PEP (Public Education Policy) Talk: An AASA Podcast

PEP Talk Episode 45: The FCC's New E-Rate Bidding Portal

On this episode of PEP Talk: Kat Sturdevant catches up with Jon Bernstein, president of Bernstein Strategy Group and Joey Wender, executive director of the Schools Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition (SHLB) to talk about the FCC's new centralized E-Rate bidding portal for K-12 districts and what it means for school district leaders and technology officials.   You can register for SHLB's webinar Making Sense of the New E-Rate Bidding Portal on June 3 here [https://www.shlb.org/events/shlb-webinar-making-sense-of-the-new-e-rate-bidding-portal].

PEP Talk Episode 44: The ED Interagency Agreements

On this episode of PEP Talk: Kat Sturdevant speaks with Tiffany Kessler, partner at The Bruman Group about the Interagency Agreements at the Department of Education; what programs are moving, what are the challenges and benefits, and what superintendents need to plan for.   Tiffany Kessler will also be part of a webinar with AASA on April 7 about Schoolwide Fund Consolidation, which you can register for here [https://www.aasa.org/professional-learning/event/2026/04/07/default-calendar/flexibility-unlocked-demystifying-schoolwide-fund-consolidation].

PEP Talk Episode 43: The State of Student Privacy & AI

On this episode of PEP Talk: Kat Sturdevant catches up with Amelia Vance, founder and president of the Public Interest Privacy Center who staffs the AASA Student and Child Privacy Center, to discuss recent legislative developments on Capitol Hill related to student and child privacy bills and the role of AI in schools.

PEP Talk Episode 42: Rethinking Special Education Dispute Resolution at IDEA’s 50th Anniversary

On this episode of PEP Talk: Kat Sturdevant interviews two of the authors of AASA's new report Rethinking Special Education Dispute Resolution at IDEA’s 50th Anniversary. Angela L. Balsley, Ed.D., founder of Unified Leadership and David Bateman, PhD., answer questions about what dispute resolution reforms could look like in 5 - 10 years and why this report is important and timely.   To read the full report, please check it out here [https://www.aasa.org/resources/resource/rethinking-special-education-dispute-resolution-at-idea-s-50th-anniversary].

PEP Talk Episode 41: Changes to the H-1B Visa Program

On this episode of PEP Talk: Kat Sturdevant chats with AASA's senior government affairs manager Tara Thomas about the proposed changes to the H-1B Visa program, a key tool some districts use to alleviate staffing shortages for teaching positions. Kat also spoke with Tobin Novasio, superintendent of Hardin Schools in Montana, about how the proposed changes would affect his district.   CORRECTION: In a previous version of this podcast, Tara mistakenly stated that the fee was not currently active due to the court challenge. An injunction has been requested, but not yet provided by the court. As of October 24, 2025 the fee is applicable.