We are committed to keeping the project removing recognizing that a strong system of Mental Health support for students is a foundation for academic progress and students reaching their potential. Thank you. Senator capito. Thank you. Mr. Mr. Secretary, i mentioned in my Opening Statement that title vi of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits his commission on race, color or National Origin in programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance. No student should feel unsafe on their campus. Yet, just last week Columbia University had in the Classes Online and jewish students were told by a campus rabbi to go home because it was no longer safe for them on their campus. And late last night protester took over Hamilton Hall on campus and the university is locked down today with access limited to only residential students, whoever is left there, i would imagine some parents have said you must leave here and essential personal. This is totally unacceptable. So secretary cardona, do you believe what is happening to jewish students at columbia and other colleges and universities across this country is okay . Absolutely not. I think whats happening on our campuses is abhorrent. Hate as a place on our campuses, and im very concerned with reports of antisemitism. I have spoken to jewish students who have feared going to class as a result some of the harassment that theyre facing on campuses. Its unacceptable and were committed as a department of education adhering to title vi enforcement, we have 137 open cases. We take this very seriously. We increase the number of communications to College Campuses to make sure that they have what they need in terms of the law and best practices on how to make sure theyre protecting stoops. Look, as an educator, lifelong educator protecting students is her number one responsibility. We take that seriously and antisemitism that we see on campuses unacceptable. Unacceptable, we agree. So you have 136 cases you said. How long does a case take . I mean by the time this ghost business system, quite frankly it is either going to be all over or one way or the other. To me that sort of, thats good, im glad you doing that but you have more immediate means at your disposal. For instance, removing federal funds from institutions that get federal funds which i imagine most all of them, well, but ill do. Right. If theyre in violation of title vi. Youre absolutely right. Investigating the cases is important part of it but we do have on a website at that cover a button supporting Campus Safety with guidance and regulation around how to do that. This is why in a budget with proposing a 20 minute dollars increase in custom of investigators so we can move on those investigations that are open. Ultimately if a school refuses to comply with title vi, yes, we would remove federal dollars. Well i meet a school can refuse. I mean, go it in safe it will abide by title vi but theyre not doing anything. I would commend to you our former member of the senate who is that the president of university of florida, he is not taking a light touch you. I mean, he is saying for many days we are patiently told protesters, many of whom are agitators or outsiders, that theyre able to exercise a right to free speech and free silly. We also told them that clearly prohibited activities will result in trespassing orders and university police. This is not complicated at the university of florida is not a day care and we do not treat protesters like children. They know the rules, they break the rules and he will face the consequences. I mean i would recommend this. Put this on the front of your page on best way to deal with antisemitism on campus. We do with the statement that it updated after campus protest that make it very clear that the unsafe on campus as is not bg and tolerated and we do not condone and we definitely reject any call for genocide or any culture antisemitism or in antisemitism on campus. That something ive been pretty adamant about it before october 7. Do you people at columbia right now on the scene to see whats going on . You have staff there to watch . I do not staff spears does so right office at some of there . I do not have staff at the club university. I should share with you we do have an open investigation at Columbia University. I want to move to the fafsa because it brought that up in my Opening Statement. The data i use put up appeara chart just so everybody could see. 36 down among freshmen nationally. West virginia down 40 . I can tell you, sarah who heads up our Higher Education, has been a wonderful resource for me on data but also kind help us find a way to get this going. This instrument as well. I talked to some who works at career technical, more adult students. Theyre totally confused. So students that are among West Virginia student age 25 and up, down 25 . You said we will get 600,000 more students because of the simplification. You have lost all the students this year. Think about that in terms of what that this Going Forward for the next chances are for the next four years though students may not, some of them, maybe majority of them. Youre already going to lose students in the year and maybe life gets in the way and they decide i can move forward on this, im not going to fill this out. Took too long. I dont understand, i dont know whats going on. Weve got to be more aggressive and i also get tired im on the appropriations committee, its all about money. Seems like gilly solution we have here is i need more money for stats. This couldve been done a lot better if we shouldve heard from what youve said today we shouldve been hearing that a year goes we couldve n prepared for what architecture you feel the same way. That you would like to that that conversation and your goal. Is there anyway, i mean, store called as for an apology. Have you apologize . Have you said we know we rey screwed this up and we need to make it better for not just the students but institutions as a . Yes or i give you just. I spoken to parents and students directly. I sat with the mother filling out fafsa. We at, as a say have worked to return 28 million borrowers to repayment if we Exchange Services and better fafsa speedy youve also worked on for getting a lot of today, diverted on the resources into this why you should, not focusing on the fundamental people turn to go to college for the first time. I would welcome to engage with folks with agenda to show the strategy and work with you to make sure the West Virginians have access to Higher Education. The form is not about 15 minutes. Were processing. If the student West Virginia applies today, by fighting the colleges will have the information to reprocessed over 8. 2 million speeders are you actively processing a pgh yes. That was in asia. We made those corrections and were actively processing information. To be very frank with you ive been hearing students are getting their letters. Look, were on the same team, we want to get as many stones connect and look forward to working with you to make sure. Thank you. Thank you. Senator murphy. Thank you much, madam chair. Secretary, good to see you. I want to take a moment to thank members of this committee for the work that they are put in almost two years ago. To make the bipartisan Safer Communities act a reality. With all your reference that number of times in this hearing, 13 billion much of it going to our schools to help build in school Mental Health resources and built support services around children in need. But the data numbers are really compelling. Central as the bipartisan civic wreath act we have seen a stunning drop in gun crime in this country from 2022 when they passed the bill the 2023 we saw a 12 we saw a 12 reduction in carbon gun homicides, the because when you drop in history of the country. While were still collecting information on 2024, looks as if theres going to be another massive drop in gun crime in 2024, in the 200 biggest cities in the country. The first three months of this year compared to the first three months of the last year has seen a 20 average drop. Actually something to celebrate. I want to talk to, mr. Secretary, about a concern to those in our schools that if unaddressed potentially threatens to interrupt some of us really tremendous and thats the increasing amount of chronic absenteeism that we are seeing. There is a direct line between kids who are chronically out of school and at risk behaviors. So we want to continue to build on this remarkable success because the story of this drop in crime is connected with the work were doing and our schools. You have a billion dollars to use for building positive School Climates and then you have a new 8 billion initiative in this budget that amongst other things is dedicated to try and build, attack chronic absenteeism and trying to build increasing safer and wellconnected schools. Can you talk about important of reversing this post . Absolutely, thank you, senator. The route microwave as a fourth grade teacher, school principal, we would track the absenteeism of our students and it was a clear correlation between students who were missing school and students who are struggling to get ahead academically. So we often refer to absenteeism as a symptom of something greater. So the work were doing and this budget reflects the priority the case were make with addressing chronic absenteeism and introducing additional strategy across the country because after the pandemic it has gotten worse. In many states they are much worse now than they were before the pandemic. We are holding convening of the white house and bipartisan fashion may 15 to address strategies to improve chronic absenteeism. We recognize that we dont address chronic absenteeism all the strategies and tutoring at the support we provide physical will not have effect is supposed to have. Its all hands on deck. Working with state cheese, superintendent, teachers groups make sure this message is one we can all get behind. Students need to be in school. Part of the strategy is increasing full Service Committee schools as i said attended as a symptom of something else. When we have fullService Committee school meets the needs of students and families they are more likely to attend the school. Let me ask one additional question. You have an interesting demonstration Grant Program that you have used title four a funds for, and this is fostering Diverse Schools program. Listen, im a believer that we should be in the business of helping give our students more access to Diverse Schools. The data tells us if youre in a Diverse School, racially and economically Diverse School, you are can be more ready to learn, to succeed as an adult. You have data yet to understand how this demonstration grants are succeeding. You made about ten, to your planning grants at four and five year limitation grants. If you dont when we know the impact those grant . Sure. Some who grew up an environment where i was able to attend Diverse Schools and really learn how to navigate people from different cultures and understand people with different perspectives, i think that helped in my career. I do believe this is something we do stand behind and id be happy to follow up with you and have came up with you on some data to support that, whether its to our grants or programs would seem across the country. I always tell the story of doctor brac2, madam chair, the american avec schools are, is that have as many Diverse School district of the should. Maryland is one of them. The level of engagement from those students, they know what they have. They know special their experience is and you feel it when you walk into any of these american schools. Appreciate that context that you bring. Thanks, madam chair. Thank you. Fisa chair collins. Thank you, madam chair. Mr. Secretary, i want to ask you a very basic question, and that is after all the time the department had to implement the bill that congress enacted to simplify the federal Financial Aid form, why wasnt it ready when it went live . I just dont understand why, given that the department had more than three years, given the fact that congress was very specific on what should be done. No more 100 questions on the form, for example,. Right. What happened . Thank you for that. And senator, i do share the frustration you share. Our kids deserve better and we are working around the clock to make sure it improves. Weve had delays. We had issues with some of the coding that we had to make changes to, and it is an overall. Its not just a new website. Its an overhaul of the new format. It requires engaging with information carefully. So look, theres no excuse. Student deserve better and im committed to making sure the process works. , to make christians e access to education and soy simpler fafsa, a fafsa process that encourages families to engage interested in opportunity for higher ed. I worked at a college in maine at Hudson University in bangor, and in no how critical federal Financial Aid and other support are for students. In many cases it makes a difference between whether they go to college or not. And this is particularly true with firstgeneration college students. In fact, when i worked at hudson, the majority of students were firstgeneration. One reason that i wanted to help lamarck alexander and others simply by the process is i heard so many complaints about it. And the statistics that senator capito showed you about whats happening in West Virginia, im sure to be applied to the state of maine. So the problem is that the ineptitude here has reallife consequences. And im curious whether you considered testing the new system with a small group of schools to ensure that it worked before it went live . Thank you for that and think for sharing that perspective. I am in agreement with you can win to get a bite for students and this will have an impact for generations. And is the process did involve testing and getting information from colleges. Weve been in constant communication with Financial Aid directors across the country with College President s, hundreds. Ive been in those conversations myself to test out my process come to hear from them what needs adjustments. We had been adjusting. I recognize the strength its put on colleges, on Financial Aid offices. They have bent over backwards to really meet students needs and we are appreciative of that and listen to them as we were mg decisions moving forward. I want to turn to the issue of the incidents of antisemitism on far too many of our College Campuses. The Antidefamation League has said that in the country as a whole that antisemitic incidents are up 360 since october 7. Seventh. So it isnt just our College Campuses. Its a problem nationwide in a very disturbing one. But you do have the authority to investigate these incidents. I am curious, what specific communications you add with the institutions of Higher Education, regarding antisemitism, regarding jewish students not feeling safe, not feeling like they can attend classes quacks and when did you post any indications on this issue . Thank you for that. Were in agreement, senator, is unacceptable. Ive spoken to jewish student who have shared with me that they had to take a different route to class or that their parents dont feel safe sending them to school. And while safe and peaceful protests are protected by the First Amendment right, not when theyre unsafe, violet or they are attacking students on campus. Look, i have a student in college myself, i chop chi. I would want us to march altar campus if i feel they are not safe. Thats the most important thing to me, to make sure that our kids are safe on campus. If you look on ed. Gov theres a safer supporting Campus Safety i repeat it because i want people to look at it. We have over 100 resources and tools that many of them were put up after october 7, but as you mention this was an issue before october 7. There was a rise in antisemitism before. I have met with jewish leaders at the department of education. I met with students. Ive been on College Campuses talking to students, professors, president s who are struggling with it and a bit of campuses where they are doing it well. So if you look on that website youll see examples of that. As recently as this week, our late last week, we put up dated information to address issues College Campuses are facing. Is of utmost importance. I agree with you when you do to better for students on campus to make sure they are safe. And again theres a big difference between peaceful, legitimate protests, and what were talking about, harassment, intimidation that cannot be allowed. Absolutely. Thank you. Senator manchin. Thank you, madam chair, and thank you, secretary, for being here. Id reiterate what my colleague senator capito from West Virginia, we are very much getting inundated by people concern fafsa. I have another problem that have and thats student debt forgiveness. We have built out called smarter that accurately people, office we get a 50 different gradations of how they can reduce the debt without being given with. They can work it off, they get paid but they can work that at all. Perfect example, all the smart young people who work in offices, when they come here and have a oneyear contract think it basically, we pay since working we need them here, they get paid while the working within we pay also their debt commitment. After ten years its totally forgiven. But no one is doing anything, you know how long it took us to find all 50 categories whether it be an health, professions, whether its in Public Service . Theres so many ways, scientific research, general ray pemmican everything. Theres so many things but yet we end up giving 620 billion of debt cancellation has already been elevated, including 275 billion from president bidens new income driven repayment event talk about doing another 750. We are spending more and getting lately and we ever on education. It makes no sense to me at all, and you all of do nothing as department of education, showing how i can take this bird off of me wants to get paid and contribute to society. We have no financial risk of requirements for literacy. When a student goes into the college as a understand it, please correct me if im wrong, it would go there and how much of what is your Family Income . You can barwick, welcome you can borrow up to 12,000 with your family loan. With your Family Income. They might only need six but they will take all 12. Most of them majority fallout in two years. They think its all free money because they have no payments at all, theres no accrued interest whatsoever but what comes time to pay the piper it hits the mark because we dont require any Financial Literacy on the front it. This is stupid and we just keep putting them on like theres no end to it. Your debt is 34. 5 trillion and growing every day. We are not to be able to burden dash of education or were dumbing down of top of that. Students are not getting any better and have the kids who dont go to school . Had a little state theres an awful lot of to the get go to school. They can do is come to mean im working for my tax under giving away to people the way to college and having a good time . That they dont want to pay back . Have a better chance for opportunity, the want of a back . With that answer, you want world and urban americas getting for than for the part . Is because Rural America is being left behind in getting screwed. Thats exactly why. So i dont know what in hell you all are doing but this makes sense to me. If you would just take a look at our smarter that act can we put altogether for you. It will come you put on your website tomorrow and start showing people how to take the burden of my Student Loan Debt off of the back by giving Services Back that we did in some areas of our government. Some areas of a country. We need to pick every state. But you hold onto it. Did you know about what were talking about the smarter thank you for your comments, and i think we share the opinion Higher Education is how to be sure to meet people and with the real test of repetitive e according to provide teachers were making 35 to 35,000 a year that but it continues its of Public Service. We are committed to working with you and others. This to me is about that teacher spoke to recently who has 60,000 in loans because the interest compounded it. About 30,000 loan, not only 60,000, making under 40,000. The system is broken. What were trying to do is fix it. The bipartisan bill why dont we just basically when they take a debt outcome when they sign up for the stafford loan that they think is free money, its not free money. Explain to them what the budget they have a budget with the protocols. This is your budget. Tell a kid if they get 12,000, i get you to have a nice apartment ended up buying a car. The folks were providing debt relief to our Public Service for veterans that it served our public and ive done it not to become rich but to make the committee better. People have been taken advantage of by universities or colleges i agree with all that. Were trying to fix this is to make Higher Education more affordable. Youre the education department. You have to educate people on whats available. Following this and its amazing. There are many troubling aspects tuning up due process. In your own words you said protect born priority use of the most important thing is student safety. Redefining gender identity compiling speech part redefining the definition. As a rule requires posted shoulders gender stats engaging families important part of the work but doesnt require the school to share information with parents . Doesnt require to share information . Whether does or not, parents and will should be working together the mental different drink. The rule strengthens protections for students. I dont necessarily agree with that and i only have five minutes on going to continue on. You investigate roosevelt notified parents . You investigate the school . I do not investigate this quote. Salt they dont follow the law clerk is consequent . Direct we look at the merits of the request. You do investigate. For lunch three investigate direct redefining to work which is your department have to say about how the rule while impact biological females specifically how it allows transgender to choose any bathroom, any longterm they wish airport eliminating safe spaces for women and pushing women out of athletics altogether. I dont and i been an educator about 25 years to make sure students have a safety and privacy they need. We cannot choose which students we want to protect. All these are productions and what the statuses sure all students are protected. When a biological males into the locker room biological females, you think its a safe space for those young girls . Went girls talking to bathrooms, you may not recognize the students that are transgender but that doesnt mean i dont protect them biological males going into across our program, you have no problem with that consider them safe in all circumstances parts. I think the line of questioning is trying to great depression. We are not creating division, you just that protecting students is number one priority so biological females are protected and that setting . The best of your ability, your protecting them. It can give them access to the same opportunity. We cant pick and choose which students who want to protect. I agree, all students they protecting but theres a difference in prison girls in front of a change clothes and uncrossed. Scores make rules that are privacy educators have been doing this title ix reimbursed protect your budget reticular. Their document scores promote safety, nobodys trying to attack anyone. We were all students think so you dont need to take the conversation somebody talking some work. Safe spaces reserved, that is your position the mark is my honor as an educator project is marginalized require additional Mental Health support. Im not saying youre talking to him, saying they are under attack and. It is my responsibility to protect all students, not just some. In the same breath you say is number one. I want to associate myself with the rollout your current so much about and its a huge problem. One thing come to question 22 given the fluctuation 22 misunderstands. They cannot be cashed on. Throughout the process by understand but it has unintended consequences. Because department engaged to understand . I think its going to be practicable planning family as they have in the past cannot committed to making sure that our team has talked to our family and recognize the challenge we are under and we are committed to working with them. I was working on increasing cost at completion to get the numbers up. One thing we dont talk about this we have normalized completion, 70 completion the 95 we recognize the families of charges and concerns and support them in the process remember Bring Congress to make sure it isnt going to be a negative thing. Got lots of labors and repeat do expect students in general. Then transparency and want to report about. If something is to send your manchin, think what hes saying is important. Have students not financially literate when they get out of high school. The lady with the 30,000 dollars loan from of the question is, did she not always going to happen . I suspect she had no idea what she was signing theres no incentive for private knowledge and to take these out for dont have any advantage of explaining its going to be need to be a back looking at the potential income in the future, cash flow all this out on something that i would weaken to make the student loan thing done regardless as far as emanating from him in the future you want a real impact on peoples lives Going Forward that would have tremendous impact. Senator frank. Mr. Secretary, thank you for being here today. As you are aware, the large systematic encampments are broken out on College Campuses nationwide are unacceptable. Constitution want to meet a National Disgrace Enter Service to americas future republican senators covering letters urging your trouble title vi and a chore a Safe Learning environment exists the department has opened an investigation. Billy not confident in recent weeks and days significantly on worse. Students are experiencing campuses, we are committed to making sure we investigate. Do you think right now is upholding title vi . Direct into asinine triple since 2009 and 58 most people. How long does it have to go on . Surplus rhetoric when they say we are a mossberg think thats acceptable to hunters care about or revert to the sea welcome back to poland next on temperatures . Robert accepted . Yes or no. Absolutely not. I appreciate that. You think its okay think arms keep them from cross . Absolutely not. This administration is not party buses from the past. Not okay to do that now. Uphold laws in front of us and make sure different groups based on race or ethnicity are not discriminated against and its my fault the Biden Administration is failing the American People right now the Jewish Community and asked to do more. All these things reference start enough and i hope you greatness across the nation to learn, grow foster and anything is unacceptable. The title ix proposal so to speak to my daughter, she wanted to get pr to have to learn the department on i saw the difference in disparity between cap female copy top male athlete, there were significant. I am reminded as we look back and i want to make it very fear we are all made in the image of god and each person what is created in a long Playing Field and strength to grow and when i look at the reality of your title my proposal for clearly shows you look back to 1988 when you have longterm created a record 19 would happen by 76 i spoke biological males and how are we going to continue front of this current proposal, is a true received a scholarship. I just want to clarify the Biden Administration is over three times the number of investigations on title vi and the Trump Administration and four years. Do not what youre doing right now on the campus . We have increased investigations inexorably i expired. Asked for the mayor to we still help but situation. I stand by the students deserve to be safe on campus. As a product, thats what i expect. Lets Work Together to make sure the message is clear while the First Amendment is the freedom, it makes them feel unsafe. It is unacceptable. Lets Work Together and not just talk about it, do something up. Thank you for your presence today. This will and are hearing. Writing senators who wish to ask additional questions, questions will be due seven and remain open until and. We will not stand in recess. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations]