Wishing you a safe and joyful holiday!
As we celebrate our nation's independence, we’re grateful for the incredible work our members do every day to support education and communities across the country.
Please note: AESA staff will be out of the office this Friday, July 4.
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July 1 and Still No Federal K–12 Funds
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Today is July 1—and the U.S. Department of Education has still not released FY25 allocations for four essential K–12 programs: Title I, Part C; Title II, Part A; Title III; and Title IV, Part B. These funds total $4.786 billion and are vital to supporting schools across the country.
Historically, these allocations have been finalized and available well before this date, giving districts time to plan responsibly. The continued delay is causing significant disruption in school district budgeting and staffing decisions for the upcoming year.
We urgently need your help to elevate this issue. Please send the following message to the education staffers in your congressional delegation (contact information attached). You may personalize it as needed:
I am the [ENTER TITLE] of [INSERT ORGANIZATION] and am deeply concerned that school districts in our region still have not received FY25 allocations for four key federal education programs: Title I, Part C; Title II, Part A; Title III; and Title IV, Part B.
The absence of these funds—on what should be the first day of the new fiscal year—has already disrupted districts’ ability to plan, finalize budgets, and secure critical staffing and resources. These funds are not optional; they are essential.
Please contact the Department of Education to press for immediate clarity: When will school districts receive these funds? A clear and timely response is urgently needed.
If you have the capacity, we recommend including specific numbers of how much your districts stand to lose if these funds do not go out as appropriated by Congress.
We appreciate your attention to this important issue. Please feel free to contact Joan Wade, AESA Executive Director, if you have any questions.
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Now More Than Ever: Make Your Voice Heard in Washington
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AESA member Phoebe Bailey, Director at Southwest Arkansas ESC, posing with her congressman during the 2024 Advocacy in Action Conference.
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This week’s federal funding delay is a powerful reminder of why strong relationships with your congressional representatives matter. When unexpected challenges arise, having established connections with members of Congress and their staff can make all the difference in getting clear answers and swift action.
AESA’s Advocacy in Action Conference is your chance to build those relationships before a crisis hits. Held September 17–19 in Washington, D.C., the conference offers timely insights into the federal policy issues shaping K–12 education and ESAs—from funding and workforce to broadband access, instructional innovation, and more.
You’ll benefit from expert briefings, interactive strategy sessions, and most importantly, face-to-face meetings with your state’s congressional delegation. These conversations not only elevate the voice of your agency, but also create the personal connections that pave the way for meaningful influence when it matters most.
Don’t wait for the next challenge—join us in DC and build the relationships that position your ESA for impact.
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Here’s a Look at What’s Ahead!
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Check out our upcoming programming for the rest of 2025—quick, clear, and all in one place. Use this at-a-glance schedule to plan ahead and stay connected to every opportunity.
Conferences & Workshops
Summer Leadership Conference
July 15-17, 2025 | Austin, TX
Register>>
Advocacy in Action Conference
September 17-19, 2025 | Washington, D.C.
Register>>
Experiment, Price, and Innovate with Confidence (EPIC) Workshop
October 15-16, 2025 | Atlanta, GA
Register>>
Business Strategy Framework 2.0 Workshop
October 20-21, 2025 | Riverview, FL (Tampa area)
Register>>
Annual Conference & Expo
December 3-5, 2025 | Colorado Springs, CO
Register>>
Business Strategy Framework 1.0 Workshop
(After the Annual Conference & Expo)
December 5-6, 2025 | Colorado Springs, CO
Register>>
Other Opportunities
AESA Networks – Meet and collaborate with other ESA leaders through our ongoing virtual meetings.
Academy of Women Leaders – A yearlong journey for ESA women leaders ready to grow, collaborate, and thrive.
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Big Wins for Education Funding and Equity!
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Last week brought a trifecta of good news for schools and ESAs across the country. The Supreme Court upheld the FCC’s Universal Service Fund, preserving critical broadband programs like E-rate. The federal voucher proposal hit a major roadblock in the Senate. And in a welcome reversal, the U.S. Department of Education has restored flexibility for states to access previously approved ESSER late liquidation funds. Get the latest!
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Webinar Covers Supreme Court Decisions Every Executive Should Know
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Join AASA and NSAA on July 11 at 12:00 pm ET for an insightful webinar exploring the latest and most significant U.S. Supreme Court cases affecting K-12 public education. In this session, Sonja Trainor, executive director of the National School Attorneys Association (NSAA), will break down key decisions from the current and recent terms, providing context, analysis, and practical takeaways for superintendents. Register here!
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Many Students Decide They’re Not a ‘Math Person’ by the End of Elementary School
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A new RAND study highlights ongoing challenges in math instruction, including declining interest among middle and high schoolers, and finds that nearly half of students who consider themselves “math people” formed that identity before high school.
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Federal Appeals Court Upholds Block on Louisiana Ten Commandments Display Law
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A federal appeals court unanimously upheld a lower court’s injunction blocking Louisiana’s law requiring all public schools to display the Ten Commandments, a decision that could have implications for other states with similar legislation. The case could also next reach the Supreme Court.
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Education Department Reinstates Some Research and Data Activities
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A recent court filing revealed that USED plans to revive about a fifth of the research and statistics contracts it terminated earlier this year. More than half of the contracts at issue involve the restart of Regional Education Laboratories (RELs), along with projects like a study on struggling readers and a public data analysis platform. However, the timeline and ultimate scope for resuming these contracts remains uncertain.
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Court Tells Trump Administration to Restore Laid-Off USED OCR Staff
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A federal court has ordered the U.S. Department of Education to restore its Office for Civil Rights to its pre-Trump structure and to investigate all discrimination complaints it receives.
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Member Spotlight on Research: Doctoral Intern at ESU 13 Co-Authors Groundbreaking Mental Health Study
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Congratulations to Jaden Nyberg, Doctoral Intern at ESU 13 (NE), for co-authoring a landmark study that sheds important light on the mental health challenges faced by graduate students in school psychology programs. This compelling research reveals that 1 in 4 students in the field experience moderate-to-severe depression, while 1 in 3 report significant anxiety. The findings are especially concerning among LGBTQ+ students, women, and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.
Jaden’s work is more than a data point—it’s a call to action. As educators, supervisors, and leaders in education, we have a responsibility to respond to this evidence by creating more supportive, inclusive, and resilient training environments for our future school psychologists.
We applaud Jaden for bringing these critical issues to the forefront and helping drive the field toward greater awareness and systemic support.
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Shine a Spotlight on Your ESA’s Podcast!
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Have you noticed that your ESA’s podcast hasn’t been featured in AESA’s weekly highlights? We’ve run out of new ESA podcasts to spotlight—and we need your help to keep the momentum going!
Check out our current list here: aesa.us/esa-podcasts
If your podcast is missing—or your state isn’t represented at all—let’s fix that!
Submit your podcast today and help us showcase the innovative voices of ESAs nationwide. Contact Claire Sowder to be added to the list.
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Collaborating Partner News
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The primary focus this month's update is on the CoSN 2025 Future of Work Report.
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