Register now for the 2020 AACS Annual Convention & Expo. For the first time, the conference will be 100% virtual. Join us October 27-29, 2020.

Serving as a Director is one of the most important ways to support and sustain AACS. Our Directors have the responsibility to provide foresight, oversight, and insight for the Association. They serve as our primary ambassadors, advocates and the conscious voice of our Members. Our Board of Directors reflect the highest aspirations of our business, our students and our industry.

Elections will take place at the 2020 Virtual Annual Convention on October 27-29th. There will be three (3) School Member seats and one (1) Partner Member seat open for this election.

Learn more about the AACS Board candidates here.

Mario Castillo is a graduate from Cortiva Institute and has been working as a massage therapist for over seven years. He wants Rep. Madeleine Dean, Congresswoman Susan Wild, U.S. Senator Bob Casey and Senator Pat Toomey to know that “Education is education and no institution should be left out.” 

You can watch his story here. 

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.

NEW BENEFIT: AACS has chosen FlexCare, a leading provider of digital health solutions, as a telemedicine partner offering unmatched service, pricing and plan

flexibility to our members. FlexCare telemedicine provides members 24/7/365 telephonic or live video access to U.S. board- certified physicians in all 50 states who can diagnose, treat and prescribe medication, when appropriate, for many acute medical conditions. 

To find out more, visit the FlexCare website. To sign up, contact: Jennifer@FlexCare.com.

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

New week: Marketing During the Pandemic: What Schools Got Right, Wrong and What to do for 2021

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Oozle Media has been tracking budgets, results and the impact of COVID-19 on schools. Some schools have had record years and waitlists despite this year's twists and turns. In this new webinar, Marketing During the Pandemic: What Schools Got Right, Wrong and What to do for 2021, we'll go through each branch of digital marketing and show you what worked well and how to leverage this data to finish the year strong. Then we'll look forward to 2021 marketing strategies. What's the right message to send? How can your school keep leads flowing and enrollments high? Join Stephanie Carter, COO of Oozle Media, as she shares marketing tips to start implementing now.

September 23, 2020
10:00 am PT/1:00 ET
Register now

Recordings of webinars to help you operate your school in light of the pandemic and changing regulations 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
• Moving Beyond Awareness: Diversity & Inclusion in Cosmetology Schools
• Safety, Health, And PPE Virtual Training & Resources
• Optimizing Cash Flow: Ways to Increase On-time Payments & Decrease Delinquent Payments Part 1

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 Updates

The AACS Government Relations Committee and its federal advocacy team at Duane Morris LLP represents the interests of AACS members in Congress. The GRC, through the Duane Morris team, provides a bi-weekly Washington Update to AACS membership that provides the most relevant information about what is happening in Congress and at the Department that may impact your school. We encourage all AACS members to read the Washington Update to keep up to date on developments and calls to action. We urge each and every AACS member school to set up a call with the Senators and House members who represent your school locations, and consider hosting a fundraiser. We will make it easy for you. Just call our lead advocate, Katherine Brodie at Duane Morris LLP in Washington, D.C. to learn how you can get more involved and help make a difference to your school, employees and students. Katherine can be reached at: kdbrodie@duanemorris.com or (202) 776-5241.

State Update

Idaho Passes Bill COVID-19 Liability Immunity Bill 

Last month, Idaho’s legislature passed a COVID-19 liability immunity bill in an Extraordinary Session.  The vote was 54 to 15 in the House and 27 to 7 in the Senate.  As signed by Governor Brad Little on August 27th, H0006 provides that a person is immune from civil liability for damages or an injury resulting from exposure of an individual to coronavirus. “Immunity as described in this section shall not apply to acts or omissions that constitute an intentional tort or willful or reckless misconduct as defined in section 6-1601, Idaho Code.”  The bill’s definition of a “person” includes “an individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, trust, association, church or religious organization, city, county, school district, college, university or other institution of higher education, or other unit of local government.”

Ohio State Board Proposes Expanded Distance Learning 

The Ohio State Cosmetology and Barber Board will be conducting a rulemaking hearing on Monday, September 28, 2020 to discuss amendments that will expand distance learning in the Buckeye State.  Most significantly, proposed amendments to Ohio Administrative Code 4713-5-02 would increase the number of required program hours that can be earned through “distance learning” from six percent to 20 percent.  They would also remove the current language limiting distance learning to theory hours.     

Other proposed revisions of interest to schools include:

• Replacing the definition of “web-based education” with the broader term “distance learning."
• A minor edit to eliminate the requirement that schools store clean towels in a closed, dustproof container. The revision will hold schools to the same standards as salons, barbershops, and other licensed facilities.
• An amendment to clarify the longstanding practice of counting assistant barber teachers towards the required student-teacher ratio.
• An amendment requiring all schools to post their school license. While this has long been the practice of all Board licensed schools, the barber school requirement was inadvertently missed when the cosmetology and barbering rule sets were merged. 

Colorado Rulemaking Addresses Licensure for Military Spouses 

Colorado’s Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure has proposed rule revisions to reflect the enactment of Colorado HB 1326, which modified the existing occupational credential exemption for military spouses.  To this end, the proposed amendments would allow a military spouse who holds an active license in another state to practice for up to three years without a Colorado license.  Under current regulations, military spouses must obtain a Colorado license after their first year of residency.  A rulemaking webinar will be held on October 1, 2020.  Click here (page 397) for additional information and the webinar link.   

Please do not hesitate to contact Brian Newman at bnewman@abingdonstrategies.com or by phone at 202-491-5254 with comments or questions.

COVID-19 Resources 

AACS Guide to Reopening
This page contains a running list of state reopening guidance for salons and other personal care businesses. 

AACS Coronavirus Resource Center  
The bottom of this page contains a running list of state distance learning guidance.  It was compiled with assistance from the AACS State Relations Committee and/or a review of state board websites. Accordingly, developments may be occurring faster than our ability to capture/report on them. Please contact your state regulator(s) for the most current information. 

State and Local Government Responses to Covid-19
Stateside Associates, a state and local government relations firm, has created a chart with state legislative actions, executive agency actions, gubernatorial actions, and local government actions related to the outbreak of the coronavirus.  Executive actions closing retail and “non-essential” businesses will be of interest.   

PBA/Stateside Associates Report: Reopening of State and Local Economies
Updated August 14, 2020

National Governors Association Coronavirus Updates

COVID-19 State Legislation – National Conference of State Legislatures