December 8, 2020
Attention CEOs:
Election for AESA Executive Council
begins Monday!
CEOs: Please look in your email for the ballot on Monday, December 14.

AESA is led by a group of educational service agency leaders who are elected by the region to serve on the AESA Executive Council. AESA's four regions are Eastern, Central, Southern, and Western. This year, the Western region has a "bye."
 
Only one person will be elected from each region. The election will be held by electronic ballot beginning Monday, December 14, 2020, and closing on Monday, January 11, 2021.
 
The CEO of a member organization casts the ballot for that organization.
Thank You Presenters and Participants!
This year's virtual annual conference was made possible ONLY because of our presenters and participants. Presenters recorded their presentation AND attended virtually to answer questions of participants. We cannot express how much all of you are appreciated for going the extra mile to make this conference a success!
E. Robert Stephens Award Winner
(Watch the award presentation below)
Congratulations to Dr. Sheldon Smith, Assistant Superintendent for Business Services of the San Luis Obispo County Office of Education in California for being named the 2020 AESA E. Robert Stephens Award winner. Dr. Smith is also the Chair of Business Advisory Services.

Dr. Smith is recognized for authoring the 2019 Emergency Recovery Guide for California County Offices of Education and played an integral role in the research, creation, and development of the guide. As part of his research, Dr. Smith solicited input from the California Department of Education, the California Office of Emergency Services, and other education stakeholders. The guide is now used statewide by the County Offices of Education to provide direction and to support decision-making in a large-scale emergency.
You can access a copy of Dr. Smith's publication here.
FY21 IDEA Full Funding Letter
On December 1, 2020, AESA and 28 other allied organizations sent a letter to the congressional subcommittees on education funding urging leaders to provide the maximum increase possible in funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) as part of a fair and proportional allocation for the final Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 LHHS‐Education appropriations bill.
 
The coalition – which represents over 6.8 million students with disabilities, their teachers, instructional support personnel, parents, school boards, and administrators – called on congressional leaders to provide no less than $14 billion for IDEA Part B, $684 million for Part B, $975 million for IDEA Part C, $254 million for IDEA Part D and $70 million for the Center for Special Education Research. This puts IDEA on a glide path to full funding.
 
Noelle Ellerson Ng, Director of Federal Advocacy for AESA, was proud to lead this effort as we continue advocating for a prioritized and meaningful investment in IDEA that does not negatively impact funding for other education programs.
Legislative Trend Review
AESA is proud to partner with AASA to release the second iteration of our Legislative Trends Report as part of the continued effort to highlight the host of state legislative policies and emergency declarations made by governors and state boards of education in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This quarter's Legislative Trend Report was produced by American University Master of Education students, Kristen Menke, Kristy Silva, and Nicole Stohmann; and focuses on the enacted and proposed teacher preparation, recruitment, and retention policies that have moved throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

The work for this report was informed by the American University Team's literature review and includes data from bi-partisan organizations, such as the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) and the Education Commission of the States (ECS). Moreover, the report overviews policies from states in the areas of teacher candidate clinical requirements, teacher licensure exam waivers, substitute teacher recruitment, and retention scholarships in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Professional Learning Opportunities from AESA
Google Training for Administrative Support Professionals
Google 101 December 8

Google 102 December 15
Entrepreneurial Network
The purpose of this network is to learn with other Entrepreneurial ESAs. Sessions will
be held virtually six (6) times per year, 90 minutes each session. Additionally, the network participants will be intentional about meeting at AESA national events.
Community of Practice for Small ESAs
Starts January 19!

Network and learn with other ESAs that have small staff in a community of practice.
Session topics include (but are not limited to):
  • ESA structure and funding sources
  • Building relationships with member districts
  • How to generate revenue to expand your services
  • Steps to grow small staff efficiency
  • Open discussion – learning from each other
AESA Member Featured in
Equity and Access Journal
We hope you enjoy the "EQUITY & ACCESS" Journal for Pre K-12 at www.ace-ed.org.

Once there, click thru on "Read The Latest Issue" and look for the article on page 44 that highlights an AESA member
A Proven Path to Employee Retirement Planning
And potential budget relief for you!
Through a simple yet powerful four-step system, the AESA PlanMember Retirement Program provides a proven approach to retirement planning. The personalized planning services and industry-leading financial education programs available through this unique program are designed to help your employees retire on or before their normal retirement age, which in turn may help your district save valuable budget dollars over time.

Contact PlanMember today to learn more about this AESA-endorsed retirement program and how it might be a money saving solution for your ESA and districts.
Reading Leaders Book Club
Next Meeting:
December 17, 2020
7 pm EST; 6 pm CT, 5 pm Mountain, 4 pm Pacific; 3 pm Alaska
December Book Choice:
The Yellow House by Sarah M. Broom
January's Book Choice:

The Girl with the Louding Voice: A Novel, by Abi Darè
Have you visited the AESA
Business Partner Directory lately?
AESA carefully partners with businesses that serve ESAs with products and opportunities that can enhance your services. Please take a look at all they have to offer!