Federal Updates

Back to Blog 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 students endured throughout the COVID-19 pandemic have adversely impacted children and youth in many ways (Ashwin,…

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 begin the ARP liquidation process as early as…

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, and represents-largely -federal dollars that will be in…

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…

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…

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,…