September 9, 2025

AESA’s Academy for Women Leaders is a yearlong leadership journey crafted for ESA female superintendents, executive directors, deputy superintendents, and other senior leaders ready to grow, collaborate, and thrive. Through immersive retreats, engaging virtual sessions, and guided reflection, participants build skills, share insights, and strengthen their impact.

Explore the full program overview to learn more about the themes, sessions, and outcomes.

Register now to join the Academy and begin this transformative journey.  (Your Academy registration confirmation email will include the link to sign up for the Kickoff Retreat in Chicago. There is no additional fee for the kickoff retreat, but this extra registration step helps us adequately prepare for the gathering.)

Kickoff Retreat – Chicago
Loews Chicago O’Hare • October 7–8, 2025

Dive into identity, courage, and influence while connecting with fellow leaders.  (Current Academy members: you should've received information on how to sign up for the retreat and reserve your hotel room.  If not, contact Ann Fiene, AESA Chief of Staff.)

Note: In order to receive the AESA discounted Kickoff Retreat hotel room rate, reserve your hotel by Monday, September 15.

Take your operational skills to the next level with this hands-on online lab, designed for professionals who manage the day-to-day logistics that keep ESAs running smoothly. From facilities and transportation to technology operations and emergency management, each session offers practical strategies you can implement immediately.

The Lab provides actionable tools, proven frameworks, and peer-driven insights to help you streamline systems, improve efficiency, and boost team performance.

Virtual Meeting Dates (2:00-3:30 pm ET):

• September 16 (one week from today!)
• October 14
• November 18
• December 16

Pricing:

• Individual Membership: $349

Register today and invite your colleagues to join you!

As we look ahead to AESA’s Advocacy in Action Conference next week, we’re highlighting the importance of state-level advocacy—the very focus of our Pre-Conference session.

Recently, Sandra Edling, Deputy Executive Director & CFO of Montgomery County Intermediate Unit (MCIU), spoke at a press conference at the Pennslyvania Capitol in Harrisburg. We applaud Sandra for powerfully representing MCIU and calling attention to the urgent need for the legislature to resolve the state budget impasse and the profound impact delays have on early childhood programs and services for vulnerable learners.

Her remarks underscored what we know to be true: funding education is an investment in children, families, and the future of our communities.

Watch Sandra’s full remarks: https://youtu.be/LpzN-7I25QM?si=-hP0UFhsqhjyMKSh&t=366

Be the Voice on Capitol Hill!

You can still join us next week in Washington, D.C. for the Advocacy in Action Conference (Sept. 17-19), where ESA leaders come together to amplify their voices on Capitol Hill. Be sure to attend the Pre-Conference on state-level advocacy, which offers strategies and tools to strengthen your impact back home.

On August 31, the House LHHS subcommittee released its proposal for FY26 funding that would be available to schools for the 26-27 school year. You’ll recall that AESA expressed concern with the President’s proposal for FY26 and was more optimistic in the bipartisan proposal from the Senate LHHS subcommittee. Read more.

Last week, our advocacy partners at AASA released a new whitepaper that outlines the key policy and funding impacts for public schools following the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Specifically, this document describes the legislative changes enacted through budget reconciliation that will directly affect school district finances, student services, and operational frameworks.   

Constitutiondayhub.org is a new resource offering educational institutions a one-stop shop for freely-accessible, high-quality, non-partisan, age-appropriate, Constitution-specific lessons. This flyer details how a 2005 law passed by Congress created Constitution Day and specifies that all students in educational institutions that receive federal funding are to be given a lesson about the U.S. Constitution on Constitution Day. The resources at consitutiondayhub.org focus on K-12 institutions and encourage school districts to take a district-wide approach to Constitution Day.

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr released a proposal to roll back key elements of the Learn Without Limits Initiative, including a ban on using E-Rate funds for hotspots and Wi-Fi. AESA has consistently supported these practical provisions that help ensure students and educators stay connected. 

This article from Politico dives into the bipartisan issue of banning cellphones in classrooms. Thirty-nine states now have some sort of phone restrictions in schools, and 18 states and Washington, D.C. have bell-to-bell bans — which ban phones for the entire school day. The issue has rallied conservatives and liberals, and its potency with parents has largely steamrolled libertarian objections and big tech lobbying.