August 8, 2023

Your ESA Team is Invited!

We are delighted to extend an exclusive invitation to ESA teams for the upcoming Ed-Fi Alliance Boot Camp in New York State, scheduled to take place at the Lower Hudson Regional Information Center in Westchester County from September 26-29, 2023.

Why Ed-Fi?

As an AESA Business Partner and a part of the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, Ed-Fi Alliance is dedicated to supporting technology projects that utilize data to enhance student performance. They have developed a data standard that has been implemented by many of our members and even some respective states. This data standard provides school districts with access to various types of student data from multiple platforms, enabling school district leaders to make informed management decisions based on this valuable information. Here is an overview of Ed-Fi Alliance’s value to the ESA.

About the Ed-Fi Alliance Bootcamp

Ed-Fi Alliance's commitment to funding such technology projects showcases their genuine interest in improving educational outcomes through data-driven initiatives. This special Boot Camp session presents a unique opportunity for ESA members involved in any data projects for schools.

The best part is that for members with relevant projects, both the Boot Camp and travel expenses are entirely covered, making it a cost-free opportunity to participate and engage in fruitful discussions with industry experts.

We encourage all ESA teams working on data projects for schools to grasp this exceptional chance and reach out to Tommy Perkins, Michelle Ferrel, or John Bass to learn more about the Boot Camp and its potential benefits for your educational initiatives.

We are excited to witness the positive impact that this collaboration between AESA and Ed-Fi Alliance can have on student learning and educational advancement. Let us join hands to explore the endless possibilities of data-driven improvements in education. Register Here! 

Thank you for your dedication to enhancing student experiences and outcomes, and we look forward to your active participation in this fantastic event.

Please Welcome New Business Partner:

ACES INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION

AESA is excited to partner with Area Cooperative Educational Services (ACES), a Connecticut member that is excited to share its international service division with ESAs throughout the United States.

ACES International Education began in 2015 as a global school project for intercultural exchange. In 2023, ACES has evolved its connective work with 17 countries that are now offered to ESAs for educational and professional partnerships on a Local-to-Global and Global-to-Local scale.

Dr. Larianne Polk, Chief Administrator, ESU 7 receives Distinguished Service Award!

The Nebraska Council of School Administrators (NCSA) Distinguished Service Award is given annually to an individual or individuals who have demonstrated exceptional, distinguished leadership in public education.

The 2023 recipients are Dr. Larianne Polk.

Dr. Polk currently serves as chief administrator for Educational Service Unit 7 in Columbus. 

Congratulations Larianne!

AESA Sends Letter of Support on Proposed IDEA Medicaid Regulation 

Today, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services is ending a comment period on a proposed regulation that would amend IDEA’s parental consent requirement to bill Medicaid.

This is a critical regulatory revision that would make it much simpler for districts to pull down critical Medicaid reimbursements that are used to pay for specialized instructional support personnel and special education programming for students. Unlike any other Medicaid provider, districts must obtain special and distinct consent from parents to bill Medicaid.

As AESA and others have documented in recent months, obtaining parental permission to bill Medicaid is a fraught and confusing process. We have urged the U.S. Department of Education for years to amend this provision to streamline the reimbursement process for districts since it legally has no negative impact on students who rely on Medicaid for services outside of school. While we have heard anecdotally about Medicaid denying claims for private services when school-based services are delivered these are errors on the part of the State Medicaid Agency and are not the fault of the district.

Everything should be done to ensure that both districts and State Medicaid Agencies are correctly billing for services to avoid any issues for students and to maximize the supports and services children receive inside and outside of school.

AESA was proud to send a letter of support for the proposed regulation signed by a host of prominent education organizations including AASA, the National Education Association, the American Federation of Teachers, the Council of Administrators for Special Education, and the National Association of School Nurses. 

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Decision in EdModo Case Won’t Impact District Operations 

Over the course of the summer, our advocacy team had engaged with the FTC and USED to raise concerns with the FTC’s recent settlement with EdModo, stemming from accusations EdModo unlawfully used children’s personal information for advertising.

AESA reviewed the settlement and took no position on the case. In reviewing the decision, though, we were concerned (along with AASA) to see the use of the words ‘school’ and ‘school representative’. 

Education, Labor Departments Announce New Efforts to Advance Teacher Preparation Programs and Expand Registered Apprenticeships for Educators 

On July 27, USED and the U.S. Department of Labor announced a series of new efforts to expand Registered Apprenticeships for educators and invest in teacher preparation programs. These efforts intend to improve learning conditions by eliminating educator shortages and build on a joint letter sent by the Secretaries of Education and Labor last summer, which called on state education and workforce leaders to take action to address educator shortages. The announcement includes:  

• New National Guidelines for Apprenticeship Standards (NGS) for Registered Apprenticeships for K-12 teachers developed by The Pathways Alliance;
• More than $27 million from the Department of Education to support educator preparation programs; 
• More than $65 million from the Department of Labor to develop and scale Registered Apprenticeship programs in critical sectors across 45 states—with 35 targeting education;
• The Department of Labor is announcing a new industry intermediary to launch, promote and expand Registered Apprenticeship programs for K-12 educators; and 

A policy brief authored by the Department of Education highlights strategic steps to support the effective recruitment, preparation, and retention of teachers. 

Job Central features employment opportunities offered by member-ESAs. Job Central is a free member service.

San Diego County Office of Education offers a virtual Webinar for AESA members

Explore the Power of ChatGPT

Thursday, September 13

We invite you to a transformative professional development session focused on the integration of AI in education. The San Diego County Office of Education is excited to present an enlightening opportunity to explore the power of ChatGPT and its implications in the classroom. We will dive into the basics of AI, share valuable insights gained since its introduction, and provide lesson plans that use ChatGPT. This is a complimentary webinar for AESA members. Register today!

Next Level Business Strategy for ESAs

Join us in Milton, PA on October 12-13 Hosted by Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit (CSIU)

AESA brings you the tools to help your team with its business strategy, by exploring experimentation, pricing, and innovation.

Calling All Female Leaders!

The AESA Women's Leadership Network has added a new Cohort! We hope you will be able to join us!

Small Staff ESAs Network Session

The Small Staff ESAs Network will meet on Thursday, August 17 at 2 pm Eastern (1 pm Central; 12 noon Mountain; 11 am Pacific; 10 am Alaska). Join us for this important session:

State Legislative Issues and Updates: Helping to Shape Education Policy Through Advocacy and Awareness

Presented by:

• Noelle Ellerson Ng, AESA Associate Executive Director, Advocacy & Governance
• Craig Burford, Executive Director, Ohio Education Service Center Association (OESCA)

Not an AESA member? Attend this session for only $25.

Educators' Call to Action Conference

October 4-6, 2023 in Washington D.C.

This conference provides you with the information you need for your advocacy efforts - both in Washington D.C. - and back home!