Updates
HHS Releases Proposed Rule on Head Start Staff Compensation, Benefits and More
HHS Releases Proposed Rule on Head Start Staff Compensation, Benefits and More By Tara Thomas, Policy Analyst, AESA On November 20, 2023, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a proposed rulemaking on various aspects of Head Start. The headline of the rule is a significant change to staff compensation and benefits in an effort to improve…
Read MoreCall to Action: FY24 Appropriations (Again)
Call to Action: FY24 Appropriations (Again) Back to Blog November 13, 2023 No, we’re NOT making this up. We are once again applying pressure on Congress to complete their funding work for federal fiscal year 2024 (FY24), federal dollars that will be in your schools for the 2024-25 school year. In the latest iteration of…
Read MoreAI, Cyber Security, & E-Rate
AI, Cyber Security, & E-Rate November 6, 2023 Federal policy conversations may seem to be gridlocked—hello, annual appropriations work and the recent three-week endeavor to get a Speaker of the House. That doesn’t mean it’s a full ground stop, though, especially as it relates to education technology and connectivity. We want to use this month’s…
Read MoreEducation Service Agencies and Health Services: Dynamic Changes in a Post COVID World
Education Service Agencies and Health Services: Dynamic Changes in a Post COVID World Back to Blog October 3, 2023 By Dr. Amber Loubiere Education Service Agencies (ESAs) across the nation are reevaluating how Health and Wellness Services will operate in a post-COVID world. Recent studies indicate that school closures, social isolation, quarantine, and other circumstances…
Read MoreForward Progress on ARP Liquidations
Forward Progress on ARP Liquidations September 26, 2023 The United States Department of Education released a letter to States advising them that they would begin the process of allowing States to apply for late liquidation funds this fall. This is a terrific development as AESA and AASA have been pushing Congress and the Administration to…
Read MoreCALL TO ACTION: FY24 Appropriations
CALL TO ACTION: FY24 Appropriations September 26, 2023 In the ultimate game of ‘will they or won’t they’, we once again find ourselves with a Congress that is unable to reliably complete its only constitutionally required task: funding the government. The Federal fiscal year 2024 (FY24) runs from October 1, 2023, through September 30, 2024,…
Read MoreUSDA Publishes Child Nutrition Program Integrity Final Rule
On Wednesday, August 23, USDA published a final rule on program integrity to ensure that child nutrition programs are properly operated and managed to protect federal funds and taxpayer dollars. The final rule impacts the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), Special Milk Program (SMP), Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), and Child and Adult…
Read MoreSurvey Results
With one year remaining to spend close to $200 billion in federal COVID relief funds, more than half of school district leaders are shifting their American Rescue Plan spending decisions due to higher-than-expected costs and inflation, according to a survey administered by AASA, The School Superintendents Association. Educator feedback and the need to further direct resources…
Read MoreCyber Security
August 15, 2023 AESA was pleased to participate in the White House summit on K12 cyber security last week. The event was a kick-off for a series of federal support and action for K12 schools. The event featured Dr. Jill Biden, Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas inhosting school administrators, educators,…
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