Legislative Agenda

AASA's federal policy priorities and goals for 2025.

The AASA Legislative Agenda is shaped by recommendations on federal policy issues compiled annually by the Committee on Federal Policy and Legislation, which is comprised of the AASA Executive Committee.

The Executive Committee recommendations are presented to the AASA Governing Board twice annually for approval. Each legislative position sunsets annually, but may be carried forward if determined by the committee.

The guiding principle of AASA’s 2025 Legislative Agenda stems from the important role the federal government stands to play in creating equitable learning opportunities for all students.

This starts with equitable policy and resources, both of which should remain available to all students, schools and states.

It also includes the protection and preservation of federal education funding when compared with other federal investments.

5 Major Goals Within AASA's Federal Legislative Platform

Supporting Formula Funding and the Equitable Distribution of Dollars

AASA’s top federal priority is and always will be ensuring adequate Title I and IDEA funding for districts. Distributing federal dollars through formulas, rather than through competition, drives many of the positions in our legislative agenda.

However, it’s not enough to just support formula funding—the formulas underlying the funding must be accurate and equitable. Since 2012, AASA has asserted that the Title I formula is a broken one and supported legislation that would make it more equitable for rural districts in particular. New data has found that there are major shortcomings in IDEA funding distribution as well since that formula is based on student population counts from 1998. This year we will continue to spend time educating Congress on why these formulas need to be updated as well as encouraging lawmakers to prioritize formula funding over competitive grants.

Alleviating Teacher & Staffing Shortages

Whether through our work to ensure every educator in our buildings who has been employed for more than 10 years can have all their loans forgiven through the PSLF program or advocating for new federal funding for districts to start or expand grow-your-own programs and teacher residency models, AASA knows you are in crisis mode and we are supporting a variety of bills and policy changes to alleviate bus driver shortages, mental health professional shortages and teacher shortages.

Enhance District Technology Infrastructure and Student Data Privacy

The student data privacy and technology world is rapidly evolving and changing. AASA has remained on the forefront of supporting legislation aimed at supporting flexibility of federal resources to ensure equitable access to affordable broadband, to better support student connectivity both in and out of school. E-Rate is critical to school-based internet access, which is foundational for today’s learners.

AASA is also committed to working with ED and the FCC on ensuring any federal response to cybersecurity threats and student data privacy are comprehensive and cross-agency, and adequately funded.

Maintaining Healthy, Safe and Supportive Environments for Children in School

Schools have a critical role to play in ensuring that children’s most basic needs are met and that they feel included, safe and supported throughout their public school journey. Policy that undercuts the ability of districts to feed children, ensure they have access to school-based health services and have the personnel and programs that make school a warm and welcoming environment will harm educational progress and America’s productivity.

Reducing Federal Data Collection Requests

We understand the importance of data and urge the Department to limit the scope of data requested to ensure we are reporting the most basic and critical information necessary for civil rights compliance and fiscal accountability.

Read the Full Legislative Agenda

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