Events
Free Events
Equitable Services 101: Foundations for Serving All Students under the ESEA
Join us for a free 60-minute webinar on Equitable Services 101: Foundations for Serving All Students under the ESEA. Learn the nuts and bolts of providing equitable services under Title I, Part A (Title I) and Title VIII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA).
This free 60-minute webinar will provide an overview of requirements for providing equitable services to eligible private school students, educators, and families under ESEA programs, including:
Timely and meaningful consultation between public and private school officials
Allocations and other fiscal considerations
Delivery of equitable services
Monitoring and enforcement
The session will be led by Josie Eskow Skinner and Michael Anderson, who advised on these matters while serving in the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of the General Counsel.
Sligo Law Group also will be offering an Equitable Services Institute in early 2026 that will provide a more robust, in-depth exploration of each of these topics. Details are coming soon!
Section 117 of the Higher Education Act: Basics of Foreign Gift and Contract Reporting for Institutions of Higher Education
Join us for a free 60-minute webinar on Section 117 of the Higher Education Act: Basics of Foreign Gift and Contract Reporting for Institutions of Higher Education. This session will provide an overview of requirements for reporting foreign gifts and contracts under Section 117 of the Higher Education Act. With the semiannual reporting deadline approaching and heightened administration focus on compliance by institutions of higher education (IHEs) in a range of areas, this webinar is intended to assist IHEs in understanding the basics of Section 117 reporting, as well as how to comply with some of the more nuanced aspects of the statute’s requirements.
The webinar will address the following:
Definition of “foreign source”
Reporting of gifts
Reporting of contracts
Restricted and conditional gifts and contracts
Avoiding possible underreporting
Importance of Section 117 policies and procedures
The session will be led by Lisa Wells Harris, Of Counsel at Sligo Law Group. Lisa coordinated a team of attorneys working to collaboratively resolve investigations into the reporting of foreign gifts and contracts under Section 117 while serving in the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of General Counsel.
Unlocking Federal K–12 Funding Flexibilities
Join us for a free 60-minute webinar on Unlocking Federal K–12 Funding Flexibilities. Learn how to maximize funding flexibilities in federal K–12 programs as your program needs continue to evolve.
This free 60-minute webinar will highlight a range of flexibilities available to states, districts, and schools, including:
ESEA waivers of statutory and regulatory requirements
Transferability authority across Titles I–IV of the ESEA
Consolidation of federal, state, and local funds in a Title I schoolwide program
Ed-Flex authority under the Educational Flexibility Partnership Act
The session will be led by Josie Eskow Skinner and Michael Anderson, who advised on these matters while serving in the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of the General Counsel.
Appropriations 101: How Federal Programs Get Funded
Join us for a free 60-minute webinar on Appropriations 101: How Federal Programs Get Funded.
Congress’s appropriations process determines how much funding federal programs—from education and health to housing, defense, and beyond—receive each year. Yet the appropriations process and law are often misunderstood, even by experienced grant recipients and policymakers.
This webinar will break down the essentials of appropriations law, including:
“Authorizations” v. “Appropriations” – how they differ and why that matters for your programs
The 12 annual appropriations bills and how they fund agencies across government
Key terms like “mandatory” vs. “discretionary” spending, continuing resolutions, and omnibus bills
How appropriations riders and general provisions shape program implementation
This session will be led by Paul Riddle, a Senior Advisor with Sligo Law Group. Paul served the U.S. Department of Education for 47 years, including 20 years as the Assistant General Counsel for Legislation, before retiring in January 2025. While at ED, he supervised the drafting and analysis of legislation for the full range of ED’s programs and interests and worked closely with both political and career staff in all ED offices, the White House (including the Office of Management and Budget), and congressional staff.
This session is designed for a broad audience: state and local officials, nonprofits, higher education institutions, policy professionals, and organizations that rely on federal funding.
Save by purchasing all four sessions of the Equitable Services Institute together:
Session 1 – Getting to Yes: How to Ensure Effective Consultation (January 22, 2026)
Session 2 – Money Matters: Equitable Services Funding and Other Fiscal Considerations (February 26, 2026)
Session 3 – Equitable Services in Action: Delivering Services (March 26, 2026)
Session 4 – Ensuring Equity: Program Evaluation, Monitoring, and Enforcement (April 30, 2026)