The Advocate February 2026: Advocacy Sessions at NCE

AASA’s advocacy team has many great sessions planned to discuss how federal actions are impacting local districts. From vouchers to strengthening special education systems – there’s a wide range of content for those interested in how the federal government intersects with K-12 issues.

On Thursday, February 12, start your day at 9:00a.m. with a session on Reclaiming Resources: Practical Approaches to Lower Legal Risk and Strengthen Special Education Systems. This session examines the fiscal and organizational impacts of today’s dispute landscape and explains how recent legal developments have expanded district exposure. Participants will explore practical, district-level strategies that reduce litigation risk.

During the annual Federal Relations Luncheon at noon, David Hinojosa, Co-Director of Litigation at the National Center for Youth Law will discuss the history of state and district efforts to exclude undocumented immigrant children from enrolling in public schools, and how it led to the landmark Supreme Court decision in Plyler v. Doe. He will further share concerns over a potential challenge to overturn Plyler, policy implications, and what schools can do to ensure all children are welcome. Only a handful of tickets remain for this event!

At 2:15p.m., join Sasha Pudelski, AASA’s Director of Advocacy to learn about the federal education tax credit program taking effect January 1, 2027, including the structure, responsibilities, and compliance considerations for scholarship-granting organizations. Attendees will explore how to strengthen and expand education foundations so they could operate as scholarship-granting organizations under the new federal voucher law and remain agile amid political shifts affecting public education and school choice policy.

On Friday, Feb. 13 at 12:45p.m., the AASA Advocacy Team will provide our full federal update where we will cover everything that’s happening in DC that impacts education. You don’t want to miss it!

Then at 2:30p.m., give yourself a break from talking about the feds and hear from AASA professor in residence, Dr. Chris Tienken on the findings from the 2025 American Superintendent Study, Mid-Decade Update. The role of the superintendent has grown more complex, demanding, and multifaceted than ever before. Leaders are navigating unprecedented pressures around finance, staffing, safety, and politics, all while remaining steadfast in their commitment to the growth and well-being of every student. This session will provide additional insight into the study and what this means for the profession moving forward.

In addition to the advocacy sessions, our Advocacy Center has returned to the trade floor where attendees will be able to advocate in real time with their members of Congress, underscoring the importance of public education. Visit the AASA Bookstore to send a letter to your electeds or chat with our advocacy team. Don’t miss it!  

You can follow the goings-on of the advocacy team and the conference’s policy sessions on the AASA blog and by following @AASAdvocacy and the advocacy team on Twitter: Noelle Ellerson (@Noellerson), Sasha Pudelski (@SPudelski), Kat Sturdevant (@K_Sturdevant) and Tara Thomas (@TaraEThomas1). Or you can always follow along by downloading the AASA Advocacy app, available on the App Store and Google Play.