All Things Advocacy and Governance at NCE

The AASA Advocacy Team is excited for the 2022 National Conference on Education in Nashville! Here’s what we have planned:

Wednesday, February 15

Governing Board Meeting

9:00a.m. ET, Location: Broadway EF

Thursday, February 16

A Discussion on Monitoring Civil Rights Compliance in Districts

10:15—11:15a.m. ET, Location: Room 205B

Suzanne Goldberg, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Civil Rights, will present on recent federal K-12 civil rights actions by the U.S. Department of Education. After the presentation, participants will have a chance to hear about and discuss the recent changes to the Civil Rights Data Collection, which Suzanne leads. This is a great opportunity for superintendents to engage directly with key staff at the U.S. Department of Education about a variety of civil rights issues impacting students and district leaders.

Federal Relations Luncheon: The Fight for the Future of Public Education—Additional ticket required  

12:00—1:30p.m. ET, Location: Room 104, Convention Center

Derek W. Black, a legal scholar and author of Schoolhouse Burning: Public Education and the Assault on American Democracy, will discuss how today's current schooling trends—the declining commitment to properly fund public education and the well-financed political agenda to expand vouchers and undermine the operations of public schools—threatens not just public education but American democracy itself.

Taking Stock of ESSER Spending

3:00—4:00p.m. ET, Location: Room 204, Convention Center  

In this session Dr. Marguerite Roza, Director of Edunomics Lab at Georgetown University, will share the six potential mistakes districts may be making right now, opportunities and pitfalls reporting ESSER spending, and how to demonstrate money is well spent in your district.

Friday, February 18

An Update on Federal Regulations, Guidance and Court Cases

8:00—9:00a.m. ET, Location: Room 204

The top education legal team in the country will walk you through the latest Supreme Court cases impacting education and how they impact your districts, as well as the latest federal guidance and regulations you should understand and follow.

President Elect Candidate Forum

11:15a.m.—12:15p.m. ET, Location: Room 204

The candidates for AASA President-Elect will have the opportunity to respond to questions from the chair of the AASA Election Committee as well as members attending the National Conference on Education.

AASA Federal Education Policy Update

12:45—1:45p.m. ET, Location: Room 205A

AASA’s entire Advocacy Team will be presenting the latest and greatest information from Washington, D.C. beginning with funding and legislative updates from Congress and moving on to recent regulations and guidance issued by USED as well as the various federal policy issues percolating at USDA, DOT, EPA and many other federal agencies. This is a must-attend session for those who are concerned about federal education matters and who want to stay engaged with AASA’s advocacy work.

Addressing the Decline of Vaccination Rates of U.S. Students: What Supts Can Do

2:30—3:30p.m. ET, Location: Room 205B

Understand the implications of declines in childhood vaccination rates resulting from the pandemic and how districts can build and sustain cross-institutional partnerships to develop and sustain school and district-based vaccination clinics for students during and beyond the pandemic. Participants will learn the best ways to increase parent and staff understand of lowered student vaccination rates and strategies for promoting parental consent for vaccinations. The session will feature two superintendents who have provided students with vaccination opportunities for years prior to the pandemic and who believe holding school-based vaccination clinics are essential to achieving health and educational equity for students.

Making the Most of your ESSER Funds: Reflecting on your Plans for Recovery and Redesign

3:45—4:45p.m. ET, Location: Room 203

How can districts ensure they are using ESSER funds to meet immediate needs and, at the same time, redesign toward a more student-centered, equity-focused and future-driven approach? Join AASA and EducationCounsel for an introduction to new guidance and resources tailored to this challenge and aligned with AASA’s Learning 2025 framework. Dr. Andi Fourlis, superintendent of Mesa (Ariz.) Public Schools, will share her district’s current approach and plans for continuously improving their recovery and redesign plans. 

Follow the goings-on of the advocacy team and the conference’s policy sessions on the AASA blog and by following @AASAdvocacy and the Advocacy Team: @Noellerson, @SPudelski, @K_Sturdevant and @TaraEThomas1 on Twitter.