PEP (Public Education Policy) Talk: An AASA Podcast

PEP Talk Episode 46: The Budgetary Impact of Health Care Costs on School Districts

On this episode of PEP Talk: Kat Sturdevant explores the findings of the new AASA/ASBO report, "Rising Premiums, Falling Opportunities: The Budgetary Impact of Health Care Costs on School Districts," with Sasha Pudelski, director of advocacy at AASA and Elleka Yost, director of advocacy and research at ASBO International. This report is the first national study of its kind examining how rising healthcare costs are affecting public school district budgets, staffing and operational decisions, and educational opportunities for students. AASA & ASBO surveyed over 520 superintendents and school business officials in March–April 2026 to examine the effects of insurance premium increases on district budgets, staffing, operations, and educational programs and services. You can read the report here [https://www.aasa.org/resources/resource/rising-premiums--falling-opportunities--the-budgetary-impact-of-health-care-costs-on-school-districts].

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].