This conference provides in-depth information that ESAs leaders need to equip them for their advocacy both in Washington D.C. and back home.
AESA's legislative advocacy team connects participants with experts on the legislative topics that affect educational service agencies and the school districts that they serve. Participants receive up-to-the-minute information about emerging and pending federal legislative issues.
There is time built into the schedule for ESA leaders to plan their visits to Capitol Hill so that they can personally advocate to their federal legislators on issues important to them.
SCHEDULE
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
Executive Council - AM meeting
1:00-4:00 p.m. -- Pre-Conference
5:00-6:30 p.m. -- Registration/Welcome Reception
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22
7:00 a.m. -- Registration Open
7:30 a.m. -- Legislative Breakfast
8:45 a.m. - noon-- Policy Sessions
12 Noon -- Grab 'n Go Lunch
1:00 - 5:00 p.m. -- Capitol Hill Visits
- Plan your own advocacy visits/contacts with federal legislators*
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
7:00 a.m. -- Registration
7:30 a.m. -- Breakfast
8:30 - 11:15 a.m. -- Policy Sessions
POLICY SESSIONS
Wednesday, September 21 (Pre-Conference):
- Federal Advocacy Strategies | AESA’s Noelle Ellerson Ng, Associate Executive Director, Policy and Advocacy and Tara Thomas, Analyst, Policy & Advocacy
- Update on State Education Policy Issues | Austin Reid, National Council of State Legislatures (NCSL) and Jared Solomon, MD state legislature
- State Advocacy in Action | Jessica Vavrus, Washington ESD; Craig Burford, Ohio ESC Association; Jerry Maze, Region 12 ESC (TX)
This session will focus on how Educational Service Agencies (ESAs) in individual states work with the department of education and the state legislature to support their work.
Thursday, September 22:
- The Latest from the Supreme Court, OCR, DOJ, the Biden Administration and the States | Maree Sneed, Education Lawyer, LLC
This presentation will discuss recent Supreme Court decisions and the results of investigations by the Office for Civil Rights and Department of Justice Investigations. It also will provide an update on federal regulations and state laws affecting school districts.
- Healthcare and Educational Equity: An Imperative or an Impossibility? | Sasha Pudelski, Asst. Dir., Policy & Advocacy, AESA
Sasha Pudelski will present on the intersection of healthcare and education programs from a policy and funding perspective. She will describe the new, forthcoming flexibilities available for school-based Medicaid programs as well as a host of federal and state policy opportunities to build healthier schools with ESSER funds and beyond them.
- Addressing School Staff Shortages | Eric Duncan, Senior P-12 Data and Policy Analyst for Educator Diversity, Education Trust; Kelly Vaillancourt, Director of Policy and Advocacy, National Association of School Psychologists
A conversation on how to address school staff shortages and build a pipeline for a diverse workforce of high-quality educators for all students.
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AESA Advocacy Update | Noelle Ellerson Ng, Legislative Liaison, AESA; Tara Thomas, Policy Analyst, AESA
This session is the jump start for your Thursday Hill meetings. Your AESA lobbyists will walk through legislative priorities and what’s going on at the Hill, prepping you on the current hot topics for advocacy success.
Friday, September 23:
Celinda Lake will present public opinion data on perceptions of education, including key issues such as equity, learning loss, mental health and curriculum. She will also present current data that shows the key dynamics heading into the midterm elections in November, and how education issues may impact the elections.
- Education Investment in the Context of ESSER | Jessica Swanson, Sr. Fellow, Edunomics Lab
As schools enter their fourth school year with the COVID pandemic and their third year with access to ESSER funding, there are clear trends on what is popular, emerging trends on both what works and what needs remain to be addressed, and lots of discussion about education finance and investment. Marguerite Roza is here to make sense of it all and to help you better leverage your district’s ESSER dollars.
- Communication During Turbulent Times | Dorreen Dembski, AESA Communication Consultant, Owner/Communication Specialist, DD Communication Services
Myths, negative news, disinformation, or lack of information make leadership communication more critical than ever for every organization. However, a proactive approach helps employees thrive, ESA Boards speak cohesively, and establish your ESA’s credibility as a go-to source for the school districts you serve. As a communication professional, Dorreen Dembski draws from years of experience helping educational organizations with challenging communication to offer participants suggestions, resources, and ideas so that they can take a more strategic and proactive approach to internal and external communication
