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I have heard Gov. Hobbs is redoing a bunch of COVID grant programs. What happened?
By Chris Kotterman, ASBA Director of Governmental Relations
Q: I have heard Gov. Hobbs is redoing a bunch of COVID grant programs. What happened?
A: Upon assuming office, Gov. Katie Hobbs canceled a number of grant programs funded with federal COVID relief dollars, citing concerns about non-compliance with federal rules. Two of these programs, the Education Plus-Up Relief Grant, and the 100-day Grant, impacted public school districts. The new program is called ARPA Support for Local Education Agencies, and makes $100M available. There is also a separate $37M grant opportunity for Summer Enrichment Programs.
Q: If I had an Education Plus-Up Grant or 100-Day Grant, can I apply for these opportunities?
A: Yes, if you received Education Plus-Up or 100-Day grants, and have qualified expenditures incurred from January 2, 2023 through June 30, 2023, you are eligible to apply for the new program. All districts are eligible to apply for the summer enrichment grants.
Q: What if my district did not receive an Education Plus-Up or 100-Day grant? Can I still apply?
A: Yes, districts that did not receive any grant funding previously may apply for expenses incurred between June 21, 2021 and June 30, 2023. All districts are eligible to apply for the summer enrichment grants.
Q: What can the ARPA Support for LEA grant funds be used for?
A: These funds must be spent in accordance with the American Rescue Plan Act and guidance from the U.S. Treasury Department and used to directly mitigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Preference will be given to applications that present expenses that are current in nature. Eligible expenses generally include:
- Expenses, materials and supplies that help(ed) make in-person, teacher-led instruction possible
- Counseling services/mental health supports
- Programs for specific populations of students such as English Learners or students with disabilities
- Academic before or after school programs
- School nurses
- Substitute teachers necessary to cover absences due to illness
- Training and professional development for teachers
- Class size reduction measures
Q: What can the Summer Enrichment Grant funds be used for?
A: These funds may be used to cover the costs for a summer enrichment program that is free to all participants incurred between May 15, 2023 and August 11, 2023. Expenses may include personnel costs, consumable supplies, and uncovered costs related to administering a USDA summer feeding program.
Q: How do I apply for these funds?
A: The applications are open now and will close on April 6 for the ARPA Support for LEA grant, and on April 13 for the Summer Enrichment Program grant. All applications must be completed through the Department of Administration eCivis grant system.
Save the date: Trauma Sensitive Schools Symposium
ASBA members are invited to save-the-date and register to attend the virtual 2023 Trauma Sensitive Schools Symposium. School board members and superintendents are invited to learn more about the impact of trauma on students and how to promote resilience for all at the symposium.
This fully funded, free educational event will be held virtually on June 6, 2023, and all ASBA members are welcome to attend.
ASBA is a partner, along with the Arizona Adverse Childhood Experiences Consortium and several other organizations, in this year’s event.
Last year, nearly 600 Arizona public school educators registered. A registration link is on ASBA’s website now.
Join ASBA as a Board Support Specialist
The Arizona School Boards Association seeks a Board Support Specialist to contribute to ASBA’s mission of cultivating excellence in locally governed school districts. The specialist will work in a cross-functional environment with other members of ASBA’s mission-driven professional staff and contribute to the success of the association and its member boards through:
- Locally tailored, on-site individualized board training, facilitation and strategic planning.
- Consultation on governance and leadership issues.
- Planning content and implementing and delivering programming for ASBA workshops, conferences, events, webinars and other group training events.
- Development and growth of ASBA’s governance and leadership tools, resources and communications that support school boards/leadership teams in their work.
- Supporting as appropriate the association’s strategic goals on leadership development, advocacy and organizational equity.
Interested applicants should submit a letter of introduction with a current resume to Tracey Benson, ASBA Associate Executive Director, at tbenson@azsba.org . Please include position title in the subject line. Review of resumes will begin immediately and continue through Friday, March 24, 2023. Three professional references will be requested of all candidates who interview for the position. Learn more and apply
Seeking a school leader? ASBA Executive Search can help
ASBA is your one-stop shop for superintendent searches. From helping your board become search ready, launching a statewide or nationwide search, to assisting you with a smooth transition post-search – we’ve got you covered.
ASBA is searching for a superintendent for several school districts in Arizona, including Sacaton and Tonto Basin Elementary School Districts, as well as Prescott Unified School District.
Click here to find out more about the process and see recent openings on ASBA’s website.
It’s almost time for Town Hall: Public Education in Rural Arizona!
Register now to be a part of the free, interactive Town Hall: Public Education in Rural Arizona hosted by the ASBA Rural Alliance on Thursday, March 30, 2023, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Zoom. This Town Hall brings Arizona’s rural and remote school board members and superintendents together to identify and prioritize the needs of rural schools and the actions necessary to address them.
About 65 percent of Arizona school districts are in rural and/or remote areas of the state. Their distance from urban centers and each other, as well as the distance their students must travel to attend school present unique challenges to providing an exceptional educational environment in which every student has the opportunity to thrive.
The ASBA Rural Alliance invites and encourages you to be a part of this advocacy-centric effort as we come together to identify the issues that unite us. We ARE stronger together. Link to register before March 15 and complete the survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3G8GZKC and you’ll receive preparation materials prior to the Town Hall.
It’s the final stretch for students to apply for ASBA scholarships
Arizona high school seniors who attend classes in an ASBA member district are invited to apply now for ASBA scholarships. The deadline for students to apply for all three scholarships is 5 p.m. Monday, April 3, 2023.
The Jack Peterson Scholarship is awarded annually to at least one Arizona high school senior who plans to pursue education as their major course of study at the college/university level. Amounts of the awards vary from year to year and are based on annual earnings from the scholarship endowment. Scholarship amounts typically range from $1,000 to $1,500. The scholarship was established in honor of ASBA Executive Director Jack Peterson, who served the association from 1991 to 1998.
The Panfilo H. Contreras Honorary Scholarship was awarded for the first time in 2013 by ASBA’s Hispanic-Native American Indian Caucus. Hispanic and Native American Indian students are eligible to apply for this scholarship to support their attendance at an accredited post-secondary institution. Last year’s scholarships were $1,000 each.
The Georgie and Calvin Goode Student Scholarship was established by the ASBA Black Alliance in 2021 and was awarded for the first time in Spring 2022. Two scholarships of $1,250 each are available. Scholarships will be awarded to high school seniors who demonstrate an exceptional record of academic growth and a commitment to service to others. Applicants must be a currently enrolled senior in an ASBA member district, Black or of African descent and planning to further their education at an accredited postsecondary institution. Find links to the online applications here.
Register now for the Wednesday Webinar – It’s today!
As an exclusive benefit of ASBA membership, members can register to attend the Wednesday Webinars live or view the recording at their own leisure. Learn from key experts and receive continuing education units for participating in and watching webinars.
When a governing board has an action item on the agenda, good governance requires board members consider all the facts and perspectives about that agenda item. In the Wednesday Webinar: Decision-Making with an Equity Lens on March 22, 2023 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., we will talk about board decision-making with an equity lens. This kind of decision-making lens would include a set of questions districts will ask themselves to assess how a particular policy or practice might impact various groups. Doing so will allow the district to determine if a policy, practice or program supports the district’s equity efforts and ensures the board action does not disproportionally benefit or harm any particular group of students.
If you can’t attend the webinar live, receive a recording directly to your email by registering for the event in advance. There is no cost to register for this webinar. We encourage advance registration.
ASBA Events and Webinars
Upcoming ASBA Webinars
Wednesday Webinars: I Don’t Understand: Engagement and the Importance of Home Language
April 26, 4 pm – 5 pm
Wednesday Webinars: Students Have Rights?!?!
May 10, 4 pm – 5 pm
You can find all Wednesday webinars on the ASBA webpage.
Can’t view the webinar live? No problem. Go ahead and register and you will receive the recording automatically by email so you can view it later. There is no cost to register for these webinars. We encourage advance registration.
Upcoming ASBA Events
Town Hall: Public Education in Rural Arizona
March 30, 4 pm – 6 pm on Zoom (Register now)
Summer Leadership Institute
June 8 – 10, 2023 (Save the Date)
In-Person New Board Member Orientation Part Two
June 8, 2023 (Save the Date)
View all ASBA events on the ASBA website.