On this episode, Jamison and Matt discuss the latest piece of Coronavirus legislation and the impact it has on Christian schools.  The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA) has three important provisions that Christian schools must know about: EANS, GEER, and PPP.  For a more in-depth treatment of these provisions, be sure to review the white paper prepared by our legislative team.

AACS Legislative Director, Jamison Coppola, joins Matt to discuss what happened with the CARES Act equitable services funds (court cases and confusion).  Jamison and Matt also reflect on the impact that new Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett will have on the Supreme Court.  Finally, Jamison shares some "inside baseball" insight as it relates to THE 2020 presidential election.

After recording this episode, the U.S. Department of Education has made grant funds available for COVID-related expenses under the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) program. Public and private schools can apply for this grant, and it is administered through the states. Recently, it has come to our attention that some states require applicant schools to agree to certain terms and conditions that may negatively impact your school’s ability to operate according to its sincerely-held religious beliefs.  We encourage you to reach out to our office if you you are considering submitting a grant application.

AACS Legislative Director, Jamison Coppola, joins Matt to discuss how schools should think through local and state regulations that impact a school's ability to offer their students in-person instruction.  

Some topics discussed include

• jurisdictional authority
• for the purpose of reopening discussions, comparing private schools to child-care centers instead of public schools
• requests to submit re-opening plans to local/state authorities
• how to think through a mandate to not reopen

Matt is joined by Dr. Mark Zockoll who shares findings from his survey of 140 Christian school teachers from across the United States and Guam.  Dr. Zockoll shares how teachers grew stronger in communication, technology, and assessment as well as personal and spiritual growth.

Resources mentioned on the show

• Article by Dr. Zockoll (Nearly 70 different apps and pieces of software used by teachers are listed including some examples of how they used the tools.)
• Feedback about future episodes can be sent to [email protected].

Have you considered what it will look like for your students and teachers to return to campus in the fall?  Have you considered communicating this plan to your constituents in writing?  In this episode of AACS Today, we dive into the Re-entry Plan from Victory Baptist Academy in Weatherford, TX.

Resources mentioned on the show

• email podcast feedback to [email protected]
• Sample Christian Academy Re-entry Plan (Word, editable)
• Sample Christian Academy Re-entry Plan (PDF)

It seems that every day brings new rules and guidelines for the CARES Act. On this episode of AACS Today, Jamison and Matt discuss some encouraging updates to the Paycheck Protection Program, including the safe harbor guidance as it relates to the good faith certification required on the PPP application.  

Matt and Jamison also discuss a letter from the school choice community that was sent to Congressional leaders imploring them to remember private schools and equitable services as they develop plans for future funding.

Finally, Jamison shares an update on some key pieces of religious liberty guidance coming from the Department of Labor.

When it comes to the plan for your team's professional development this summer, what questions are you asking?  On top of the questions we usually ask about PD and how we can improve our craft, with all the COVID craziness surrounding the last quarter of this school year, you might be tempted to forego any plans that you had for professional development for your team this summer. But is that a good idea? 

On this episode of AACS Today, our panel of educators pulls back the curtain on the workshops that they are leading this summer. Also, AACS Executive Director, Dr. Jeff Walton, challenges us to ask the right questions about PD. Our panel includes Bryan Osborne from Answers In Genesis, Dana Davis from Maranatha Baptist University, and Heidi Braughler from Maranatha Baptist Academy.

During a typical school year, the spring is filled with special end-of-year traditions and capstone events for the graduating class including banquets, trips and of course, graduation. Because of the Covid-19 pandemic many of these events have been postponed, tweaked, or even canceled.

On this episode, four educators from four schools from across the country share how their schools are working hard to make the end of the year a special time for the class of 2020.  Our panelists share how they are honoring their graduates, how they have tweaked their special events to make them memorable, and they pull back the curtain to share their plans for their school's upcoming graduation ceremony. 

Our Panelists

• Pastor Dave Nichols, Land O' Lakes Christian Academy, FL
• Mr. Andrew Fry, Colonial Hills Christian School, IN
• Mr. Jeff Smith, Trinity Christian Academy, AL
• Mr. James Mendoza, Macedonian Christian Academy, TX

AACS Legislative Director, Jamison Coppola, and AACS Legislative Assistant, Hannah DeBruler, join Matt to provide our listeners with additional details about the CARES Act, the AACS Youth Legislative Training Conference, and a look at what's coming next politically in Washington, D.C.

Resources mentioned on the podcast

• AACS podcast page
• Small Business Administration Covid-19 resources
• AACS Legislative and Legal Information

Christian school leaders must begin planning NOW for possible changes they may need to make as they open their doors this fall. In part 2 of Planning for Reopening in the Fall of 2020, Dr. Jeff Walton, AACS Executive Director, and Ed Francis, AACS Education Director, join Matt to provide perspective on questions raised in "An Open Letter to Independent School Leaders" from Kennesaw State University and "Reopening 2020" from Dr. Mark Beadle.

Resources mentioned on the podcast

• Kennesaw State Letter
• Dr. Mark Beadle Letter
• Past AACS webinars with Dr. David Warren