/The Leading Edge, AASA's policy & advocacy blog, provides up-to-date information about activities in Washington, D.C. and Capitol Hill that affect you and your school district.The Leading Edge BlogAdvocacy & PolicyFinance & BudgetsE-RateTechnology & AIDistrict & School OperationsSchool Safety & CybersecuritySchool NutritionHealth & WellnessLeadership DevelopmentAmerican Rescue Planurn:uuid:4d788b0e-1a2e-49bf-befa-632ec4d1c556/resources/blog/aasa-files-amicus-briefs-in-3-scotus-cases The Leading Edge BlogAdvocacy & PolicyThis has been the most substantive Supreme Court docket for K-12 education in many decades.Thu, 10 Apr 2025 18:02:47 Zurn:uuid:5c184c0f-e419-4ac0-b02b-fca381446961/resources/blog/ed-issues-new-dei-directive-for-states The Leading Edge BlogAdvocacy & PolicyToday, the U.S. Department of Education issued a new directive requiring every state education agency (SEA) to certify within 10 days that they are complying with federal civil rights laws.Thu, 03 Apr 2025 22:40:17 Zurn:uuid:0121cbce-a0a3-4063-8617-353ddbdfd684/resources/blog/the-advocate-april-2025-reconciliation-vs.-appropriations The Leading Edge BlogAdvocacy & PolicyFinance & BudgetsThis month's edition of The Advocate is about the budget reconciliation process in Congress.Thu, 03 Apr 2025 12:52:44 Zurn:uuid:7bfbcce0-f255-4849-8d67-cc0c68d1551f/resources/blog/used-sends-letter-to-states-on-leveraging-flexibilities-in-title-i-funds-to-support-education-choice The Leading Edge BlogOn Monday, the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education sent a letter to all chief state school officers informing them of existing flexibility in federal formula funds under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to support education choice initiatives.Tue, 01 Apr 2025 22:33:37 Zurn:uuid:dacc48cc-6de6-45c6-a63a-84c5c128d8b5/resources/blog/committee-for-education-funding-sends-letter-to-department-of-education-regarding-recent-actions The Leading Edge BlogLast week, the Committee for Education Funding (CEF) sent a letter to Education Secretary McMahon expressing opposition to the President’s executive order calling for the closure of the Department of Education (ED) and other recent Administration actions that have drastically cut ED staffing. Mon, 31 Mar 2025 19:54:08 Zurn:uuid:07abbdc0-d545-41d6-8791-b307166c3866/resources/blog/guest-blog-post-unpacking-the-e-rate-argument-from-jon-bernstein The Leading Edge BlogE-RateAdvocacy & PolicyTechnology & AIDistrict & School OperationsJon Bernstein, who co-leads the EdLiNC Coalition with Noelle Ellerson Ng, shares his insights on the arguments made in the E-Rate case before the U.S. Supreme Court this week.Thu, 27 Mar 2025 18:53:55 Zurn:uuid:8cc8b92f-0184-461b-b45b-588d44352ff1/resources/blog/president-trump-signs-executive-order-on-dept.-of-education The Leading Edge BlogYesterday, President Trump signed an executive order that would direct the Secretary of Education to take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the U.S. Department of Education and “return education authority to the States.Fri, 21 Mar 2025 20:47:22 Zurn:uuid:c8e2f8b3-0795-45ea-ad78-3006ae9c6b47/resources/blog/aasa-endorses-coppa-2.0 The Leading Edge BlogAdvocacy & PolicySchool Safety & Cybersecurity������is proud to support the re-introduction of COPPA 2.0.Thu, 20 Mar 2025 16:42:56 Zurn:uuid:b9714250-3767-49d5-99ea-7dd329aa2541/resources/blog/congress-passes-cr-to-complete-fy25 The Leading Edge BlogAfter weeks of uncertainty about a potential government shutdown, Congress has approved a year-long continuing resolution. This completes Fiscal Year 2025 appropriations and provides level-funding for most of the key K-12 formula programs, including IDEA, Title I, Title IV-A and REAP. Sat, 15 Mar 2025 03:51:31 Zurn:uuid:9aff558e-de9d-46c7-8852-ed8153a9c9e3/resources/blog/department-of-education-reduction-in-force The Leading Edge BlogOn 3/11/25, USED announced a major reduction in force (RIF) that, together with other recent employment actions, reduces the agency’s workforce by nearly 50%. Thu, 13 Mar 2025 19:13:46 Zurn:uuid:a4fb26ec-b742-493e-938c-65965b817911/resources/blog/new-report-on-impacts-of-proposed-cuts-to-school-based-medicaid-programs The Leading Edge BlogAdvocacy & Policy������was pleased to contribute to a report published this week by the Healthy Schools Campaign examining how proposed cuts to Medicaid as part of the budget reconciliation process underway in Congress would impact school-based Medicaid programs.Wed, 12 Mar 2025 19:32:39 Zurn:uuid:fb44e45d-d7c1-4d05-b17a-0718b7ad34b8/resources/blog/usda-cancels-funding-for-local-food-to-schools The Leading Edge BlogSchool NutritionAdvocacy & PolicyFinance & BudgetsUSDA has announced that it is cancelling two programs – estimated worth of $1 billion – that provides resources for schools and other organizations to purchase local foods. Wed, 12 Mar 2025 14:05:55 Zurn:uuid:d13045f9-5d8e-4915-b6d5-80cdff8f0319/resources/blog/aasa-joins-30-national-organizations-in-letter-opposing-cra The Leading Edge BlogAdvocacy & PolicyE-Rate������joined more than 30 other national organizations in a joint letter to Congress urging the Senate to vote against a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution that would overturn the FCC’s E-Rate hotspot decision last year.Tue, 11 Mar 2025 16:03:05 Zurn:uuid:3916f345-c977-478a-89c8-08bc67515a9b/resources/blog/healthy-schools-campaign-webinar--how-medicaid-cuts-will-harm-students-schools The Leading Edge BlogHealth & WellnessAdvocacy & PolicyOn Wednesday, March 12 at 3pm ET, Healthy Schools Campaign is hosting a webinar to discuss the release of a new report that details the findings and trends they found across school districts in how they use school Medicaid funding.Mon, 10 Mar 2025 16:55:51 Zurn:uuid:f119a8fe-7453-48c2-9f4c-57ef8a088c15/resources/blog/advocacy-recap-federal-policy-session-at-nce The Leading Edge BlogAdvocacy & PolicyThank you for joining us at our presentation at NCE!Fri, 07 Mar 2025 22:32:14 Zurn:uuid:f3dba228-0208-48b0-9d14-ea760feffe0b/resources/blog/idea-full-funding-march-social-media-campaign The Leading Edge BlogThe IDEA Full Funding Coalition has committed to a monthly advocacy effort this year to celebrate the legislation and raise awareness around Congress’ continued failure to honor its commitment. Fri, 07 Mar 2025 15:40:21 Zurn:uuid:06b8bb1e-6615-4bef-97c8-1f7a63deed80/resources/blog/the-advocate-march-2025-federal-funding The Leading Edge Blog“Are we headed for another shutdown?” is the question on everyone’s mind in Washington, D.C. Majorities of Democrat staff believe that a shutdown is likely whereas Republican staff seem more bullish that negotiations will be successful over the next few days.Wed, 05 Mar 2025 03:14:51 Zurn:uuid:d2920f1c-280c-49be-ba81-1a87f03d39fe/resources/blog/latest-update-on-aasa-sign-on-letters The Leading Edge BlogOver the last two weeks, ������joined national organizations on letters to Congress on various issues. Fri, 28 Feb 2025 20:39:27 Zurn:uuid:4cd87843-7a9c-46da-9940-8fae70f86173/resources/blog/cyber-training-join-cisa-on-march-13 The Leading Edge BlogAdvocacy & PolicySchool Safety & CybersecurityCISA School Safety is hosting a virtual training on implementing and enhancing bystander reporting programs to reduce violence in K-12 schools; join them on Thursday, March 13 at 3pm ET. Fri, 28 Feb 2025 18:52:49 Zurn:uuid:a715124e-892f-44f5-83e1-f38d08bbf818/resources/blog/aasa-urges-congress-to-finalize-fy25-appropriations The Leading Edge Blog������send a letter to lead appropriators urging them to swiftly complete FY2025 funding so schools can begin budgeting for next school year. Thu, 27 Feb 2025 21:07:53 Zurn:uuid:64d6e13d-47ef-457a-b20c-9d6243db6383/resources/blog/where-in-the-nce-can-you-find-aasa-advocacy The Leading Edge BlogAdvocacy & PolicyLeadership DevelopmentA comprehensive list about where to find us at the National Conference on Education March 6 - 8, 2025!Wed, 26 Feb 2025 16:44:21 Zurn:uuid:3c255874-c602-4c84-88b5-2b65fc11cae8/resources/blog/brookings-webinar-what-do-education-leaders-need-to-know-about-the-department-of-education's-new-guidance-on-race-and-civil-rights The Leading Edge BlogAdvocacy & PolicyDistrict & School OperationsJoin Brookings for a webinar on Friday, February 28 at 1:30 p.m. ET to discuss the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights February 14 guidance letter.Tue, 25 Feb 2025 18:18:44 Zurn:uuid:8631b114-6daa-4c98-834e-8aa6b0723c44/resources/blog/secure-rural-schools-reintroduced-in-119th-congress The Leading Edge BlogCongress has reintroduced the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act (H.R. 1381/S. 356) which reauthorizes the program from FY24-FY26.Tue, 25 Feb 2025 17:32:06 Zurn:uuid:7e72ba98-745a-4137-a46b-a30d26607609/resources/blog/ed-announces-policy-shift-in-dispersing-late-covid-relief-dollars The Leading Edge BlogAmerican Rescue PlanAdvocacy & PolicyFinance & BudgetsYesterday, the Department of Education announced that going forward states will need to pay first for any activities covered by COVID-relief funding and then ask the Department for reimbursement.Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:04:06 Zurn:uuid:73c5ab85-5a86-4e24-845b-247aec3b5119/resources/blog/ocr-issues-guidance-on-title-vi-compliance-for-districts The Leading Edge BlogAdvocacy & PolicyDistrict & School OperationsThis blog post deep dives the February 14 OCR guidance, and will be updated if we gain any further clarity on the intent of not only the guidance, but also the willingness of the Trump Administration to enforce it.Mon, 17 Feb 2025 16:46:35 Z