DOE Announces More Than $188 M to Support Mental Health and Student Wellness. Six school districts in Florida were awarded!

National

Today, the U.S. Department of Education (Department) is announcing awards of more than $188 million across 170 grantees in over 30 states to increase access to school-based mental health services and to strengthen the pipeline of mental health professionals in high-needs districts. With funding provided by the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA), these investments help…

CDC Releases Updated Guidance for COVID-19 prevention in schools

COVID-19, Health & Safety, In the News, National

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its guidance for COVID-19 prevention in schools, that is posted here:  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/k-12-guidance.html.  Correspondence follows. NSBA’s Office of Federal Advocacy and Public Policy   Dear Partners: We hope that you are doing well and that you and your loved ones are safe and healthy. As the 2021-2022 school…

FEDERAL ALERT: ESSER and GEER Funds Guidance

Funding, Hot Topic, In the News, Legislative Session, National

FEDERAL ALERT: ESSER and GEER Funds Guidance May 26, 2021  Good Afternoon Board Members, Below and online, please find Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about how funding under the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund, including the American Rescue Plan (ARP) ESSER program, and the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund may be used…

U.S. Department of Education Announces More Biden-Harris Appointees

In the News, National

U.S. Department of Education Announces More Biden-Harris Appointees U.S. Department of Education April 9, 2021 Contact:   Press Office, (202) 401-1576, press@ed.gov WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Department of Education announced more political appointees that will lead various parts of the agency. These diverse and accomplished individuals will bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the agency,…

U.S. Department of Education Letter: Assessment, Accountability, and Reporting Requirements for School Year 2020-2021

In the News, Legislative Session, National

February 22, 2021 Good evening, Late this afternoon the U.S. Department of Education sent a letter to the chief state school officers “inviting states to request a waiver for the 2020-2021 school year of the accountability and school identification requirements in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA).  A state receiving this waiver would not…

COVID Relief Package (One-page Summary)

COVID-19, In the News, National

Please see the summary below covering the COVID Relief Package. The American Rescue Plan to Fund Vaccinations, Provide Immediate, Direct Relief to Working Families Bearing the Brunt of the COVID-19 Crisis, and Support Struggling Communities The COVID-19 pandemic and the corresponding economic crisis are devastating families across the country. While Congress’s bipartisan action in December…

FSBA Session Spotlight — November 15, 2019

Accountability, Advocacy, Budget, Curriculum, Early Learning, ELL Students, Ethics, FSBA Session Spotlight, Health & Safety, In the News, Legislation, Legislative Session, National, Public Records, School Boards, School Governance

The Legislature held a 5th week of Interim Committee Meetings this week.  Several bills and topics of interest were considered, including funding, health and safety, public records, and ethics.  The outcome of the legislative meetings of interest is provided in the first file below.  In addition, updates on several federal issues are provided in the…

Department of Justice Awards More than $85.3 Million in Grants to Address School Violence

Accountability, Advocacy, Facilities, Health & Safety, In the News, Legislation, Legislative Session, National, Personnel

Today, the Department of Justice announced it has awarded more than $85.3 million to bolster school security — including funding to educate and train students and faculty — and support first responders who arrive on the scene of a school shooting or other violent incident. Read More Fact Sheet Listing Award Recipients

Environmentalists mostly welcome Florida’s plan to spend VW settlement money on cleaner buses

Accountability, Advocacy, Budget, Health & Safety, In the News, Legislative Session, National

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced this week that it will use most of the $166 million it received in Volkswagen settlement money to replace diesel buses and shuttle vans with electric models  . . . Some $5 million of that $116 million will help districts replace older diesel school buses with electric…