We hope that you were able to join us for our Friday 5 Live with Dr. Denise Swett.  We examined 2020 and where we can go and grow in the new year.  As always, I left our conversation feeling renewed and excited for the work ahead.  If you missed our conversation, please check out our Friday 5 Live podcasts and share with colleagues!

Inside Higher Ed reports this week on outcomes from Florida’s redesign of developmental education.  According to research published in Educational Researcher, the number of students taking and passing general education requirements in math and English has increased since 2013 when legislation altered developmental education.  The study also found that Black and Hispanic students had greater gains in passing rates than their white peers. Researchers hope that COVID will accelerate additional developmental education reform.

Federal lawmakers appear to be renewing conversations about a new coronavirus aid bill.  A proposal by Mitch Romney, Susan Collins and Joe Manchin provides $4 billion to student loan relief. Republican Senators have created a separate plan which sets aside $105 billion for an "Education Stabilization Fund” and grants legal liability protections for colleges.  This week the American Council on Education reiterated its message to lawmakers that colleges and universities need “at least $120 billion to address the pandemic's financial fallout.”