With the schedule for the 2018 CEA & AMP Annual Convention released, we can now announce that you can earn up to 23 Continuing Education Units by attending this year! Get 15 hours for the main convention; 4 hours per Saturday workshop attended; 2 hours per evening workshop attended. Don't miss any of the amazing education we are bringing you - like Self Care for Educators with Joshua Perez Hood or To Become a Master with Geno Stampora. We have something for everyone this year!

Register yourself and your team by tomorrow, May 18, to take advantage of the Early Bird Discount.

View the full schedule here!

How have you directly affected the life of a student by being that voice of encouragement or helping a student through a life challenging experience? As educators, we do so much more than educate – we are beacons of hope and help students through some of the most trying times of their lives. Share your experiences of how you have helped the next generation of beauty professionals by encouraging them to not only succeed, but to pay it forward.

One winner will receive:

• an all-expenses paid trip to the 2018 CEA & AMP Convention in Las Vegas, NV (airfare, 3 nights hotel, ground transportation, and registration fee)
• $200 spending money
• a GHD styling tool
• 15 minutes of stage time for presentation in front of an estimated 300+ audience
• Prizes proudly sponsored by Wella

Click here to learn how to enter the Paying it Forward contest.

Thank you to AACS who joined with generous brands from throughout the industry to sponsor the sixth Beauty Changes Lives Experience on Sunday, April 29 during America’s Beauty Show. AACS member school students and alumni were part of the annual celebration raising funds for next-Gen talent. We look forward to celebrating the next wave of NextGen artists in 2019.

The California Assembly Appropriations Committee voted unanimously last week to send AB 2134 to the Assembly floor where the bill has been placed on the consent calendar. This bill, as previously reported, would allow students enrolled in a public barbering or cosmetology school, or a school of barbering approved by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education, to work as an unpaid extern in a barbering/cosmetology establishment participating in the educational program of the school, subject to certain requirements and conditions. Under existing California law, a student who is enrolled in a private school of cosmetology can participate in such an internship.

In Vermont, the Senate passed H 684 last week without a roll call vote. The occupational licensure reform bill was subsequently cleared for transmittal to Governor Scott after the House concurred later in the day with Senate amendments. As previously reported, the measure will change the regulatory model for barbers and cosmetologists from a Board model to an Advisor model. Accordingly, regulatory decisions and oversight will be made by the Director of the Office of Professional Regulation with advice from two advisors from the profession who are chosen by the Secretary of State. Additionally, the measure will reduce the hours of instruction for a cosmetology license from 1,500 to 1,000. It will also reduce the hours of instruction for barbering from 1,000 to 750 hours, esthetics from 600 to 500 hours; and nail technician licensure from 400 to 200 hours.

Click here to read the full State Relations Update from Brian Newman.

Last week, the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development and Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-KY) hosted a hearing entitled “Closing the Skills Gap: Private sector solutions for America’s Workforce.”  The hearing provided insights into how some employers are addressing the shortage of six million workers and some of the reasons employers cannot find highly skilled workers to fill the available job openings.

Throughout the hearing, key aspects of two Committee bills, H.R. 2353 – The Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act and H.R. 4508 – The Promoting Real Opportunity, Success, and Prosperity through Education Reform Act, were highlighted as ways to help combat the skills gap. Specific provisions discussed included expanded student access to and participation in industry-led earn-and-learn programs and apprenticeships, and partnerships between business and institutions of higher education.

Later this week, Full Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) will host the first of two upcoming hearings devoted to other areas of interest to higher education.

Today, May 17th, the Committee will further its discussions on data security and personally identifiable student information during a hearing entitled, “Protecting Privacy, Promoting Data Security: Exploring How Schools and States Keep Safe.” Then, next Tuesday, May 22nd, the Committee will host Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos at a hearing entitled “Examining the Policies and Priorities of the U.S. Department of Education.”

AACS will be monitoring and reporting on both of these important hearings over the next week sharing our key takeaways from the discussions. For those of you who would like to watch the hearings in real time, you can always go to the Committee’s website, click on hearings, and click on the appropriate hearing for either the live webcast or archived videos of the hearings after the fact.

Male haircutting trends these days demand precise knowledge of both clipper techniques for shorter hair and shear use for longer looks. Are you looking for methods to assist your students in perfecting their total skills to meet the demands of today’s male client? Whether you’re a Barbering or Cosmetology educator, this workshop is perfect for you. Join Pivot Point’s education team for this exciting, skills-packed, hands-on workshop.

You’ll cut and style two looks that explore characteristics that make a haircut masculine, as well as hone your skills in identifying “sharpness” and “shade” with fades. Not only will you feel more confident in your tapered cuts and fades, but you’ll also gain the resources to empower your learners to elevate their craft and prepare them for the shop or salon. 

After this workshop, you’ll be able to: 

• Describe and demonstrate the gradation techniques used to create tapered haircuts
• Identify and perform the techniques used in fade haircuts
• Understand how to balance a hairstyle with texture and a low fade
• Learn the steps necessary to combine a medium-high fade with a square, masculine interior
• Review the necessary skills required when working with longer lengths

Register today and receive a FREE Ian mannequin plus a set of Shark Fin® barbering shears (6.25” straight shear, 7” texturizing shear, razor and case)—a $420 value!

Disclaimer: You must be registered for both the CEA & AMP Annual Convention and this workshop in order for your registration to be confirmed.

Click here to register for the workshop!

Click here to get your discounted tickets to the CEA & AMP Annual Convention.

You don't have to develop from scratch all of the training opportunities you would like to provide for your team. Please think of the AACS Online Training Center as your partner to help you address your employee development needs. You already have over 150 online training courses at your disposal ready when you need them.

View our training courses.

Are you providing certification opportunities for your employees? Display recognition seals on your institution's website to let your students know.