DeVos Announces Deadline Flexibility for CTE Plan Submission
U.S. Education Secretary DeVos has provided states with more time to submit long-term plans for implementing the Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins V). Secretary DeVos said recipients will still receive their Perkins V funds on time and states may also provide funding recipients additional time to complete their applications. States that are ready to submit their applications may still adhere to the previous deadline: April 15, 2020. If additional time is needed, they may submit their plans by June 15, 2020, and at the latest, September 15, 2020. States that submit plans in September will still receive funds in July, with a commitment from the state that the plan will be submitted on time in September. Further information on the new flexibilities can be found in this FAQ document.
FCC Extends E-Rate Program Deadlines
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has extended key E-Rate program deadlines, including service implementation for special construction for all funding year 2019 applicants. The needed extensions, granted by the FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau, aim to “alleviate administrative and compliance burdens on schools and libraries and enable them to focus on transitioning to remote learning during the pandemic.”
Note: The NSBA is continuing to work with its national partners in the Education and Libraries Networks Coalition and the Future Ready Schools campaign to urge the FCC to use its emergency authority to enable the E-rate program and other Universal Service programs to help connect students and teachers displaced by the pandemic. NSBA is also asking Congress to provide at least $2 billion of emergency funding to the E-Rate for home connectivity, especially in light of school closures, which are highlighting the need for home connectivity.
