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We reviewed the upcoming agenda for REG 20 EDUCATION SERVICE CENTER and found 7 items with policy significance ahead of the vote.
| PRIORITY (LEVEL 8) |
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Head Start Action Plan Implements Social-Emotional Learning
The board will review the 2026-2027 Head Start Self-Assessment Action Plan, which contains an explicit goal to ‘foster mental wellness, social-emotional learning, and development of children.’ Action steps include training staff and implementing strategies to promote a ‘program-wide culture of mental wellness.’ This document confirms the implementation of SEL frameworks within the federally-funded Head Start program.
Policy Use
BRIEF STATE AFFAIRS: Item 15 provides confirmed language of SEL implementation in a federally funded program. Capture the ‘Mental Health and Disabilities’ section of the ’26-27 Self-Assessment Action Plan’ attachment as a concrete example for testimony and briefs on how SEL is embedded in early childhood education.
Policy Lever: SEL Implementation
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| PRIORITY (LEVEL 7) |
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District Accepts $1.4M in Federal Special Education Grants
The board will vote to add $1,404,792 to its Special Revenue Fund from two federal IDEA-B Supplemental grants. The funds are designated for ‘Leadership’ programs related to special education. This action accepts federal funds with attached conditions, expanding federally-influenced programming within the district.
Policy Use
TRACK AND DOCUMENT: For Item 7, request the grant agreements for IDEA-B projects OPN444 and OPN445 to identify the specific conditions and ‘Leadership’ program activities funded. Add this district to the state tracker for federal grant acceptance.
Policy Lever: $1.4M Federal Grant
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| PRIORITY (LEVEL 7) |
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District to Adopt New Artificial Intelligence Policy
The board is scheduled to take action on adding a new local policy, ECB – Technology Resources: Artificial Intelligence, and a corresponding exhibit. This creates the governing framework for the use of AI in the district. The specific language of the policy, which will dictate controls on AI tools for students and staff, is not included in the agenda packet.
Policy Use
PULL THE DOCUMENT: For Item 13, retrieve the proposed text for policy ECB (Local) and the ECB (Exhibit) from the official agenda link. This is a new policy area with significant implications for curriculum and student data; the operative language is critical.
Policy Lever: AI Governance
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| PRIORITY (LEVEL 7) |
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Agreement Enables Federal Grant for Mental Health Staff
The board will approve an interlocal agreement with Abilene Christian University to facilitate payments for ‘Project HARVEST,’ which is funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Mental Health Service Professionals grant. This agreement is a mechanism for channeling federal funds into the training and placement of mental health staff in schools. These roles are often vectors for implementing SEL and other therapeutic curricula.
Policy Use
TRACK AND DOCUMENT: For Item 10, request the full interlocal agreement for Project HARVEST. Track the implementation of this U.S. Dept. of Education grant to identify the number of personnel placed and the content of their training.
Policy Lever: Federal Mental Health Grant
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| WATCH (LEVEL 6) |
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Board to Revise Public Participation Policy
The board is scheduled to vote on revisions to its local policy BED, which governs public participation in board meetings. Changes to this policy could expand or restrict the public’s ability to address the board. The text of the proposed revisions was not included in the agenda packet.
Policy Use
PULL THE DOCUMENT: For Item 13, retrieve the proposed revised text for policy BED (Local) from the official agenda link to determine if changes alter public comment time, topics, or registration rules.
Policy Lever: Public Comment Rules
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| WATCH (LEVEL 6) |
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District Responds to Federal ‘Improper Payment Review’
The board will vote on a budget amendment for the Head Start program to fund travel to a federal fiscal forum. The justification states attendance was ‘strongly recommended by the Office of Head Start as a result of the most recent Improper Payment Review.’ This action shows the district complying with a federal directive following a negative fiscal audit finding.
Policy Use
TRACK AND DOCUMENT: Item 14 is an example of a local body’s response to federal fiscal oversight. Document the ‘Improper Payment Review’ as the catalyst for this action and add it to the tracker for federal-local interactions.
Policy Lever: Federal Compliance Mandate
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| WATCH (LEVEL 6) |
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District Procuring AI Services via Purchasing Cooperative
The board will vote to award a proposal for a purchasing cooperative that explicitly includes ‘AI, Cloud, [and] Cyber’ services. This action establishes a procurement vehicle for districts to acquire artificial intelligence technology. This is a fiscal step that enables the implementation of AI policies and tools in schools.
Policy Use
WATCH: Item 9, the PACE Purchasing Cooperative proposal, creates a pathway for AI adoption. Monitor which districts utilize this cooperative to procure AI services once it is established.
Policy Lever: AI Procurement
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