Education Funding
Guidance and resources for school district leaders navigating federal education funding.
Background
AASA's Position & Priorities
AASA is committed to advocating for the following:
- Equitable federal funding mechanisms, including key federal programs such as Title I and IDEA, as well as a robust conversation to revise and strengthen the efficacy of poverty indicators within federal education programs.
- Federal education policy should support additional federal funding to provide mental health services for students, staff and families.
- Formula funding and policy should support the total child, from physical and mental health to the development of fundamental lifelong learning skills.
- Champion federal funding for building and rebuilding schools with a priority for standalone, formula-driven federal funding for school facilities.
Issue Updates
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October 03, 2025
ED Issues Guidance on Lobbying with Federal Education FundingThe Dear Colleague letter includes no changes in law, regulation or guidance. Given the new guidance, it would be prudent for grantees to take this opportunity to review their practices and ensure compliance.
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October 02, 2025
The Advocate October 2025: Government Shutdown and FY26 Funding OutlookAs the federal government is officially shut down for an unknown period, we thought now would be a good opportunity to provide an update on what’s happening (and more likely not happening) with federal funding for K-12 education for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026.
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October 30, 2025
UPDATE: School Mental Health Grants ReopenedIt is our understanding the new grant competition will continue despite an October 27th ruling that requires the Department of Education to reinstate, for now, the original SBMH and MHSP grants that were discontinued in April.
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September 23, 2025
A District Leader’s Guide to a Federal Government ShutdownAs Congress heads toward the funding deadline without a clear path forward, a government shutdown seems increasingly likely. Here’s what district leaders need to know about how they will (and will not) be impacted.
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September 08, 2025
AASA Urges House Appropriations Committee to Reject FY26 ProposalAhead of September 9 hearing on the FY26 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Services proposal, AASA sent a letter to the House Appropriations Committee urging members to reject the measure.
AASA Resources
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December 01, 2025
IDEA at 50: Tools and Insights for District LeadersType:Toolkit Topics: Access & OpportunityResource hub bringing together guidance, best practices, and tools to honor IDEA's legacy while advancing its promise in today's public schools. -
November 10, 2025
Rethinking Special Education Dispute Resolution at IDEA’s 50th AnniversaryType:Report Topics: Access & Opportunity, Advocacy & PolicyWhat began as a procedural safeguard to ensure fairness and accountability has, over time, evolved into an increasingly adversarial, inequitable, and financially unsustainable process—one that too often diverts resources from classrooms to courtrooms. -
October 22, 2025
Federal Share of K-12 Education Funding: 2022-23 AnalysisType:Fact Sheet Topics: Advocacy & Policy, Finance & BudgetsThis resource provides 2022-23 federal funding data showing that federal revenues comprise 12.75% of typical district budgets nationally, with state-by-state breakdowns. -
September 18, 2025
PEP Talk Episode 40: The Impact of Impact AidType:Podcast Topics: Advocacy & PolicyOn this episode of PEP Talk: Kat Sturdevant speaks with Quincy Natay, superintendent of Chinle Unifed School District #24 in Chinle, AZ about the critical need of Impact Aid funding, the nation’s oldest federal K-12 education program that turns 75 this year. -
September 02, 2025
One Big Beautiful Bill Act & Its Impact on K-12 EducationType:Report Topics: Advocacy & Policy, Finance & BudgetsA whitepaper outlines the key policy and funding impacts for public schools following the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
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December 03, 2025
AASA Update, Advocacy & Policy, Education Funding, Finance & Budgets
Call to Action: Advocate for FY26 FundsAASA needs you to urge each member of your Congressional delegation to support the bipartisan Senate proposal that maintains education funding for vital programs.
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November 18, 2025
AASA Update, Advocacy & Policy, Education Funding
AASA Statement on USED Reorganization AnnouncementWe urge the Administration to plan this reorganization carefully, engaging closely with state and local education leaders.
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