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November 25, 2025 |
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AESA News |
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AESA to Debut STEM Century: AESA Edition at 2025 Annual Conference & Expo |
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AESA is excited to unveil an important new publication at this year’s Annual Conference & Expo on December 3, 2025.
In partnership with 21stCenturyEd, AESA has co-created STEM Century: AESA Edition—a book that captures one of the most pivotal moments in American education. Blending storytelling, practical guidance, and a compelling call to action, the book offers a timely look at how schools and ESAs are reimagining learning for a rapidly changing world.
Why This Book Matters Now Education is undergoing a fundamental shift driven by rapidly evolving technology, the rise of AI, economic change, and new expectations for preparing students for life and work.
STEM Century: AESA Edition confronts these realities head-on. It illustrates how ESAs and districts are redesigning learning environments to match the world students are entering — not the one we grew up in.
Inside the Book Grounded in real stories from across the country, the book showcases:
Each chapter blends practical insight with the deeply human side of transformation.
The Big Idea Threaded throughout is one message: STEM literacy is the new foundation of modern readiness.
It’s more than a subject — it’s a way of thinking, designing, and solving problems in an increasingly complex world. This vision reflects the work AESA and 21stCenturyEd have championed for years.
Thank You to Our Educational Partners We extend our appreciation to the ESAs, districts, and service agencies whose stories and leadership shaped this publication:
Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit 21 · Colorado River BOCES · Educational Service Center Region 16 · Educational Service Center Region 19 · Educational Service Unit #3 · Gallia-Vinton Educational Service Center · Hoke County Schools · Kentucky Educational Development Corporation · Lakes Country Service Cooperative · LEARN Regional Educational Service Center · Metropolitan RESA · Montgomery County Intermediate Unit 23 · Public Schools of Robeson County · San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools
Official Launch: December 3, 2025 — AESA Annual Conference & Expo |
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Colorado Springs: Know Before You Go! |
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Many AESA members and business partners are presenting this year. Check out the full schedule.
Keynote Sessions: |
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Ben Rudrud, The RIPL Message Ben Rudrud is a nationally recognized, award-winning speaker who has inspired over 500,000 students, educators, and leaders with powerful stories about purpose, positivity, and the Power of One—delivered with humor, heart, and energy. |
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Kim Bearden, Ron Clark Academy Kim Bearden is the co-founder of the Ron Clark Academy, a bestselling author, and National Teachers Hall of Fame inductee who’s inspired over 150,000 educators with her award-winning approach to student engagement and school culture. |
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Global Panel of Worldwide Partners Don’t miss our closing session, featuring a global discussion with education experts from Portugal, Singapore, China, and Hungary. Hosted by Jason Hiruo, Chief Global Officer, they’ll explore how innovation and technology are shaping global readiness for students and educators. |
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Haven’t registered yet? There’s still time! We welcome last-minute attendees—sign up now to secure your spot.
Already registered? Download the Whova app and create your personal agenda. It’s an easy way to stay organized and helps us ensure breakout sessions are sized just right.
We can’t wait to see you in Colorado Springs! |
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Join the Journey: 2026 Field Studies Are Filling Up! |
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AESA’s Global Educators Field Studies are now open to school staff—not just ESA leaders and board members. The mix of perspectives makes the experience richer, sparking meaningful conversations that lead to stronger impact back home. We’d love for you to join this unique opportunity! 2026 Trip Details
Coming to the Annual Conference & Expo? Visit the AESA Global International Welcome Room to chat with AESA Global staff and learn more about our upcoming international trips. |
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Member News |
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Stronger, Smarter, More Affordable Cybersecurity for Schools |
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AESA member Capital Area Intermediate Unit (CAIU), an educational service agency in Pennsylvania, launched a multi-state alliance in 2023 to help schools strengthen their cybersecurity posture while saving money. By teaming up across the state and leveraging the buying power of 500+ schools, districts can choose from best‑of‑breed solutions at prices that fit school budgets.
The first statewide agreement in Pennsylvania was with SentinelOne, starting with an AI‑enhanced EDR plus 24x7 SOC MDR services. Since then, the alliance has negotiated consortium pricing for additional SentinelOne offerings such as SIEM, Identity Protection, and expanded MDR services. More than 250 schools in Pennsylvania have already deployed the SentinelOne solution, and the offering has extended to schools in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and South Dakota. Other Pennsylvania buying consortiums now active through the alliance include VMware, Duo, Rubrik, Zscaler, and Mimecast, giving districts a curated path to a comprehensive, modern security stack.
Looking ahead, the alliance aims for each participating state to establish its own Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC). These state ISACs will serve as trusted hubs where schools and local governments can securely share threat information, spot early warning signs, and coordinate fast, effective responses. Linked together across states, they will form a federated, multistate cybersecurity ecosystem, shifting from reactive fixes to proactive, collective defense, where one state’s detection can help protect all others.
See them at the Annual Conference & Expo! If you are interested in launching a cybersecurity vendor consortium in your state or region, visit Capital Area Intermediate Unit / SentinelOne (Booth 602) at the AESA Annual Conference & Expo. You can learn more about available solutions and explore how your ESA can participate in the multi-state alliance.
For direct inquiries, contact Rocky Brent, Account Manager at CAIU, at rbrent@caiu.org or 717-732-8430.
To learn more about SentinelOne, visit their platform overview for state and local government. |
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Federal Advocacy Updates |
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ED Makes Further Moves To Dismantle the Department of Education |
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On November 18, Secretary of Education Linda McMahon announced new interagency agreements to streamline federal education programs and return more authority to the states. Notably, the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education may move to the Department of Labor, while plans for the Office of Special Education remain under discussion. Timelines and staffing details are still unclear. Find more information. |
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Unpacking State ESEA Waiver Submissions |
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The Trump administration under Secretary McMahon has indicated a willingness to entertain expanded waivers of certain requirements under ESEA. A handful of states have already begun testing the limits of that potential flexibility. To date, Iowa and Indiana have both submitted waiver requests to the Secretary which are expected to set a precedent for the scope of future waivers granted to other states. Read more about both waivers. |
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Ed Department Sheds Several Offices, But Spares Special Education |
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This article from Disability Scoop goes in depth on the Department of Education's reorganization announcement. |
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Special Educator Shortages Demand Tailored Solutions, Study Says |
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Persistent, nationwide special educator shortages may require targeted state and local policy responses, according to a recent report from Special Educator Workforce: A Research Collaborative. SPARC is a federally funded research center aimed at strengthening the special education workforce. |
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AASA's PEP Talk Episode 42: Rethinking Special Education Dispute Resolution at IDEA’s 50th Anniversary |
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On this episode of PEP Talk: Kat Sturdevant interviews two of the authors of AASA's new report Rethinking Special Education Dispute Resolution at IDEA’s 50th Anniversary. Angela L. Balsley, Ed.D., founder of Unified Leadership and David Bateman, PhD., answer questions about what dispute resolution reforms could look like in 5 - 10 years and why this report is important and timely. Give it a listen! |
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The school choice movement is bolstering access to educational options for U.S. students and families according to parents, educators and policymakers. ABC News spoke to multiple people about the movement. |
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Collaborating Partner News |
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Fresh Data, Big Insights: What’s New from Project Tomorrow |
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At the recent CITE Conference, Project Tomorrow and iboss released new research spotlighting persistent gaps in K–12 cybersecurity readiness. Highlights:
Download the new reports: Please share with your districts and partners.
Students Speak Up on AI: Key Resources Available More than 1,000 participants joined Project Tomorrow’s Congressional briefing on how students are experiencing AI in their learning. You can still access:
Speak Up Surveys Now Open Free surveys for students, families, teachers, and administrators are available now. Topics include communication, engagement, classroom innovation, and school safety.
Welcoming Dr. Julie Evans to Annual Conference & Expo Next Week! We’re excited to welcome Dr. Julie Evans to the AESA Annual Conference & Expo next week! Be sure to join her session:
D2 – Teacher Readiness as Business Strategy: Aligning Professional Learning with ROI December 4
We look forward to having her with us and learning from her latest insights. |
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Correspondence Address: |
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Remittance Address: |
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