Hi all,

I'm sure you all probably have received this as well, but I just wanted to
make sure everyone saw it!

COE is asking SSS programs to outreach to each congressional office, with
specific steps and asks.

Please let me know if you have any questions,

-Steve



---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: COE <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Tue, Aug 4, 2020 at 9:04 AM
Subject: {Disarmed} A message from the president
To: <[log in to unmask]>


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*A message from the president*



As you are well aware, the Department of Education has yet to release the
results of the FY 2020 Student Support Services grant competition, even
though current awards expire in less than 30 days. We at the Council share
your frustration and outrage at this delay in notification as we recognize
the extreme hardship that it represents to your students and program
operations. Our government relations team is maintaining continuous contact
with legislators regarding this issue. Later this week, I will be meeting
with senior officials at the Department of Education to press for release
of the results.



However, given the enormous number of tasks facing the Office of
Postsecondary Education, particularly as it administers the grants under
the CARES Act and addresses other challenges with the pending fall
semester, it is clear that the agency will only be compelled to move in
response to strong pressure from our entire community.



Therefore, as we at the Council, continue to apply pressure here in
Washington, D.C., I recommend that SSS applicants take the following steps:

   1. *Contact the Education Legislative Assistant for your Members of
   Congress.* Contact information for all Education Aides is available here
   <https://t.congressweb.com/l/?EJRKPSABKABRJBX>. Let them know that you
   are awaiting results for the TRIO Student Support Services grant
   competition and, if you are a current grantee, that your current grant
   expires in less than 30 days.
   2. *Emphasize the hardship this delay presents for your students.*
   Although we know that this delay presents extreme challenges in program
   operations (retaining staff, reserving space on campus, etc.), in framing
   this problem, you want to place the emphasis on the hardship this presents
   for students - the inability to recruit, delay in the implementation of
   pre-orientation or pre-college services, etc. You may wish to underscore
   that this delay only exacerbates the learning losses that occurred during
   the spring 2020 semester due to COVID-19.
   3. *Ask that the Members of Congress contact the Department of Education
   and urge release of the SSS results right away. *While many offices will
   offer to write a letter (and COE's government relations team can assist in
   crafting such a letter), what will be most impactful at this juncture is a
   phone call from the congressional office to the Department of Education
   conveying the points noted above.
   4. *Ask them to inquire as to what steps remain in the Clearance
   Process.* That is, you want your Members of Congress to find out what
   the status is of the applications. Are they still being reviewed by the
   Office of Management and Budget? Are they awaiting approval from the
   Secretary of Education? By asking what steps remain in the Clearance
   Process, your legislative offices can get specific information as to where
   the fault lies (and where pressure must be applied).

If you have any concerns or require assistance in contacting your
congressional staff, please contact *Jonathan Elkin* at
[log in to unmask] or *Stephanie Salvador* at
[log in to unmask]

*Maureen Hoyler*
President
Council for Opportunity in Education


[image: Image]

*Coronavirus Relief for TRIO Hangs in the Balance*



Last week, Senate Republicans introduced the HEALS Act, which includes $105
billion in COVID-19 emergency education funding, but does not include
specific funding for TRIO. This is in contrast to the Coronavirus Child
Care and Education Relief Act (CCCERA) introduced by Senate Democrats, that
includes $450 million in proposed funding to support TRIO students. The
Senate is still negotiating a final relief package. Act now to ensure that
TRIO's COVID request is included in the final bill! Click here to ask your
Senators to support our request
<https://t.congressweb.com/l/?EJRKPSABKAGZWWZ>. Meanwhile, the House
Appropriations Committee's bill included a $10 million increase for TRIO,
for a total proposed funding level of $1.1 billion in FY21. However, the
Senate has not taken action yet on FY21 appropriations.



As a reminder, COE is challenging the TRIO community to host as many local
or virtual visits with Representatives and Senators as possible between now
and Labor Day. You can feature your students and alumni, and host virtual
visits. To help you achieve this goal, we have released the 2020
Congressional Summer Recess Packet
<https://t.congressweb.com/l/?EJRKPSABKAIJGSL> with tips, sample
invitations, and highlights from recent TRIO virtual visit.



Contact the government relations team at COE if you have any questions
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-- 
Steve Visco
Assistant Director
Maine Educational Opportunity Center
Maine Educational Talent Search
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(207) 581-3706