The Leading Edge: Policy & Advocacy Blog
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.
Topics include new or proposed regulations and federal policies, federal funding updates and opportunities, advocacy resources and more.
Latest Posts
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April 15, 2024
FAFSA Office HoursAs part of the FAFSA Week of Action (April 15 - 19), USED invites you to join USED staff for an office hours session for counselors, principals, school administrators, and school board members.
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April 10, 2024
EPA Issues National Primary Drinking Water RegulationToday, the Biden Administration released a final National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for six PFAS – the first ever enforceable limit of so-called “forever chemicals”. This rule will directly impact districts that operate a non-transient, non-community water system (NTNCWS).
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April 10, 2024
K12 Cyber and You: Ready to Go ResourcesWe have a list of resources from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) in the Department of Homeland Security.
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April 09, 2024
Community Sign-On Letter for Increased Labor-HHS-Education Funding in FY 2025The Committee for Education Funding is circulating their annual sign-on letter to secure a strong funding allocation for the House and Senate Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Subcommittees.
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April 05, 2024
ED and DOL Announce Additional Actions to Support Pathways Into EducationThis week, the Department of Education and Department of Labor announced actions to further expand access to high-quality and affordable pathways into education professions, including residency, grow your own, and Registered Apprenticeship programs. These actions include new funding and technical assistance.
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April 04, 2024
The Advocate April 2024: What To Expect for FY 2025 AppropriationsNow that Congress has finalized Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 funding (see the full breakdown of that package here) – it’s time to immediately pivot to FY25.
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April 02, 2024
USED Releases Guidance on Federal Property InterestLast week, ED issued guidance regarding the government-wide recording and reporting requirements for ESSER projects related to the acquisition or improvement of facilities with federal funds.
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March 28, 2024
Making the Most of Your Summer Fun(ds)— Preparing Educators for a Great SummerThis is the tenth installment of the Summer Funds series with AASA President Gladys Cruz.
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March 25, 2024
It’s Time We Talk About FAFSAThis blog post ran as an email from AASA Executive Director David R. Schuler to all members, and is cross-posted here so we can disseminate on social media and elsewhere.
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March 22, 2024
AASA-Led Legislation Introduced to Bolster Student Mental Health Services NationwideOn March 21st, Sens. John Cornyn, Thom Tillis, Maggie Hassan, Jon Tester and Kyrsten Sinema, introduced the “Creating Access and Resources in Education (CARE) for Student Mental Health Act.”
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March 22, 2024
FY24 Omnibus PackageFY24 omnibus finally released. Here's what it means for education funding.
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March 14, 2024
Biden Administration Continues to Support School-Based Medicaid ProgramsAs part of the President’s FY25 budget, the U.S. Department of Education released a great one-pager ED promoting the school-based Medicaid program.
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March 13, 2024
President's Budget Proposal FY25Everything you need to know about President Biden's budget proposal.
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March 12, 2024
AASA Responds to FTC Regulations on COPPAThe Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issues a set of proposed rules to the Child Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).
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March 12, 2024
Urban Institute Opens Requests for Proposals for Student Upward Mobility Initiative 2024The Urban Institute is pleased to announce the launch of the Student Upward Mobility Initiative, a grants and field-building program to understand how PK–12 education drives students’ long-term economic mobility.
Latest Advocacy & Policy Resources
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October 02, 2024
Leadership Edge Walking in Zones and Times of TensionType:Article Topics: Advocacy & PolicyThis article explores the relevance of Heifetz and Linsky's Leadership on the Line for school leaders. It emphasizes the need for legal literacy to help educators navigate political and cultural tensions while fostering collaboration and maintaining educational integrity. -
October 02, 2024
Connecting the Courtroom to the Classroom: How Educators Can Claim Their Agency through Legal LiteracyType:Article Topics: Advocacy & PolicyThis article highlights the challenges educators face due to changing laws and legal precedents. It suggests that increasing educators' legal literacy can empower them to confidently pursue their goals within the law. -
September 19, 2024
PEP Talk Episode 32: School District Spending of American Rescue Plan FundingType:Podcast Topics: Advocacy & Policy, Finance & BudgetsOn this episode of PEP Talk: Kat Sturdevant discusses the newest edition of the American Rescue Plan Report with Sasha Pudelski, Director of Advocacy at AASA, just in time for the ESSER obligation deadline.
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