By Tara Thomas, Policy Analyst, AESA On August 1, 2024, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed its FY25 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (LHHS) proposal. The bill increased funding for the Department of Education (ED) by $1 billion, including increases for Title I (+280 million) and IDEA (+295 million). This proposal is in stark contrast…
Read MoreBy Noelle Ellerson Ng, Associate Executive Director, Policy & Advocacy, AESA Background: The Universal Service Fund is a $8 billion decades-old mechanism created by Congress in 1996 to support vital communications investments where the marketplace falls short: connecting schools and libraries to high-speed internet; helping rural hospitals adopt telemedicine; ensuring low-income households have basic communications services;…
Read MoreOn July 24, the 5th Circuit struck down the funding mechanism for the universal service fund, which includes the E-Rate program. E-Rate provides $4.7 billion annually for schools and libraries to receive broadband and Wi-Fi services. This is an extreme decision that contradicts two rulings from other circuits as well as a previous three judge panel of…
Read MoreAs schools prepare to implement amended Title IX regulations on August 1, 2024, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) released new resources to support schools in those efforts. The resources are: Title IX Regulations: Pointers for Implementation, which supports schools by listing key components of the 2024 Title IX regulations…
Read MoreOn July 24, the 5th Circuit Court handed down its decision in the case Consumers Research et. al vs. the FCC, where the plaintiffs argued that using E-rate funds for Wi-Fi on school buses exceeds the FCC’s authority to provide internet access in schools and libraries. Read early coverage on the case here. Quick Summary: In…
Read MoreThis is a guest post from AESA member and AASA 2023-2024 president, Gladys Cruz. It’s hard to believe, but this monthly series has been running for over a year now, providing just-in-time tips and tools to help maximize ESSER funding via effective summer programs. We have covered topics ranging from planning engaging enrichment, to making summer…
Read MoreK-12 education groups applaud expansion to enhance greater internet connectivity for public schools and libraries nationwide Alexandria, Va. – June 26, 2024 – Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel today announced the FCC will vote to expand its E-Rate program for Wi-Fi hotspots and wireless internet access services at its July meeting. Today’s announcement…
Read MoreOn June 13, 2024, a federal court in Louisiana upheld a challenge to the proposed Title IX rules, putting a temporary hold on the rule in Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Montana. Read more in this guest post.
Read MoreAESA Joins School and Library Groups in Amicus Supporting E-Rate AESA joined 10 other national organizations in an amicus brief, responding to the Molak v FCC case in the fifth circuit in support of the FCC. The Molak case asserts the FCC is overstepping its authority in its recent move to allow E-Rate dollars to…
Read MoreBy Noelle Ellerson Ng Associate Executive Director, Policy & Advocacy, AESA It has been a busy six weeks on Capitol Hill concerning legislation about student privacy. Before I recap the current situation, let’s rewind for some context. At the start of 2024, Amelia Vance (Chief Counsel of AASA’s Student and Child Privacy Center) and I…
Read MoreRelated Resources
|
Other websites and resources:
United States Department of Education
IDEA Legislation:
Chapter 33-Education of Individuals with Disabilities