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​Education Politics and Policy
What you (and your wallet) should expect in the State of the Union address
That’s where vocational schools could come in. Trump is expected to announced funding support for vocational schools, which could come in the form of increased government expenditure in the schools or in the form of tax credits to incentivize more individuals to enroll.
 
A liberal arts curriculum doesn’t always provide the necessary knowledge for workers going into infrastructure-related fields, said Steve Gonzalez, Senior Vice President of Government, Military, and Veterans Relations at Career Education Colleges and Universities, a trade organization for career and various technical schools.
 
“As the government issues more [infrastructure] grants to provide updates to everything from airports to roads, plumbers and electricians are critical,” he said.
 
“Not taking anything away from liberal arts degrees, but society has forgotten that trade and technical career schools are just as important,” he added. Gonzalez said he is satisfied with the actions the president has taken to fund more vocational schools. However, he would like to hear how Trump will work with the Dept. of Education and Labor to ensure “underrepresented veterans” have access to an affordable post-secondary education.
 
Key Senators Turn Up Heat on OPMs – Inside Higher Ed
Questions about the legality of colleges sharing tuition dollars with companies that help them recruit students are not new, but until recently, lawmakers weren’t asking them.
 
U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos Releases Statement on State of the Union
U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos released the following statement on President Donald J. Trump’s 2020 State of the Union Address. 

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​State Issues
Md. lawmakers look to add for-profit college regulations again this year – The Daily Record$
(Article is behind paywall) State lawmakers hope this year to place new regulations on for-profit colleges operating in Maryland, a third straight year of new regulations for an industry that has seen more favorable regulatory actions from the federal government over the same period.
 
New Jersey Advocates Urge AG Grewal to Fight Back Against DOE Secretary DeVos’s Repeal of Gainful Employment Rule Critical to Preventing Student Debt – Insider NJ
New Jersey Citizen Action (NJCA) the American Federation of Teachers New Jersey (AFT-NJ) and Health Professionals and Allied Employees (HPAE) sent a letter to Attorney General Gurbir Grewal urging him to take action against Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.
 
AGs Seek Loan Dismissal For Students of Dream Center Schools – Maui Now
Hawaiʻi Attorney General Clare E. Connors and a coalition of attorneys general from 25 states and the district of Columbia renewed their request that US Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos discharge the federal student loans of all students who were enrolled in now-closed schools operated by Dream Center Education Holdings, LLC. 

​Workforce Issues
15 hard and soft skills today’s grads need to succeed – eCampus News
A new LinkedIn analysis takes a look at the top hard and soft skills recruiters seek in job applicants and potential employees. Successful professionals will have a mix of hard and soft skills, which will make them highly-qualified for specific tasks and able to work effectively with a diverse array of peers.