June 23, 2026

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Time is running out to submit an AESA National Award nomination. Help recognize the outstanding leaders, innovators, and changemakers whose work is advancing educational service agencies and making a lasting impact across our communities.

Join AESA Chief Global Officer Jason Hiruo tomorrow, June 24 at 2:00 pm ET to explore how ESAs can expand global opportunities through international partnerships, exchanges, and global learning experiences.

The conversation will also include an overview of the 2026–2027 AESA Global Coordinator Training Program and insights from Stuart Brown of West40 on the impact of global engagement in his agency.

Need a room for the Strategic Pricing Workshop Pre-Conference or the 2026 AESA Summer Leadership Conference? Good news—the AESA room block at The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa has been extended through Friday, June 26. Register for the conference and reserve your room before the deadline to secure the group rate.

AESA member KEDC was recently recognized in testimony submitted to the U.S. Senate HELP Committee for its leadership in advancing AI education. Erin Mote, CEO of InnovateEDU and leader of the EDSAFE AI Alliance, cited KEDC's partnership with EDSAFE AI as a model for expanding equitable access to AI learning opportunities. The recognition highlights how educational service agencies can play a leading role in helping schools prepare students and educators for an AI-driven future.

Like many ESAs across the country, Wisconsin’s CESAs work together through a statewide network to strengthen services and support for schools. Leaders recently gathered in Prairie du Chien for the annual CESA Statewide Network (CSN) Retreat, which included several leadership transitions.

The network recognized the retirement of longtime CSN Liaison Luther Olsen, welcomed Nick Madison (CESA 12) as the new liaison, thanked Al Betry (CESA 9) for his service as CSN Chair, and congratulated Brandon Robinson (CESA 11) as incoming Chair.

This month's article focuses on the recently released CoSN Podcast Series, “Screen Time in Schools: Policy, Research, and Reality”, and the CoSN Statement regarding the FCC Review of the E-Rate program.

Project Unicorn’s annual School System Data Survey (SSDS) helps the education sector better understand K–12 data capabilities and infrastructure, providing critical insights to policymakers, EdTech providers, and school leaders. Using only aggregate, non-identifiable data, the survey informs national efforts to improve interoperability, privacy, cybersecurity, and digital access and shapes Project Unicorn’s annual State of the Sector Report (2025).

Why participate?

• Personalized support: Free 1:1 technical assistance with a Project Unicorn expert
• Early insights: Advance access to the State of the Sector Report and pre-release briefing
• Incentive: Complete the survey by June 30 to receive a $15 gift card

Your participation helps strengthen a modern, secure, and effective EdTech ecosystem nationwide.

Project Tomorrow's 2026 K–12 Cybersecurity Survey is now open, and AESA members are encouraged to participate and share the survey with district and school technology leaders across their service areas.

Using AESA's dedicated survey link will help ensure that ESAs and the districts they support are represented in this important national research effort. AESA will receive aggregated findings specific to our network, and participants will gain access to the Project Tomorrow K–12 Cybersecurity Working Group.

The survey closes August 31, 2026.

Last week, the U.S. Department of Education announced two new interagency agreements that would move key education offices and functions outside of ED. The first agreement would shift day-to-day management of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The second agreement would embed the Office for Civil Rights and the Office of Student Privacy and Protection within the U.S. Department of Justice. Read about these interagency agreements.

The U.S. Department of Education now has 14 interagency agreements with six other federal agencies, continuing the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle the agency and give states more authority on fiscal and policy decisions. This K-12 Dive chart explains each one.

A new resource from Center for American Progress examines the growing demand for career-connected learning. The column includes research on national trends and benefits from these programs, as well as analysis for how recent proposals from the Trump administration and Congress could undermine expanding these opportunities for more students and workers.

New from AESA: CTE Online Learning Lab

As the demand for high-quality Career and Technical Education (CTE) continues to grow, ESAs are uniquely positioned to help school districts build strong career pathways and workforce partnerships. To support this work, AESA is launching the CTE Online Learning Lab for the 2026-27 school year. This yearlong professional learning experience is designed for ESA leaders and staff seeking to strengthen their CTE strategy, expand regional impact, and develop sustainable systems that connect education with workforce needs. Through expert facilitation, peer collaboration, and practical application, participants will gain the tools and insights needed to lead effective career-connected learning initiatives in their regions.

One influential research report from more than two decades ago has long served as a cornerstone of the “science of reading” movement, shaping state legislation, curriculum, and teacher professional development. The report of the National Reading Panel, a group of experts convened by Congress to synthesize the best available research on how kids learn to read, was published in 2000. Now, it’s time for that document to get an update to reflect another quarter-century of research, say U.S. House of Representatives lawmakers.