AzSIAA Bi-Weekly Newsletter
From the Executive Director
The August recess is nearly over, Congresspersons are preparing to return to Washington, DC. What are the areas that may see action:
The NAFIS conference is just a month away. I will be scheduling hill visits for September 25 to provide members time to meet with their Congressional representative. Please remember there is a NAFIS breakfast reception celebrating Congressional champions of Impact Aid that morning from 8:30 am - 9:30 am.
More information on the hill visits to follow.
Larry E. Wallen
Executive Director
- Annual appropriations
- Thanks to Congress for the FY18 package providing a $3.9 billion increase to USED. The FY18 must be the starting point for any FY19 discussions. Keep in mind the FY18 allocation is below what it would be if Congress had level funded USED since FY 12 and adjusted for inflation.
- Please oppose any efforts to direct public dollars to private education. Oppose all vouchers and privatization schema.
- Ask Congress to continue to prioritize investment in critical formula programs designed to level the playing field, including IDEA, Title I and Title IV.
- Urge Arizona delegation to increase investment in the LHHS bills, and direct a larger share of the overall increase in non-defense discretionary funding to LHHS to support education.
- Thanks to Congress for the FY18 package providing a $3.9 billion increase to USED. The FY18 must be the starting point for any FY19 discussions. Keep in mind the FY18 allocation is below what it would be if Congress had level funded USED since FY 12 and adjusted for inflation.
- Perkins Career & Technical Education
- Reauthorization of the Perkins program was signed into law earlier this month, bringing an end to what had been a very purposeful, and bipartisan effort on the House side and a rushed, politically pressured process on the Senate side. Click on this link for a great overview of what's in the new law.
- Moving forward, we are concerned with the continued paperwork requirements in the new law. Perkins and ESSA Title IV are funded at the same level—approximately $1.2 billion—though Perkins has significantly more paperwork requirements. We urge Congress to align the paperwork requirements of Perkins to those of ESSA. Under ESSA Title IV, if a district does not receive more than $30,000 they are exempt from completing the comprehensive needs assessment every 3 years detailing how they were spending their funding and describing how they will spend the funding with any partners (if applicable), how they will support the goals of the Title, what they hope to accomplish with their spending and how they will evaluate their effectiveness in achieving these goals. The Perkins program, with a similar authorization and funding level, should mirror these requirements.
- Reauthorization of the Perkins program was signed into law earlier this month, bringing an end to what had been a very purposeful, and bipartisan effort on the House side and a rushed, politically pressured process on the Senate side. Click on this link for a great overview of what's in the new law.
- Secure Rural Schools/Forest Counties
- The administration and Congress must act this year on viable forest management and economic development programs and continue the historic SRS commitment to rural counties, communities, schools, students, and citizens.
- Congress must act on forest management, fire control, and long-term SRS funding as forest communities and schools fight for economic survival.
- SS is critical to support safety, fire, police, road and bridge, and education services.
- Thank members for the critical shorterm SRS 2017, 2018 funding.
- Give examples of what the loss of SRS means to education, roads, police, fire, and safety programs.
- The administration and Congress must act this year on viable forest management and economic development programs and continue the historic SRS commitment to rural counties, communities, schools, students, and citizens.
- Higher Education Act
- Oppose the PROSPER ACT! The Act will harm the district's ability to hire quality new teachers and will leave teachers with higher debt and fewer incentives to remain in the classroom.
- Talk about teacher shortage issues in your district. Illustrate the of the issue and provide information for opposing.
- For Democrats, thank them for their commitment to supporting future teachers, as they are all committed to opposing the PROSPER Act.
- Oppose the PROSPER ACT! The Act will harm the district's ability to hire quality new teachers and will leave teachers with higher debt and fewer incentives to remain in the classroom.
The NAFIS conference is just a month away. I will be scheduling hill visits for September 25 to provide members time to meet with their Congressional representative. Please remember there is a NAFIS breakfast reception celebrating Congressional champions of Impact Aid that morning from 8:30 am - 9:30 am.
More information on the hill visits to follow.
Larry E. Wallen
Executive Director
Advocacy Alert - August Recess - Contract your Congressperson and Senator - NAFIS Alert - (NAFIS Newsletter - August 10, 2018)
While we are beginning school, Congress is home on the annual August Recess. This is a time to ask your Congressperson to opening events, celebrations, and school board meetings. Yes, school board meetings. Ask the Governing Board to approve a resolution in support of Impact Aid funding and present to your representative and senator.
Included with this newsletter is the NAFIS “Back to School” packet. The packet includes tips and tools for using social media both for advocacy and to educate your community on Impact Aid, including a sample school board resolution in support of Impact Aid. Please forward a copy of the board resolution to ASIAA for inclusion in the September Advocacy packet. Forward to lwallen@azsiaa.org
One of these tools is particularly important: An Action Alert that can be sent directly to your Members of Congress from the NAFIS Action Center supporting the $52 million increase for Impact Aid ($50 for Basic Support and $2 million for Federal Properties) included in the House FY 2019 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill (the Senate counterpart proposes a $25 million increase - $24 million for Basic Support and $1 million for Federal Properties).
Please schedule the time to reach out to support the higher numbers.
Included with this newsletter is the NAFIS “Back to School” packet. The packet includes tips and tools for using social media both for advocacy and to educate your community on Impact Aid, including a sample school board resolution in support of Impact Aid. Please forward a copy of the board resolution to ASIAA for inclusion in the September Advocacy packet. Forward to lwallen@azsiaa.org
One of these tools is particularly important: An Action Alert that can be sent directly to your Members of Congress from the NAFIS Action Center supporting the $52 million increase for Impact Aid ($50 for Basic Support and $2 million for Federal Properties) included in the House FY 2019 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill (the Senate counterpart proposes a $25 million increase - $24 million for Basic Support and $1 million for Federal Properties).
Please schedule the time to reach out to support the higher numbers.
NAFIS Launches Survey on Federally Connected Student Data Collection (NAFIS - August 10, 2018)
We need your help! NAFIS is surveying members to collect information on how districts eligible for Impact Aid Basic Support payments count their federally connected students (focused on the parent-pupil survey and the source check). We are particularly interested in the challenges that you face and successful strategies you've developed to meet them. There are twelve questions that should take approximately five minutes to complete. Feel free to pass the survey along to someone else in your school district who handles this process.
Please complete the survey by Friday, August 24.
Please complete the survey by Friday, August 24.
New! Capitol Hill Breakfast Reception at NAFIS Fall Conference (NAFIS - August 10, 2018)
On Tuesday, September 25, NAFIS Fall Conference attendees will visit Capitol Hill to advocate for Impact Aid. That morning, join NAFIS for a breakfast reception on the Hill celebrating congressional champions of the program.
The event will run 8:30-9:30am and provide a great opportunity to connect with NAFIS and other Impact Aid advocates before meeting with your representatives in Congress. Please hold the time when scheduling your appointments, and be on the lookout for more information soon!
Interested in what else the conference will offer? Visit the website to learn more and register, then reserve your room at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill. Please note that rooms at the Hyatt are going fast - make your reservations soon.
FISEF Two Day School Business Officials Workshop in Flagstaff, Az October 11 -12, 2018. The workshop is capped at 20 participants.
The event will run 8:30-9:30am and provide a great opportunity to connect with NAFIS and other Impact Aid advocates before meeting with your representatives in Congress. Please hold the time when scheduling your appointments, and be on the lookout for more information soon!
Interested in what else the conference will offer? Visit the website to learn more and register, then reserve your room at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill. Please note that rooms at the Hyatt are going fast - make your reservations soon.
FISEF Two Day School Business Officials Workshop in Flagstaff, Az October 11 -12, 2018. The workshop is capped at 20 participants.
Post to Your Calendar
| Date | Organization | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sept 5-7, 2018 | ASBA | 42nd Annual Law Conference | Scottsdale, Az |
| Sept 13-15, 2018 | ARSA | 2018 ARSA Annual Conference | Flagstaff, Az |
| Sept 23-25, 2018 | NAFIS | NAFIS Fall 2018 Conference | Washington, DC |
| Sept 18-19, 2018 | ADE | 2018 Arizona Indian Education Stakeholders Summit | Scottsdale, Az |
| Sept 26-28, 2018 | ACSA | Southwest Carter Convention | Phoenix, Az |
| Oct 11-12, 2018 | FISEF | FY2020 Application Workshop - James Kock Facilitator | Flagstaff, Az |
| Oct 17, 2018 | ASBA | Apache and Navajo County Meeting | TBD |
| Oct 2018 | ASA | Fall Superintendent Conference | Prescott, Az |
| Nov 15-16, 2018 | ASBA | Pre Workshop and Legislative Workshop | Phoenix, Az |
| Dec 12-14, 2018 | ASBA | ASBA-ASA 61st Annual Conference | Phoenix, Az |