AACS is accepting applications to speak at our 2020 AACS Annual Convention & Expo taking place October 23-26 in Houston, Texas. Our Event Planning Committee will be looking for unique topics that will inspire our school owners and administrators. Various session styles are welcome.

Complete the Speaker Application here.

More details about the convention will be available soon.

Thank you for being part of a historic, first-ever virtual AACS CEA & AMP. Don’t forget to take the survey! Attendees will be able to access the recordings and resources from the conference for 30 days. After 30 days, the resources will be password protected. AACS will provide the password.

Joanna Zelaya attends the Esthetics Program at Long Island Nail Skin & Hair Institute in New York. She wants Congressman Pete King, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Senator Chuck Schumer to know that this program has completely changed her life. Before attending school she was working odd jobs and was unhappy. She shares in her video about her passion for her career.

You can encourage your students to record a short 30-60 second video that explains what their education means to them. Learn more about the #DontCutUsOut campaign here.

Reopening Guide

States are adjusting their phased openings based on new information daily. Stay updated with AACS’ Reopening Guide to help your schools and organization proceed with protocols to ensure the safety and health of your staff, instructors, students, and community. In addition to resources, it also includes a state-by-state list of reopening policies. Click on this link to find out more. 

Coronavirus Resource Center

AACS is here for you with a comprehensive coronavirus resource page that will be updated as new information comes in. Click here for updates from the Centers for Disease Control, World Health Organization, Small Business Administration, U.S. Department of Education, accreditors, distance learning educators and more.

This course will assist in improving the richness of online learning opportunities by incorporating strategies to avoid the rote memorization and repeating of facts for assessment purposes. Instructors will be able to construct an overarching philosophy to coincide with templated materials. A foundation for success can begin with analyzing the principles of Malcolm Knowles' Theory of Adult Learning and applying those principles to the online classroom.

Access the course now

As a member benefit of The American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS) you are eligible to receive our exclusive discounts at Office Depot® and OfficeMax® in-store and on-line.  
 

Access your Store Purchasing Card (SPC) and show the card to the cashier in-store at checkout and see your savings!  You can access the card in several ways:

1.       Download the Office Depot Business App (after online account is setup),

2.       Text AACSSPC to 833-602-8404 or,

3.       Visit this link

Especially during this time of the coronavirus pandemic, we have been hosting webinars for members to provide the latest information to help you continue to serve your students and manage your business.

TODAY – Safety, Health, And PPE Virtual Training & Resources

European Wax Center takes hygiene and safety very seriously. They continue to follow applicable occupational health and safety regulations in every center, every day, regardless of season or sickness. Given recent events, they have enhanced their standards and best practices to help make associates and guests feel comfortable. They have created multiple resources to prepare every center and their associates, and are now making these resources available to you and your students.

Drawing upon the latest information from a variety of trusted public sources, the available course and resources cuts through the confusion by offering an in-depth look at what a coronavirus is and what makes COVID-19 unique.

Join Jessica Gil from European Wax Center to review all resources available and take a high level look into what’s included.

Thursday, July 30
1:00 pm ET/12:00 pm CT/10:00 am PT
Register for the webinar here

If you missed a webinar, recordings are available to members only. Webinars to date are:

• Navigating Distance Education
• Understanding the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Grant
• CARES Act Relief for Schools
• Best Practices for Re-Opening Your School
• Coronavirus Legal Update

If you would like the recording, email info@beautyschools.org. More will be available soon. Monitor your inbox for the latest information.

Additional FAQs are available regarding:

Navigating Distance Education

Prescription RX Card Benefit

With heightened concerns about our health, you and your staff, faculty and students may need some additional assistance with your prescriptions. Ask the AACS national office how you can download your prescription card, and potentially save up to 80% on your medications. There are no health restrictions, and may be used on drugs not covered in health plans. It may even be used on many pet prescriptions. The card is pre-activated and ready for use! For your copy, contact Cristina@beautyschools.org. This benefit is for members only, and is accepted at more than 68,000 pharmacies nationwide.

Federal Legislative Weekly Update

Congress 

July 27, 2020 – Senate Republicans released the Health, Economic, Assistance, Liability protection, and Schools (“HEALS”) Act that includes $105 billion for education: $70 billion for K-12 schools; nearly $30 billion for colleges; and another $5 billion for governors to spend on education. Under the distribution formula, funding for proprietary institutions would be limited to funds distributed through an application process. The bill includes Chairman Alexander’s plan to consolidate and streamline the government’s existing income-based repayment options. Borrowers would choose either a standard 10-year repayment plan or an income-based repayment plan that limits payments to 10 percent of a borrower's discretionary income. The proposed plan would extend temporary liability protection to institutions for a period covering December 1, 2019 to October 1, 2024. 

July 24, 2020 – The House passed the first mini-bus, H.R. 7608. The bill provides funding for the departments of State, Interior- Environment, Agriculture, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs. The four-bill minibus is the first of two fiscal 2021 funding bundles that House Democrats plan to pass by the end of the week. The House will next take up a seven-bill, $1.4 trillion package, H.R. 7617, that would fund the Pentagon and the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Homeland Security, Justice, Transportation, Energy. As previously reported, the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-H) Appropriations provides a total of $73.5 billion in discretionary appropriations for the Education Department, an increase of $716 million above the FY 2020 enacted level and $6.9 billion above the President’s budget request. Of this amount, the bill includes:      

• $6,495 for the maximum Pell Grant, an increase of $150 above the FY 2020 enacted level.
• $880 million for the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant program, an increase of $15 million above the FY 2020 enacted level.
• $1.2 billion for Federal Work Study, an increase of $30 million above the FY 2020 enacted level.
• $2.6 billion for higher education programs, an increase of $81 million above the FY 2020 enacted level.

The bill also includes a number of policy riders:

• A provision prohibiting funds from implementing the final Title IX regulation regarding how schools respond to sexual assault and harassment and that disproportionately burdens complainants.
• Second Chance Pell—The bill includes new language allowing incarcerated individuals to be eligible for Pell Grants.
• 90/10—The bill includes language requiring for-profit colleges to derive more of their revenue from non-Federal sources and includes all Federal education assistance in the calculation. 

July 23, 2020 – The Senate passed its version of the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, S. 4049, by a vote of 86-14. The bill includes provisions that support renaming military bases named after Confederate leaders and to fight workplace racial discrimination for military personnel. The two bills now head to conference to reconcile differences. 

July 21, 2020 – The House passed the National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2021, H.R. 6395. The $740 billion national defense authorization bill passed by a vote of 295 to 125 and includes a 3% pay raise for troops. The bill includes an amendment from Congressman Mark Takano (D-CA) that makes military education benefits such as Department of Defense Tuition Assistance count as federal educational assistance funds and limits the availability of federal funds for proprietary for-profit institutions unless the institution derives at least 10% of funds from sources other than federal funds.

U.S. Department of Education 

July 24, 2020 – The Department has announced the availability of Volume 5 – Withdrawals and the Return of Title IV Funds of the 2020-2021 Federal Student Aid Handbook.

The Federal Student Aid Handbook consists of the Application and Verification Guide, six numbered volumes, and appendices. To access Volume 5 – Withdrawals and the Return of Title IV Funds of the 2020-2021 Federal Student Aid Handbook, click here. 

The Department is proposing an extension of an existing information collection, “Waiver Requests Related to the Adult Education and Family of Literacy Act and the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act.” This information collection solicits from State educational agencies requests for waivers of section 421(b) of the General Education Provisions Act (to extend the period of availability for obligation of State formula grant funds authorized by the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 and the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act. 

Recently Introduced Federal Legislation

S.4322 – Safely Back to School and Back to Work Act
        a.    Status: Referred to Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, 7/27/20
        b.    Sponsor: Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) 0 Cosponsors 

S.4320 – Coronavirus Response Additional Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020
        a.     Status: Referred to Senate Committee on Appropriations, 7/27/20
        b.     Sponsor: Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) 0 Cosponsors 

H.R.7788 – To temporarily enable qualified training providers to provide online and virtual training services, and for other purposes.
        a.       Status: Referred to House Committee on Education and Labor, 7/24/20
        b.       Sponsor: Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-PA) 0 Cosponsors 

H.R.7761 – To provide for student loan forgiveness for public service workers whose employment may have been affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
        a.        Status: Referred to House Committee on Education and Labor, 7/24/20
        b.        Sponsor: Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) 17 Cosponsors

H.R.7737 – To amend the Federal Pell Grant Program to support career training opportunities for young Americans.
        a.        Status: Referred to House Committee on Education and Labor, 7/23/20
        b.        Sponsor: Rep. John Carter (R-TX) 0 Cosponsors

S.4310 –      A bill to prohibit in-person instructional requirements during the COVID-19 emergency.
        a.        Status: Referred to Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, 7/23/20
        b.        Sponsor: Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) 0 Cosponsors

H.R.7710 – To provide liability protection for elementary schools, secondary schools, and institutions of higher education during the COVID-19 public health emergency, and for other purposes.
       a.          Status: Introduced in House, 7/21/20
       b.          Sponsor: Rep. Gregory Murphy (R-NC) 28 Cosponsors  

H.R.7706 – To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to encourage voting by students and to establish emergency procedures for institutions of higher education to assist students in exercising their right to vote.
       a.          Status: Referred to Committee on Education and Labor, 7/21/20
       b.          Sponsor: Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) 0 Cosponsors

S.4254   –    A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to encourage voting by students and to establish emergency procedures for institutions of higher education to assist students in exercising their right to vote.
      a.            Status: Referred to Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, 7/21/20
      b.            Sponsor: Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) 3 Cosponsors

S.4247 –      A bill to simplify loan repayment for Federal student loans under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, to make it easier to apply for Federal aid and making that aid predictable, and for other purposes.
      a.           Status: Referred to Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, 7/21/20
      b.           Sponsor: Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) 0 Cosponsors

S.4237 – A bill to extend zero interest rate benefits and payment suspension to all Federal student loan borrowers, and for other purposes.
a.                  Status: Referred to Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, 7/21/20
b.                  Sponsor: Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) 3 Cosponsors