Hot Topics Features - Archive

• Healthcare for All Students - AASA commends member Superintendent Abelardo Saavedra and the Houston Independent School District for its leadership and partnership with the Children's Defense Fund - Texas' 100% Campaign, which works to ensure every school-aged child in Houston is linked to affordable healthcare. (03/26/2008)



• Green Schools - Building ‘green schools’ is a new movement in creating healthy learning environments for students. AASA has compiled resources to help answer questions you might have about this phenomenon. (03/26/2008)



• Get YOUR copy of the 2008 AASA Legislative Advocacy Toolkit - Just in time for this year’s Legislative Advocacy Conference, AASA is proud to share this year’s toolkit. Designed to help you campaign for a new and improved version of ESEA, this toolkit will help you as you work to support AASA’s bold legislative agenda. (03/18/2008)



• AASA Releases 2008 Legislative Agenda - Read "All Children Will Learn," the bold post-NCLB proposal for ESEA reauthorization! (PDF) You may also access the talking points for ESEA reauthorization (PDF) and other key pieces of legislation (PDF). (03/13/2008)



• AASA Webpage Shows Trends in School Enrollment - Working from a database tracking enrollment trends in almost 14,700 schools across the country, AASA has assembled a website that explores how enrollment is changing at both the national and state level. (02/26/2008)



• 2008 State of the State Addresses - This year’s addresses touch on all aspects of state policy, from health care and labor to environment and transportation. Find out what your Governor’s education priorities are. Read highlights of the education priorities identified by each Governor and  link to the full text of each speech. (02/21/2008)



• School Safety Resources - AASA is deeply saddened by the tragic shooting at Northern Illinois University on Feb. 14. AASA has created guidelines and a list of resources for school leaders called the ABC’s of School Safety. (02/15/2008)



• AASA Statement on President Bush’s 2009 Proposed Budget - AASA urges Congress to reject the president’s education funding proposals for 2009 and make public education the high priority the Administration’s rhetoric says it is. (02/04/2008)



• AASA Responds to State of the Union Address - In his final State of the Union speech, President Bush called on Congress to reauthorize the No Child Left Behind education law. Instead of rushing to renew a broken law with fatal flaws, we need to first engage in a thoughtful debate about what is best for our nation’s children. (01/29/2008)



• AASA Commended for Efforts to Fight Childhood Obesity in La Mesa, Calif. - Learn about AASA's one-year technical assistance initiative with the city of La Mesa and the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District. (01/24/2008)



• Implications of Racial and Ethnic Data Collection Changes - New guidance from the U.S. Department of Education that took effect Dec.3, 2007, changes the way districts are to collect and report racial and ethnic data from their students. AASA provides a background and easy-to-digest synopsis of what the implications are for districts. (12/14/2007)



• AASA Statement on NCLB Ruling - On Jan. 7, a federal appeals court ruled that the No Child Left Behind Law violates the U.S. Constitution by requiring states and school districts to use state and local funds to meet the requirements of the federal law. AASA filed an amicus brief in the case. (01/09/2008)



• Caucus Update - With the 2008 Presidential Campaign kicking into high gear, AASA has gathered education position statements from the presidential candidates and continues to track the campaign, caucuses and education issues. (01/21/2008)



• Drug Testing in Schools - Public and judicial attention given to the issue of drug testing in schools finds many districts without a drug testing policy and considering implementing one in their district. This hot topic from The Leader’s Edge takes a close look at the debate over drug testing in schools. (11/30/2007)



• Supreme Court on School Diversity - Two widely publicized Supreme Court decisions in the 2006-07 session centered on the Fourteenth Amendment and the use of race-conscious means to improve school diversity. Read case and decision summaries, learn about the implications for public schools and find resources for improving school diversity. (11/07/2007)



• Staph Superbug – Reports about a deadly "superbug" bacteria in schools are causing concern among school administrators. The staph bacteria, called MRSA, is resistant to many medications, making it difficult to treat. Student athletes and young students are most at risk. Find out what your district can do to limit transmission of MRSA. (10/26/2007)



• Back-to-School Health and Wellness Resources Available - It’s back-to-school time and AASA has created and compiled health and wellness resources that help schools, parents and students prepare for the new school year. (09/06/2007)



• Protect Your Students from Cyberbullying - As the scope of bullying expands beyond the playground to the Internet, school leaders are using new tactics to protect students. (08/18/2007)



• AASA Governing Board Condemns Supreme Court Ruling - The AASA Governing Board has issued a strong statement condemning the U.S. Supreme Court decision rejecting school integration plans in Seattle and Louisville. (08/02/2007)



• 2007 AASA Back-to-School Toolkit for School Leaders - As children nationwide start back to school, spread the message about what's right with public education using the resources in this new toolkit. (08/01/2007)



• AASA Names New President, President-Elect - On July 19, Sarah Jerome, superintendent of schools in Arlington Heights, Ill., and Randall Collins, superintendent of schools in Waterford, Conn., were installed as AASA president and president-elect. Read Jerome's installation speech. (07/24/2007)



• Superintendent Evaluation - In most employment situations, an annual performance review is standard. Why not for superintendents? (04/02/2007)



• Virginia Districts Defying U.S. Department of Education Over Testing of English Language Learners — Several Virginia school districts are resisting the federal mandate that English language learners take grade-level content assessments after just one year in the United States. AASA is seeking emergency legislation to clarify the intent of the statute, which states that students should not have to take such assessments until they have been in the United States for three years. (03/14/2007)



• Avian Flu — What is Avian Flu? What are the symptoms? What is the risk to humans? What is the difference between a flu epidemic and a pandemic outbreak? What can I do? Where can I get more information? (5/12/2006)



• Merit Pay: Why All the Fuss? Merit pay, incentive pay, pay for performance, it goes by many names; explore this heated topic and evaluate the pros and cons. (02/05/2007)



• Pension Portability — Whether you are for it or against it, AASA wants you to have the information you need regarding pension portability. We have established a database on pension portability by state for your use.  Don’t leave town for that new superintendency before consulting it! (8/17/2006)



• Emergency Preparedness — Is your school district prepared for weather-related emergencies, such as hurricanes and flooding? (6/30/2006)