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Back Row: Mark Hoffman (PA), Josh Wenning (IN), John Welch (WA), Secretary Miguel Cardona (USDE), Tom Danehy (CT), Joan Wade (AESA), Jeremy Biehl (WI), Ted Alejandre (CA)
Front Row: Craig Burford (OH), Jeremy Kovash (MN), Pat Sublette (OR), Dan Schnoes (NE)
Nearly 100 AESA members attended this year's Educators' Call to Action Conference in Washington, DC. Updates were provided on several key federal issues before visiting with federal legislators on Thursday and Friday last week. AESA is very grateful for the work of Noelle Ellerson Ng and Tara Thomas, our legislative team dedicated to the programming, and the members who attended.
As shown in the photo above, members of the AESA Executive Council and Executive Director Joan Wade met with US Secretary Miguel Cardona. Secretary Cardona left the group with three important takeaways from our conversation.
First and foremost, they need to be bold in their leadership. Bold leadership is imperative for making necessary changes in our public education system. Secretary Cardona shared his confidence in the ESAs to lead the change needed to reach all students in every school district.
Next, he asked that an important message is pushed out to AESA members about the pending October 31 deadline for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program and information about the Affordable Connectivity program. Details of those programs are below.
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October 31 Deadline for Temporary Changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program: Temporary changes allow student borrowers to get credit for payments made on loans from the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program, Perkins Loan Program, and other federal student loans. These borrowers must apply to consolidate their loans into a Direct Consolidation Loan before the October 31 deadline to qualify for the program under the temporary changes. Additionally, under the temporary changes, past periods of repayment count whether or not borrowers were on a qualifying repayment plan or whether or not borrowers made payments. Most borrowers who work or worked for a non-profit or federal, state, Tribal or local government since 2007 and who have been repaying their loans are eligible. Borrowers can also combine multiple sources of part-time employment to qualify, and months in service do not have to be consecutive. Visit Student Aid Waiver to learn more.
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Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP): The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) established the ACP, providing eligible households up to $30 a month off internet bills and a one-time $100 discount off a connected device. The Administration secured commitments from internet service providers across the country to offer high-speed plans that are fully covered -- meaning millions of families can get high-speed internet at no cost. An estimated 40% of households qualify for the ACP, including those with an income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level ($55,500 for a family of four) and those participating in certain federal programs (without regard to income). GetInternet.gov is a one-stop shop to check eligibility and sign up. Moreover, the Department released a Back to School ACP Toolkit with a ready-to-use backpack flyer that schools and community partners may use to help students and their families enroll.
Finally, the Secretary asked for support of the work being done in Puerto Rico's education system, specifically around how to design a regional education system. Members of the executive council and Dr. Wade expressed their interest in leading those discussions.
Secretary Cardona is invited to speak in a Fireside Chat with Dr. Wade at the AESA Annual Conference later this fall.
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