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In addition , ACSA strongly opposes any effort to arm teachers , principals or school administrators other than specially trained school resource officers ( SROs ). Proposals to arm school staff are dangerously shortsighted and would leave our schools more vulnerable to accidents and violence , rather than safer from them .

The ACSA delegation on behalf of ACSA ’ s 17,000-plus members was led by President Lisa Gonzales . The delegation included Patricia Brent-Sanco , director of equity for Lynwood USD ; ACSA Chief Operations Officer Scarlett Vanyi ; Senior Director of Federal Relations Adonai Mack ; and consultant Kevin Gordon , president of Capitol Advisors , who is one of the top education advocates in California .

Brent-Sanco reported that among the most important messages were :

• Discussing the need for additional funding to implement important safety measures , including training , facility upgrades and trauma-informed care for students , with California Sen . Dianne Feinstein .

• Addressing the disproportionate identification and placement of African American and Latino male students in special education with Johnny Collette , assistant secretary in the Office of Special Education at the U . S . Department of Education .

• Calling for resources earmarked for students of color in efforts to close achievement , knowledge and outcome gaps with both former West Virginia Gov . Bob Wise , president of the Alliance for Excellence , and California Rep . Susan Davis .

• Advocating for increased federal funding , particularly in Titles 2 and 4 , with Matthew Stern , consultant for the Senate Health , Education , Labor and Pension Committee , and Brad Thomas , senior education policy advisor for Rep . Virginia Foxx , chair of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce .

Following the ACSA lobbying trip , Congress was convinced to pass an omnibus spending bill for fiscal year 2018 that provides a $ 2.6 billion increase for the U . S . Department of Education . President Trump signed the bill March 23 . Key investments for education include : $ 15.7 billion for Title 1 of the Every Student Succeeds Act , a $ 300 million increase ; level funding of Title 2 at $ 2 billion ; and $ 1.1 billion , a $ 700 million increase , for Title 4 , where school safety initiatives can be funded .

In addition , IDEA State Grants are funded at $ 12.2 billion ; Perkins Career and Technical Education at $ 1.19 billion ; and Impact Aid at $ 85 million .

Other K-12 funding includes : 21st Century Community Learning Centers , $ 1.2 billion ; Teacher Quality Partnerships , $ 43 million ; Education , Innovation and Research Grants , $ 120 million ; Supporting Effective Educator Development , $ 75 million

; School Safety National Activities , $ 90 million , a $ 22 million increase above the FY 2017 level ; Office for Civil Rights , $ 117 million ; new funding for Statewide Family Engagement Centers , $ 10 million ; Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems , $ 32.3 million .

Early learning and care also saw gains under the Department of Health and Human Services , including Child Care and Development Block Grants , funded at $ 5.2 billion , as did child nutrition under the Department of Agriculture , including the Child Nutrition Program , $ 24.1 billion ; School Breakfast Program Equipment Grants , $ 30 million ; and Demonstration Projects ( Summer EBT ), $ 28 million .

The omnibus spending bill also includes notable new policy provisions with implications for schools , such as :

• Stop School Violence Act : The Bureau of Justice Assistance ( Department of Justice ) is authorized to make grants to states , units of local government , and Indian tribes to support evidence-based programs , violence prevention efforts , and anonymous reporting systems . Funds may also be used to support physical security upgrades for schools , like metal detectors , locks , lighting , and other deterrent measures . The bill re-allocates $ 75 million from the Comprehensive School Safety Initiative to the SSVA .

• Secure Rural Schools Program : Congress provided two years of support for the lapsed program , which offers formula payments to qualified “ forest counties .” SRS

payments mainly go to rural , western counties with high presence of Bureau of Land Management or National Forest System .

• Rural Utility Service Broadband Pilot : The bill authorizes the Rural Utility Service to launch a $ 600 million distance learning , telemedicine broadband program . The bill notes that the funding should be prioritized to areas currently lacking access to broadband service .

There were other key policies that were not addressed in the final bill , including a solution for the students , teachers and other individuals covered by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals ( DACA ) program .

Overall , though , the D . C . trip was fruitful , and ACSA will continue to lead efforts in negotiations on school finance , local control and governance , reducing bureaucracy , program flexibility , quality Pre-K , K-12 and adult education , as well as special education , the needs of English learners , teacher and administrator training , school discipline , alternative education , preschool , nutrition , health and many other important policy areas in K-adult education .

“ This trip gave the attendees the opportunity to engage in bold advocacy for the students of California ,” equity leader Brent- Sanco said . “ We tried to establish mutual commitments to support legislative policy that will enhance the educational experience for students , parents , and staff in California . Our message of equity , access , and justice for all students was very timely in light of recent events in our country .”

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Content driven by students ; Encouraging cultural expression ; Gamification ; Including diverse voices ; Incorporating different learning styles , interests and cultures . Deadline : Aug . 6 .

Jan ./ Feb .

• Teacher Shortage / Educator Prep –

Special education , math , science issues ; Best practices for recruitment – encouraging teachers of color ; Keeping quality teachers – incentives ; Support / professional development needs ; Commission on Teacher Credentialing concerns ; Rural districts hit hard ; Emergency credentials and lowincome schools . Deadline : Oct . 1 .

March / April

• Emerging Media Literacy – How are you using social media ?; Video that

tells your school story ; Teaching to 21st Century needs ; Devices in the classroom ; Transforming communications ; Data opportunities with digital media ; Harnessing emerging media for education , entertainment and human well-being ; Growing your brand . Deadline : Dec . 10 .

May / June

• Women in Leadership – Management styles ; Access to training ; Networking and the power of women working together ;

Digital networks – how women can use social media to scale barriers ; Issues specific to women of color ; Issues specific to trans women ; Playing to our strengths ; Navigating negotiations – why it ’ s different for women ; Stuck in middle management – why it ’ s hard to move up ; Navigating gender expectations / work and family . Deadline : Feb . 4 .

Find Leadership online and Leadership Extra , at www . acsa . org / publications .