September 22, 2026

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It’s a busy week at AESA, and there’s still time to participate! Whether you’re looking to connect with peers, strengthen your leadership, or dig into advocacy, several opportunities are happening this week:

• Sept. 22: Special Education Directors Network kicks off its 2026–27 cohort.
• Sept. 23: Behavioral Health Network brings ESA leaders together to share ideas, challenges, and solutions.
• Sept. 23–25: Advocacy in Action heads to Washington, D.C., for three days of learning, connection, and advocacy.

See something you don’t want to miss? It’s not too late to join us!

We’ve been talking about the FCC’s review of E-Rate for several weeks. Now, with the October 13 public comment deadline approaching, we’re entering an important final stretch. The FCC is considering significant questions about the future and structure of the program, making input from the education community especially important.

If your ESA hasn’t submitted a comment yet, now is the time. Use the resources at Keep Schools Connected: Protect E-Rate to tell the story of what E-Rate means for the schools, students, and communities you serve.

Then, reach out to your districts and schools. Encourage superintendents and other leaders to submit comments of their own. Their firsthand experiences can help ensure the FCC has a strong record of how E-Rate is used in communities across the country.

The window is closing. Let’s make these final weeks count.

AESA’s Academy for Women Leaders kicks off October 6-7 in Louisville. KY, and there’s still time to join the 2026–27 cohort.

The Academy is open to women leading throughout their organizations, including Chiefs of Staff, Executive Assistants, department and division leaders, and those leading key initiatives or one-person departments.

Participants will connect with women from ESAs across the country, strengthen their leadership practice, receive individualized coaching, and have dedicated time to focus on their own growth.

Who in your ESA is ready to grow as a leader?

Join Tina Viletto, Esq., on October 13 at 2:00 pm ET to explore how an affiliated nonprofit can support funding, scholarships, professional learning, and special initiatives, including opportunities connected to the new Federal Scholarship Tax Credit beginning in 2027.

Join us October 28 at 2:00 pm ET for You Belong Here: Connecting with AESA and discover the programs, resources, professional learning, and connections available through your membership.

Who are 3–6 educators and leaders in your region who should experience global learning together?

Think technology, CTE, STEM, curriculum, professional learning, sustainability, innovation, and district leadership. Build a team of ESA staff and school or district colleagues for AESA’s 2027 Educator Field Study in Portugal or South Korea, then bring the learning home together.

Not sure where to start? Use our Field Studies Toolkit for ready-to-share resources to help you invite colleagues and build your team.

Register by November 15.

Theresa Bartholomew of Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit (PA) recently reflected on her AESA 2026 Educator Field Study experience in Vienna and Budapest and how stepping into another education system gave her new perspectives to bring back to her work at home.

In April 2027, AESA members can experience this same kind of perspective-building through the Global Leadership Institute in Vienna and Budapest. Designed specifically for AESA members, GLI combines international learning, leadership conversations, cultural experiences, and a visit to the United Nations.

Read Theresa’s story, then imagine what you could bring home.

AESA member Montgomery County Educational Service Center (MCESC) is putting a spotlight on the difference its work makes through a new Impact Stories video series. The first story takes viewers inside MCESC’s Early Childhood Program, where the families of Ahmir and Maya, two students who are deaf or hard of hearing, share how the program has supported their children’s communication, learning, and growth.

It’s a powerful example of how ESAs can tell the stories behind their work and show the impact happening every day.

Photo courtesy of Keep Indiana Learning website

More than 100 education, business, and community partners came together September 14 for the WestNext Summit in Hendricks County, Indiana. AESA member Central Indiana Educational Service Center (CIESC) helped lead the collaborative effort to create a more coordinated approach to work-based learning, making it easier for schools and employers to connect while expanding career exploration, internships, employer projects, and other real-world experiences for students.

The 2026–27 Tech InCITES webinar series connects educators, EdTech and assistive technology specialists, IT professionals, administrators, and families with thought leaders and innovators in inclusive technology. Each 30-minute webinar offers practical insights and strategies you can put to work. New this year, CITES will also host an optional informal discussion and Q&A immediately following each presentation.

Coming September 24: Generative AI, AT and the IEP

Join assistive technology leaders from CITES and QIAT on September 24 from 1:30–2:00 pm ET for a timely conversation about generative AI in special education. Explore where AI can enhance instruction and streamline workflows, what emerging evidence tells us, and when traditional approaches may still be the better choice. An optional 30-minute discussion will follow.

This month's article focuses on openly accessible CoSN Blog Posts, the CoSN/AASA edLeader Panel broadcasts, and a reminder about how to support the continuation of the E-Rate Program.

AESA joined AASA and ASBO International in submitting comments on proposed changes to the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR). The comments highlight how the proposed requirements could affect school districts and educational service agencies, while offering recommendations to ensure federal regulations support effective implementation at the local level.

Looking for timely learning opportunities? Here are some upcoming webinars covering workforce challenges, school safety, federal policy, and teacher compensation.

Federal Tax Credit Program: Partnerships and Next Steps
September 22 | 3:00 pm ET
The final session in the Scholarship Granting Organizations webinar series will bring the pieces together, focusing on partnerships and next steps related to the new federal tax credit program. Register >>

Spending Smarter on Teacher Pay
September 25 | 1:00 pm ET
Get an early look at new National Council on Teacher Quality findings on teacher compensation, retention, student outcomes, and how states are approaching smarter investments in teacher pay. Register >>

The American Federation of Teachers, the United Federation of Teachers, and Microsoft announced a new agreement establishing enforceable AI safety and privacy standards for schools using Microsoft products, with districts able to adopt the protections beginning November 1.

A new Fordham Institute survey finds that school-issued devices such as laptops are often used for non-academic purposes, making them nearly as distracting as personal cell phones for many students.

A Child Equity Project report found that harsh punishment and exclusionary discipline of young children has “zero positive outcomes” and can contribute to negative, long-term impacts like lower academic achievement and reduced likelihood of graduating from high school.

After examining 20 AI learning tools across 16 school systems, Instruction Partners found wide variation in quality, with some products supporting learning and others viewed by educators and students as ineffective or potentially harmful.