May 26, 2026

"Global education programs connect classrooms across the globe, expand instructional practice, and provide students and educators with meaningful experiences that broaden their understanding of the world. Ultimately, this helps prepare educators and students to engage thoughtfully in an increasingly interconnected world."

-Anne Williamson, CREA (ND) & 2025-26 AESA Global

Coordinator Training Cohort Participant 

Global Coordinator Training Informational Webinar
Friday, May 29
2:00 pm ET

Celebration of ACES Executive Director Dr. Tom Danehy in Connecticut. Tom previously served on the AESA Executive Council, including as AESA President. 

As spring brings news of retiring ESA leaders, we have the chance to honor their lasting impact. A tribute gift to the AESA Foundation is a meaningful way to recognize their service while supporting leadership, innovation, and equity in education.

Your donation helps fund scholarships that prepare the next generation of ESA leaders to meet emerging challenges, lead with confidence, and strengthen the future of education.

Donations can be made online, or checks may be mailed to:

Mail-in Donations
AESA Foundation
c/o Donations
PO Box 404
Cheshire, CT 06410

AESA is currently offering three leadership academies, each designed to meet different needs and leadership contexts.

Designed to build leadership capacity across ESAs and prepare more leaders to move the work forward locally, nationally, and globally.

• ESA CEOs + cabinet-level leaders
• In-person and virtual learning 
• Global Insight Exchange in Spring 2027 to Vienna and Budapest

For leaders navigating AI and emerging technologies while staying grounded, human-centered, and effective. Focus areas include leadership judgment, decision-making, and leading through change with purpose. 

Brings together women from ESAs nationwide to strengthen leadership skills, build connections, and expand impact through in-person and virtual learning.

Participants engage in real-world leadership conversations while building a professional network that extends beyond the academy experience.

Returning participants are encouraged to continue their leadership journey while welcoming new voices into the cohort.

Do you know someone whose writing or research has made a real difference in the ESA world? We’re looking for thoughtful, innovative work that tells the story of educational service agencies and moves the field forward. If that sounds like a colleague—or maybe even you—it’s time to submit a nomination for AESA’s Outstanding Achievement in ESA Writing and Research Award!

What Are We Looking For?
This award honors writing or research that:

• Supports the mission and values of ESAs

• Is scholarly and well-researched

• Has a clear impact on how ESAs serve students and schools

In 2025, Tracey Goldner was recognized for writing and research that elevated the voice and impact of ESAs. Her work informed policy, inspired innovation, and strengthened community engagement across the Pacific Northwest.

Join ESA leaders from across the country at the 2026 AESA Summer Leadership Conference for inspiring conversations, practical strategies, and meaningful connections designed to help you lead with impact.

What to Expect

• Actionable strategies and real-world insights from fellow ESA colleagues (See Schedule)
• Meaningful collaboration and networking
• A surprise special guest to kick off Day 1 
  Hint: this colorful personality may have a lot to say!

Why It Matters

This year’s conference focuses on connecting leadership, instruction, well-being, operations, and community partnerships to break down silos and create stronger systems for schools and communities.

Early Bird Pricing Ends June 5

Register now to secure your discounted rate.

Don't Miss the Pre-Conference Experience!

This one-day workshop on July 14 gives teams simple, practical tools to improve pricing decisions, test ideas before broader implementation, and identify new opportunities for growth.
Separate registration applies. Register here>>

CITES, in partnership with AESA, supports districts with practical strategies and resources for inclusive technology, accessibility, and meeting ADA Title II expectations. Learn more in this overview of CITES and stay tuned for additional resources and collaborative opportunities.

This week, CITES is hosting Tech InCITES: Generative AI and the IEP Process on Thursday, May 28, from 1:00–1:30 PM EST. Presented with QIAT, the session will explore how teams can evaluate generative AI as assistive technology within the IEP process, including considerations for implementation, training, documentation, and maintaining the integrity of learning tasks. Register here. 

AESA joined 14 national education and technology organizations in a letter to Congress ahead of a May 21 House hearing on cybersecurity and infrastructure protection. The groups warned that K–12 schools and libraries face growing cyber threats that can disrupt learning, compromise sensitive data, and strain smaller and rural districts with limited resources. The letter emphasized that cybersecurity is a shared national responsibility and urged continued federal support through programs such as the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program, the FCC’s Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot, and CISA technical assistance. Read the full letter here.  

AASA executive director David Schuler and Day of AI executive director Jeff Riley write in this op ed about the AASA and Day of AI national fellowship that will bring together 50 school leaders representing every state to explore the future of AI in education this summer.

A new paper published by the American Academy of Pediatrics reemphasizes the crucial role of recess in child and adolescent development and presents evidence of how recess positively impacts the teaching-learning environment and children’s mental health.

Stanford’s SCALE Initiative published a new report that reviews the current research on AI in K-12 education, focusing specifically on studies that can tell us whether an AI tool positively changed outcomes for students or educators.

A new report from InnovateEDU features a practical framework, key findings, a district-ready checklist for evaluating education technology tools, and an official “Top 150 Tools” list spanning both consumer and education technology.

NWEA analysis of 2023 assessment data found significant K–8 math learning loss between school years, equivalent to roughly 10 to 30 percent of a typical year’s learning, while reading remained stable. The report includes recommendations for helping students maintain math skills over the summer.

The Hechinger Report examines how district budget cuts are affecting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and the potential short- and long-term consequences for Black, brown, low-income students, and students with disabilities.