December 9, 2025

This year’s AESA Annual Conference & Expo at The Broadmoor felt truly magical as snowfall transformed the setting into a winter wonderland. The weather unfortunately prevented two of our three student musical performances from joining us, but the conference was still filled with energy, ideas, and connection.

Over three days, attendees explored innovation in AI, well-being strategies, governance best practices, and educational excellence while networking with ESA leaders from across the country. The conference delivered inspiring sessions, strong community spirit, and renewed momentum for the work ahead!

Above is a preview of the pictures to come. Once again, AESA members will have access to download pictures from the event. Photography services were provided by AESA member, Lemmy Saylor, Media Services Producer at Central Indiana Educational Service Center (IN).

And...we had to give you a glimpse of what's to come next year!!!

STEM Century: AESA Edition has officially reached #1 on the Best Seller List in Science Education for Kids! 

A heartfelt thank you to our AESA members—your enthusiasm, support, and shares made this achievement possible. This success highlights the strength of our community and your dedication to advancing innovation in education.

The book is now available in digital format, with paperback copies scheduled to be available later this week. Every purchase supports AESA’s important work.

A special thanks to 21stCenturyEd, whose partnership ensures that all proceeds benefit AESA.

Celebrate with us and help spread the word—your support makes a real difference!

The AESA Foundation Online Auction launched during the conference and will remain open until Friday, December 12 at 7:00 pm ET. There are many exciting adventures and travel experiences available—take a moment to explore them, discuss options with your travel partner, and consider placing a bid. Every contribution directly supports the important work of the AESA Foundation.

Start bidding: https://virtualauction.bid/AESAFoundationOnlineAuction

Good luck, and thank you for supporting the Foundation!

Congress has until January 30 to finalize FY26 funding - or pass another continuing resolution. As the House and Senate negotiate final numbers, it is critical that they hear directly from superintendents on the importance of federal funding. Send a message to your representatives in Congress and urge them to maintain funding for core federal programs such as Title I and IDEA. Find a template letter here.

Join education leaders from across the country for two powerful days of federal policy updates, strategic planning, and collaborative advocacy.

DHS has proposed changes to the “public charge” rule that could discourage immigrant families from using programs like Medicaid and SNAP, with potential impacts on student well-being, healthcare access, and district operations nationwide. Here’s what you need to know.

Lawmakers are calling for urgency on the issue, having introduced 19 bills to safeguard minors on the internet and social media. Read K12Dive's coverage here. 

Before Workforce Pell goes into effect in July 2026, colleges will need to determine which of their programs are good candidates for the new funding stream. And states will implement approval processes to ensure that eligible programs lead to good jobs. One college already has a program model that is well-positioned to fit the Workforce Pell paradigm and set the standards for its state approval process: Lorain Community College’s Fast Track programs. Read more on their model here. 

As artificial intelligence spreads to a growing number of career fields, experts say it’s important to introduce concepts surrounding the technology starting in elementary school, including how to — and how not — to use it, as well as how it works so students gain an understanding of why the algorithms behave the way they do. Read the entire article from K12Dive here. 

This new brief from the National Council on Teaching Quality (NCTQ) uses federal data to examine the diversity of the teacher pipeline by focusing on racial demographics in teacher preparation programs. By providing specific data on the programs in each state, NCTQ aims to help policymakers and advocates identify where promising strategies may exist and where additional resources are needed.

More than a quarter of all high school seniors are estimated to have filled out the FAFSA in preparation for the next academic year, according to the National College Attainment Network. Through Nov. 21, over a million students from the Class of 2026 have filed for financial aid, a critical tool in boosting student persistence and graduation. It represents a nearly 12% increase in completions over the Class of 2023, which is the last cohort to have received the FAFSA by the traditional Oct. 1 rollout. More on this from University Business here.