This Week in National Principals Month
As October continues moving along, so do the numerous events for National Principals Month (NPM). That is why each weekly Advocacy Update in October will feature a breakdown of the upcoming weekly events so you don’t miss out on these special opportunities:
October 11
- 8:00–9:00 p.m. Principals and Personal Wellness—During this Twitter chat, we will address the common stressors for education leaders, as well as provide recommendations for becoming a healthy school leader. Please follow #ThankAPrincipal to participate.
Looking ahead, we have numerous other exciting events you can participate in. This includes National Principal Shadowing Week, where you can now register for assistance from the NASSP advocacy team, and an event on Capitol Hill highlighting the use of professional development funds in state ESSA plans. You can register for the Capitol Hill event here.
For additional information on these and other NPM events, please visit www.principalsmonth.org.
Inside the Beltway
What’s Happening in Washington?
On October 5, the House of Representatives passed a bill that would set the budget for FY 2018. While H.Con.Res.71 features several budget cuts for many important programs, the overall numbers are mostly for messaging purposes and nothing more. The main reason for passing the bill was to put in place reconciliation rules.
Why Should Principals Care?
Reconciliation is a tactic that can be used in the Senate to pass a bill with a simple majority rather than by reaching the typical 60-vote threshold. Republican leadership is planning on using this reconciliation vote to help pass tax reform. Many education organizations have voiced concern over this proposed tax plan due to its elimination of the state and local tax deduction (SALT). SALT offers potential tax breaks for individuals that pay for state and local taxes on real estate property, income, personal property, and sales. SALT offers “an incentive, in the form of lower federal taxes for individuals, to engage in activities that benefit education and the larger society,” according to the Center on Education Policy.
NASSP will continue to closely monitor both of these issues. Please stay tuned to future FGN newsletters and Advocacy Updates for more information.
In the Press
An Overview of State ESSA Plans, EdWeek
Looking for a concise overview of ESSA plan submissions to see how your state’s plan compares to others? EdWeek breaks down the state plans by focusing on their review status and highlighting some of the popular methods plans have for areas like school improvement, teacher quality, and more.
States Struggle to Preserve Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), POLITICO
At the end of September, Congress allowed federal funding for CHIP to expire. CHIP provides health coverage to eligible children, through both Medicaid and separate CHIP programs. It is administered by states, according to federal requirements, and is funded jointly with the federal government. State governments are currently finding ways to keep the program afloat, but action by Congress is still necessary. However, there is some good news, as the House and Senate have both moved bills on CHIP through their committees and should be taking floor action on these bills soon. NASSP will continue to closely monitor this situation and provide updates as it develops.
U.S. Department of Education Announces New 2017–18 Ambassador Fellows, ED
On September 29, Secretary DeVos announced ED’s newest group of School Ambassador Fellows. The group includes one full-time fellow and several part-time fellows. Melody Arabo, who is a third-grade teacher at Keith Elementary School in West Bloomfield, Michigan, will serve as the full-time fellow. This year includes only one principal, Matthew Scott Crisp of Jackson Hole High School in Jackson, Wyoming. You can find information on the other fellows in the link above.