August 22, 2023

AESA News & Updates

Be a Part of Advancing the Affordable Connectivity Program

Let's get every family online - affordably!

Back-to-School Season is a pivotal time to help families sign up for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).

ACP helps ensure that students have the digital resources they need to succeed in the new school year.

Check out these resources to get started:

ED Office of Education Technology’s ACP Resource Page
EducationSuperhighway ACP Adoption Toolkit for School Districts and ACP Event Postcards for Schools
FCC ACP Consumer Outreach Toolkit (includes sample flyers + backpack handouts)
You can also check out the evergreen outreach resources we have on our website here.

Here are some ideas to help you share information about ACP in your region or community:

Send a letter, email, or flyer to your region's school districts or to the homes of your students and to all of your staff.
Post on social media with information about the ACP.
Add ACP sign-up opportunities to back-to-school events like parent-teacher nights, orientation events, backpack giveaways, or other community events you have planned this time of year.

Kindergarteners Haven’t Returned: Here’s How That May Prolong Academic Recovery

This story in EdWeek discusses the concerning decline in kindergarten enrollment during the pandemic and the potential impact on academic recovery efforts. Research reveals that over a third of the national public school enrollment decline cannot solely be attributed to private school switches or demographic changes, suggesting that many young learners may have skipped kindergarten altogether.

Don't wait to register: The hotel's discounted rate is in effect until September 5, 2023!

AESA Educators' Call to Action Conference

Why Attend?

Hear up-to-the-minute legislative information from the experts;
Make contact with your federal legislators on Capitol Hill;
Join your voice with your colleagues and make an impact!

ECA Webpage and Registration

A Primer:

Approaches to Regulating Artificial Intelligence

The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) released a new report highlighting the current landscape of AI regulation across the country. The report looks at the benefits and risks of deploying AI in certain sectors and provides considerations for policymakers as they determine how to balance privacy concerns with enabling innovation and enhancing services through the use of AI.

Legislative Updates

USED Report: State and District Use of Title II, Part A Funds in 2021–22

The Department of Education has shared their new report, State and District Use of Title II, Part A

Funds in 2021-22. Information for the report is collected annually through surveys of both state and local educational agencies (LEAs) to determine how states and districts use Title II, Part A program

funds.

Read the report

New Article Reviews State Cybersecurity Policies for Districts

On the heels of Ransomware Awareness Month and the White House’s recent summit on

cybersecurity, Whiteboard Advisors Research is digging into the escalating threats and state

legislative trends. Recent statistics paint a dire picture of cybersecurity in K-12 schools: attacks

continue to surge, with data from 650,000 students exposed in 2021 alone.

Read the article here.

USED Grant Program to Increase Alignment Between Secondary Programs and Career Pathways

USED has launched a new $25 million Career Connected High School grant program.

This program will provide grants to consortia of local educational agencies, institutions of higher

education, and employers to pilot evidence-based strategies to increase the integration and

alignment of the last two years of high school and the first two years of postsecondary education.

Biden Administration Launches School Safety Awareness Campaign

The Biden administration has launched a new campaign to help schools, families, and local

leaders access information on safety measures that cover mental health, school climate support

and cyberbullying, and other topics, through an online resource center.

This is the Back to School Online Resources Center (available through September).

Upcoming

AESA Professional Learning & Workshops

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!

Learn More and Register

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.

AESA Member Events

Middle Georgia RESA invites all instructional coaches to join them for monthly coaching sessions! It’s Half Time, Coaches!

Sound the whistle; it’s Half Time~Chat Time… so let’s huddle up and share best practices regarding the Roles of Coaches! We will have a little learning from local experts each month, and we will have time to share what works well… and what has not worked so well!

Let’s Zoom at 1:00 pm (EST) for 30-45 minutes on the identified dates to further strengthen our community of coaches!

View Coaching Schedule

STAY CONNECTED

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