FAFSA Update | Top 5 Articles | Title II Compliance | Senate Hearing on Teacher Stress and Pay

Hello! Matthew Tower here! Ben has graciously passed the intro stick to me this week to celebrate my company, ETCH, being acquired by Whiteboard.

For those who aren’t familiar with ETCH, I write a weekly newsletter about the intersection of business and education. The process of writing the newsletter led me to start tracking notable milestones like venture funding events, mergers and acquisitions, and personnel events (notable hirings and firings).

News in the education sector has, honestly, been pretty glum this year. Funding is down, layoffs | are | up, and some of the core drivers of public funding in K-12 and higher ed are unstable (the first in a state-by-state policy shift, the second due to technical problems).

I won’t sugarcoat the day-to-day news, but I am here to tell you why I am still optimistic.

The unifying thread across the work I’ve done in this sector is the quality of the people I’ve been lucky enough to work with. The education industry attracts some of the smartest, fairest-minded people you’ll meet. Virtually | every | major | investor in the space invests in an annual impact report. Entrepreneurs and operators—like my new colleagues at Whiteboard—are drawn to the field out of a sense of purpose and impact rather than financial gain.

Are there problems in the industry? Sure. And part of my role at Whiteboard, as Editor of the EdSheet, will be highlighting these to you. But there are many more people, and organizations, investing in a better future for learners. The EdSheet will celebrate those too.

If you’re interested, the first EdSheet will come out in July. You can sign up here.

In this week’s edition of Notes:

• Top 5 Articles of the Week
• FAFSA Update: Attention Shifts to the Fall
• Title II Compliance Expected to Cost Billions for Schools, Edtech Companies
• Teacher Stress, Pay Take Center Stage in Senate Hearing

FAFSA Update: Attention Shifts to the Fall

With the fall semester quickly approaching, the pressure is on for the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to tie up loose ends on the 2024-25 award year and shore up the FAFSA form and submission processes for the next cycle. ED announced plans for Jeremy Singer to take over as FAFSA Executive Advisor in the office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) as part of broader efforts to ensure a smoother FAFSA process in the future:

• Cross your fingers for October 1: ED is “working toward the goal” of rolling out the FAFSA on schedule, but the timeline is getting tighter, setting advocates on edge.
• At the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) conference this week, soon-to-be former COO of the Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) Richard Cordray said that the Department has the “aim of enabling an improved application experience.” [The Chronicle of Higher Education]
• No major changes to the form: The FSA doesn’t plan to make any substantial changes to the form in hopes of minimizing disruptions and streamline the filing process for students and families. As such, the 2025-26 form will not undergo a public comment period. [Community College Daily]
• In a typical award cycle, ED publishes the draft FAFSA form in March for a 90-day public comment period, which allows stakeholders to provide feedback on the form and any proposed changes to the filing process. This departure from the norm, while not ideal, may make it more likely that ED issues a final FAFSA form by October 1.
• Public comment alternatives: ED plans to hold “listening sessions” and issue a Request for Information (RFI) to solicit feedback on specific aspects of the form and communications. These sessions and the RFI will lead to the development of a new “Better FAFSA Better Future Roadmap,” which will detail the tools, trainings, and guides being released to support the rollout.

This announcement comes after a 25-organization coalition—including the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), National College Attainment Network (NCAN), and NASFAA—submitted a letter to U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona to urge the Education Department (ED) to commit to the traditional FAFSA launch date of October 1 and the timely release of critical financial aid resources.

How do we avoid FAFSA Disaster Part 2? On Thursday, NCAN released a set of recommendations for ED on what it will take for the FAFSA to be ready for the 2025-26 award year. Of note, these recommendations could be implemented without legislative or regulatory changes. Read more here.

Title II Compliance Expected to Cost Billions for Schools, Edtech Companies

K-12 schools and districts, higher education institutions, and education technology companies should prepare for significant costs and time commitments to comply with the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) new Title II web accessibility standards, according to the Software and Information Industry Association (SIIA).

Why it matters: The DOJ estimates that meeting the new requirements will cost $113.8 million to remediate existing third-party websites for school districts and $93.6 million for higher education. Additionally, it will cost $1.134 billion to remediate K-12 courses and $5.5 billion to remediate postsecondary courses.

Key details:

• Compliance involves adhering to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level AA, and ensuring the accessibility of websites, mobile apps, and digital textbooks.
• The rule also applies to social media postings, with some exceptions for pre-existing content and third-party postings not governed by contracts with public entities.

What’s next: The new rule takes effect on June 24, but schools and universities, depending on their population size, have two to three years to comply.

• Schools in larger areas (50,000+ population) must comply by April 24, 2026, while those in smaller areas have until April 26, 2027.

Top 5 “What We’re Reading” Articles of the Week

Want to receive our daily summary of education industry and policy news? Sign up for What We’re Reading.

1. Kindergartners are missing a lot of school. This district has a fix [NPR]
2. ‘Distressingly low’ education research spending is under the microscope [POLITICO]
3. What research actually says about social media and kids' health [The Washington Post, subscription model]
4. 87 percent in new poll say cost an important reason for halting studies [The Hill]
5. What the Pool of College Applicants Looked Like After Affirmative Action Ban [Education Week]

Special Education Enrollment at an All-time High

A record 7.5 million students in U.S. schools received special education services in 2022-2023, up from less than 13% a decade ago, according to an analysis of federal education data by The Wall Street Journal. These services include speech therapy, specialized reading lessons, and classroom aides.

Why it matters: As the number of students qualifying for services rises, funding and staffing challenges are making it increasingly difficult for schools to meet the needs of students with disabilities. Schools are required by federal law to provide a “free, appropriate public education” (FAPE) to students with disabilities. [NPR]

What’s driving the increase:

• Pandemic disruptions: The pandemic left many students with lingering learning and behavioral challenges. Virtual learning made it difficult for students with disabilities to receive services and be identified for special education. Some parents, seeing their children's struggles up close during remote learning, became more aware of their needs and sought help.
• Shrinking stigma: The stigma around special education has decreased, according to reporting by Education Week. Parents are now more comfortable and assertive in advocating for their children's needs. This cultural shift has led to more students being identified and receiving the support they need.

Between the lines: There is no comprehensive data on the total amount of money the U.S. spends each year on special education, depriving policymakers of a clear picture of one of the largest line items in school district budgets. [Education Week]

The bottom line: The rise in special education services is stretching school budgets, especially as federal COVID relief aid expires this fall. As more students qualify for services, districts are under pressure to provide adequate support without sufficient funding, and schools face persistent recruiting challenges for special education teachers and aides.

• ICYMI: W/A’s David Deschryver and Alex Davis unpacked the top three reasons special education has such a large impact on school district budgets.

Teacher Stress, Pay Take Center Stage in Senate Hearing

On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate HELP Committee held a hearing on the persistent challenges within the teaching profession—including teacher pay, shortages, and underfunded public schools.

Why it matters: In RAND’s annual State of the American Teacher survey, teachers nationwide report that they are experiencing increased working hours and lower average base pay compared to other working adults, leading to significant burnout.

• Managing student behavior, low salary, and administrative work outside of teaching were the top-ranked sources of stress for teachers in 2024.

Driving the news: During the hearing, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) proposed raising minimum salaries to $60,000 through the Pay Teachers Act. However, this bill has faced hurdles in a divided Congress. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) argued that the federal government should prioritize other educational issues, pointing to significant existing expenditures with minimal results.

What they're saying:

• Robert Pondiscio from the American Enterprise Institute argued that while higher pay is important, it won't solve the underlying issues in the teaching profession. He pointed out that poor teacher preparation, classroom disorder, and the added roles teachers are expected to play contribute significantly to teacher burnout and dissatisfaction.
• John Arthur, a teacher from Salt Lake City, testified about the challenges teachers face, emphasizing that low pay is a primary reason many leave the profession. He shared his personal story of choosing teaching despite societal and parental pressures to pursue more prestigious and higher-paying careers.

The big picture: Despite state-level efforts to raise teacher pay, such as performance-based bonuses in Utah and increased starting salaries in Arkansas, many teachers still face significant financial and professional challenges. The RAND report indicated that a significant portion of teachers plan to leave the profession due to stress and inadequate pay. [Education Week]

Quick Takes

• GAO Survey on English Learner Identification: The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) conducted an investigation into how English language learners, including those with disabilities, are being identified in K-12 schools across the nation. The GAO’s survey of all 50 states and Washington, D.C. found that 48 states use ED’s suggested questions in home language surveys, which are administered when children are first enrolled in a public school, to identify English language learners. Also, 32 states have assessed the quality of their English learner identification process and 41 states reported providing assistance to schools, districts, or both to help distinguish between learning acquisition issues, learning disabilities, and speech-language impairment. Why it matters: School districts are required by federal law to help children overcome language barriers that prevent them from equally participating in public instructional programs. As of the fall of 2020, 10.1% of all K-12 public school students are English learners, and 15.8% English learners also have one or more disabilities.
• Districts are Decreasing Teacher Vacancies: With cyclical hiring, a wide range of district capacity, and cross-sector data that reveals a relatively low job opening rate, it can be challenging to understand how many teacher vacancies there really are, and what those vacancies can tell us about the industry. Chad Aldeman explores declining teacher vacancies in districts like San Francisco Unified and Memphis Shelby County Schools to uncover that many job openings have simply been cut. Districts may aspire to a certain number of employees, but available funding and budget cuts reflect a different reality.
• What We’re Listening To: This week, Boston Latin School’s Nicholas Fogel launched a new podcast. The podcast, “Fireside History 1876,” aims to bridge historical memory gaps from the American Civil War and Reconstruction period. Listen to the first few episodes here.

People on the Move

• The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching (Carnegie) announced the addition of two new members to its Board of Trustees: Dr. Sydnee Dickson, Utah State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Aaron Rasmussen, co-founder of MasterClass. Dr. Dickson and Rasmussen join Carnegie as the organization overhauls the Carnegie Unit, which forms the basis for what constitutes a credit hour.
• The Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB) tapped Framroze Virjee as its next President and CEO. Virjee is currently president emeritus of California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) and previously served as executive vice chancellor, general counsel, and secretary to the California State University System’s Board of Trustees.
• Edtech company Curriculum Associates named John Higginson as its new Chief Technology Officer. Higginson previously served as CTO of Chief and as chief product and technology officer at Groupon.
• The State University of New York (SUNY) system has started a search for a Vice Chancellor for Workforce Development and Upward Mobility, who would provide strategic vision and leadership for workforce development initiatives across 64 SUNY campuses. Apply here.
• College access and success nonprofit College Possible is seeking a new Senior Director of Marketing and Communications to lead national marketing, branding, public relations, and communications. Apply here.
• The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) is looking for a Senior Project Manager of Digital Equity to lead and coordinate CCSSO’s Digital Equity Collaborative Community (DECC). Apply here.

Upcoming Events and Convenings

• Packback: How to Create and Implement AI Policies in K-12 Institutions, June 27 at 2 p.m. CT, Virtual
• National Fund for Workforce Solutions: SHIFT Toward an Equitable Future 2024, September 24-26, Memphis, TN
• Competency-Based Education Network: CBExchange 2024, November 11-14, Colorado Springs, CO
• Complete College America: All In: The 2024 CCA Annual Convening, November 18-20, Indianapolis, IN

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