AzSIAA Bi-Weekly Newsletter
2019 NAFIS Fall Conference Mobile App
Check your email for the mobile app registration process. The links are for you. The mobile app is very informative.
Tip Sheet on Increasing Parent-Pupil Survey Response Rate - NAFIS News - September 13, 2019
Based on the 2018 NAFIS Student Count Survey, we have developed a tip sheet on increasing your parent-pupil survey response rate. Get advice from fellow NAFIS members on picking a count date and making sure that surveys are returned, as well as where to start if you are new to the process.
Phoenix, Arizona - October 14-15, 2019 - FISEF Workshop
Few Spots Remain! FISEF will return to Phoenix this fall, thanks to the support of the Arizona State Impact Aid Association. One of our most popular workshop locations, the city is a gathering point for Arizona school districts receiving Impact Aid, and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is one of the nation's largest, making it easy to fly in.
Categorical Eligibility Call-to-Action - AASA, The Legislative Corp - September 12, 2019
While we were away, U.S. Department of Agriculture released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) with the intent of limiting states' ability to implement Broad-based Categorical Eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – which provides eligible low-income households with an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card that can be used at authorized grocery stores. Under current law, families may become SNAP-eligible by either (1) meeting program-specific federal eligibility requirements, or (2) being deemed automatic or "categorically" eligible for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families grant (TANF).
Originally, TANF was designed as a broad-purposed block grant to finance a wide range of social welfare activities, including government-subsidized employment, childcare and cash. By automatically enrolling TANF eligible households in SNAP, the Categorical Eligibility (Cat El) program enabled states to support families on the cusp of the federal poverty line through short-term financial crises by ensuring their continued access to food security. Cat El also benefited schools by making TANF students automatically eligible for free and reduced priced lunch.
The effect of this change on students and schools will be immense, as many families will no longer be eligible to receive free and reduced priced breakfast and lunch if the regulation passes. According to early estimates from Food Nutritional Service, more than 500,000 students will lose their automatic eligibility for free school meals as a result of the change.
Cat El policies have been in place for more than two decades. Although House Republicans tried to gut the program during the 2011 Reauthorization of the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act, Congress has overwhelmingly rejected efforts to make Cat El more restrictive, including during its consideration of the 2005 budget reconciliation and the 2018 Farm Bill. This USDA rulemaking is an attempt to sidestep Congress and is outside of USDA's authority. Here is your chance to let USDA know that this is unacceptable. Comments must be filed on or before September 23. To help broadcast the importance of Cat El for students and schools, you can file comments by copying and pasting this letter to the following link! Full Details on the Blog.
Originally, TANF was designed as a broad-purposed block grant to finance a wide range of social welfare activities, including government-subsidized employment, childcare and cash. By automatically enrolling TANF eligible households in SNAP, the Categorical Eligibility (Cat El) program enabled states to support families on the cusp of the federal poverty line through short-term financial crises by ensuring their continued access to food security. Cat El also benefited schools by making TANF students automatically eligible for free and reduced priced lunch.
The effect of this change on students and schools will be immense, as many families will no longer be eligible to receive free and reduced priced breakfast and lunch if the regulation passes. According to early estimates from Food Nutritional Service, more than 500,000 students will lose their automatic eligibility for free school meals as a result of the change.
Cat El policies have been in place for more than two decades. Although House Republicans tried to gut the program during the 2011 Reauthorization of the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act, Congress has overwhelmingly rejected efforts to make Cat El more restrictive, including during its consideration of the 2005 budget reconciliation and the 2018 Farm Bill. This USDA rulemaking is an attempt to sidestep Congress and is outside of USDA's authority. Here is your chance to let USDA know that this is unacceptable. Comments must be filed on or before September 23. To help broadcast the importance of Cat El for students and schools, you can file comments by copying and pasting this letter to the following link! Full Details on the Blog.
Supt., Salary and Benefits Survey Announcement - - AASA, The Legislative Corp - September 12, 2019
On behalf of AASA, we are pleased to announce that the 2020 School Superintendent Salary and Benefits Survey will open on September 24, 2019. The data from this survey serves as one of the few reliable and comprehensive data sources on the working conditions of school system leaders in the nation. This year marks the 8th edition of this report.
Public Relations - Arizona School Public Relations Association (ASPRA)
The Executive Director is a member of ASPRA and NSRPA giving access to the list serve which members use to bring important PR concerns to the other members attention. As communications methods change, I am including a link to the Phoenix Union Superintendent weekly video address to district staff as an example for your use. This is a great way for the Superintendent to connect with staff and keep everyone on the same page with the vision and direction of your district. This gives your team more time with the Superintendent keeping informed on what the district office is doing to promote the district.
Communication E-Kit for Superintendents - NSPRA - Sept 10, 2019
Superintendents are responsible for all aspects of a school system, and that includes how the district listens to and shares with its community. In this practical toolkit, superintendents can quickly peruse tips to ensure their district is at the forefront of successful communication. You will learn how to defend the need for public relations, how to find the right school PR practitioner, and how to use the public relations function to help support learning and instruction. If you want to be able to validate the importance of communication in your school community, this is the e-kit for you.
Contains such information as:
Contains such information as:
- Rationale for adding a PR position
- Using PR to Support Learning and Instruction
- Why Marketing Public Schools is Necessary
- Defending Your Investment in Public Relations
- Technical vs. Strategic Skills in Public Relations
Post to Your Calendar
| Date | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Sept 19th, 2019 | ASA Principal and the Law Conference | Phoenix, Az |
| Sept 29th, 2019 | New Superintendent Collaborative Network | Sedona, Az |
| Sept 29th - Oct 1st, 2019 | Fall Superintendency/Higher Ed Conf | Sedona, Az |
| Oct 14th - 15th, 2019 | Impact Aid Workshop | Phoenix, Az |
| Oct 22nd, 2019 | Apache Country Meeting ASBA | TBD |
| Oct 23th, 2019 | Navajo County Meeting ASBA | TBD |
| Oct 24th, 2019 | Coconino County Meeting ASBA | TBD |
| Nov 8th, 2019 | Aspiring Superintenet's Conf | ASA Office |
| Nov 15th, 2019 | ASBA/ASA Legislative Workshop | TBD |
| Dec 17th - 19th, 2019 | ASBA Annual Conference | Phoenix, Az |