May 16, 2023

RESPONSIBLE USE OF AI

Biden Administration Investing in Research

On May 4, the Biden Administration announced a $140 million investment to fund seven new National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research Institutes and released a fact sheet on actions to promote responsible AI. OMB will soon issue policy guidance on the use of AI by the federal government.

Read the Fact Sheet here

MENTAL HEALTH

Teens: Life Improving Overall, but Need More Mental Health Support at School

This K-12 Dive Brief analyzes survey results from Morning Consult and EdChoice, indicating that for teens aged 13-18, almost half of the respondents said they felt satisfied with their academic performance, while only 29% said the same about their mental health. When asked if school contributes to their well-being, 61% said yes, but 22% said school actually harms their well-being.

See Survey Results

CHILD AND STUDENT PRIVACY LAWS

Webinar on May 23 at 1 p.m. ET

It is shaping up to be the most active child and student privacy year in more than two decades. In just the past three months, we've seen child privacy mentioned in the State of the Union, discussed at three Congressional hearings, and prioritized in numerous state and federal bills. The Parents Bill of Rights passed the House and includes stunning amendments to FERPA and PPRA.

To help guide stakeholders through these landscape shifts, AASA is sponsoring a webinar series to educate policymakers on the basics of student privacy, the areas of conflict and options for how laws can be improved. The next webinar in our series will be Tuesday, May 23 at 1 p.m. ET.

Register here.

A robust learning program is planned at this year's Summer Leadership Conference!

Here is a closer view of just a small portion of what you'll be discussing in the breakout sessions:

• Sustainable Leadership
• Succession Planning
• Managing the Workforce Crisis (recruitment and retention of staff)
• Keeping your ESA Relevant and Vibrant – Exiting and sunsetting programs
• Making your School Districts “Sticky"
• Data as a Service

There is much, much more! Networking, thought leadership, problem-solving! Join us this summer in Cincinnati! But HURRY! Early Bird rate ends June 8!

If you or someone you know is deserving of national recognition, we want to hear from you. Check out the award categories and the selection criteria on the AESA website. Nominations are due June 12, 2023.

How Districts Are Addressing the Stress and

Enhancing the Resiliency of Their Staff

May 23, 2023 3 pm Eastern

(2 pm Central; 1 pm Mountain; 12 noon Pacific; 11 am Alaska)

The levels of stress among school employees match those of emergency room nurses. 

Districts that report high levels of employee stress also have higher turnover, greater

workplace expenditures, and poorer school outcomes. 

Traditionally, efforts to improve workplace employee resiliency and lower distress have not been successful. However, the advent of cloud-based technologies and empirically-guided frameworks have demonstrated how workplaces can promote resiliency with ease, confidentiality, and a high return on investment. 

This webinar will be led by Dr. Kathleen Chard, an internationally renowned expert on stress and its effects on personal, social, and workplace outcomes. Using the Terrace Metrics system as an example, Dr. Chard will discuss how administrators can improve the workplace functioning and overall well-being of their employees.

On Friday, ED released a document with more details on the late liquidation process for ESSER II. It reiterates that districts can have additional time — up to 14 months — to spend down their ESSER dollars through the late liquidation application process. The deadline to spend ESSER II funding is September 30, 2023. If the districts in your region would benefit from more time, you should reach out to your State Education Agency now so they can begin the process of collecting documentation from you on what additional time you need.

Regarding liquidation extensions for ESSER III — also known as the American Rescue Plan — the guidance only says, “The Department strongly encourages States and local educational agencies (LEAs) and other subgrantees to obligate and liquidate ARP Act funds with urgency for activities that support students’ academic recovery and mental health.” AESA continues to press ED to share more information on when ARP liquidation will be available and what the process will look like.

As part of the FY23 omnibus package, Congress passed a provision allowing for permanent, non-congregate meal service in rural areas. This change was in recognition of the significant barrier that distance can be for students in accessing food, especially in the summer months. Our friends at No Kid Hungry have developed resources to help eligible districts and community-based organizations implement this change.

AASA Cybersecurity for School Superintendents

What is the superintendent’s role in managing and reducing cybersecurity risk and minimizing the impact when cyber incidents occur? Cybersecurity for School Superintendents, hosted in partnership with Dell Technologies, will give district leaders the opportunity to understand the current cybersecurity landscape including the impact on all facets of district operations. Participants do not need to be cybersecurity experts as this program will help superintendents gain a foundational understanding of the current landscape. Learn more by clicking the button below.