September 10, 2024

Olga Simoes recently joined AESA as the Chief Financial Officer. In this role, she is responsible for overseeing all financial operations to ensure the organization's fiscal health and strategic growth. With a background including roles such as Director of Fiscal Management at Area Cooperative Educational Services (ACES) and various finance management positions, Olga brings a wealth of experience to her new role. She holds an M.B.A. in Accounting from the University of New Haven and is certified in School Business Administration (085) and School Intermediate Administration (092). We extend our warmest welcome to Olga as she joins our team!

We are diligently preparing for the Advocacy in Action Conference later this month which provides in-depth information that ESA leaders need to equip them for their advocacy both in Washington, D.C. and back home. We hope you are making plans to join us at the pre-conference on September 25 and the main conference September 25-27, 2024!

The FCC Form 484 application filing window for the Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot Program (Pilot Program or Pilot) will open on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, at 8 a.m. E.T., and close on Friday, November 1, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. E.T.  During the application filing window, eligible schools, libraries, and consortia comprised of eligible schools and libraries, can apply to participate in the three-year, $200 million Pilot Program by completing Part 1 of the FCC Form 484, available through the Universal Service Administrative Company’s (USAC’s) E-Rate Productivity Center (EPC) system via its website.  Applicants selected to participate in the Pilot Program can request and receive support to defray the costs of eligible cybersecurity services and equipment. The Public Notice can be found here. 

Last week, the U.S. Department of Education released three documents to assist chief state school officers with implementing key aspects of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA). 

The 5th Circuit Court has granted the FCC's request for a stay following a decision that questioned the constitutionality of the funding mechanism for the Universal Service Fund (USF). This stay allows the USF program to continue operating without disruption until the stay expires or a higher court, such as the Supreme Court, issues a ruling. Read more here.

TNTP's new dashboard offers detailed information on teacher and student demographics for 94% of school districts, with data collected over time and disaggregated by race/ethnicity, allowing you to compare your district to national trends. 

John Severson, Executive Director of MAISA and AESA member, recently participated in an important conversation with Michigan State Superintendent Dr. Michael F. Rice, MDE leadership, and the U.S. Department of Education. The meeting brought together valued education partners to highlight successes and discuss how the federal government can better support Michigan schools. Read John’s thoughts on the conversation here.  

Did you know that state treasurers often work to return unclaimed property to its rightful owners, including educational service agencies (ESAs)? Recently, Intermediate Unit 1, an AESA member, received over $85,000 in unclaimed property. You can check for unclaimed property not only for your ESA but also for yourself, your family, and any other organizations you’re involved with by visiting  www.missingmoney.com.