September 2, 2025

Each week, we’re spotlighting what’s ahead as we gear up for the launch of our professional networks.

The role of an executive assistant is both demanding and indispensable—especially within educational service agencies. That’s why AESA has launched the Executive Assistant to the CEO Network, a dedicated space for connection, support, and shared learning for those serving the CEO position.

Members of the network:

• Exchange insights and best practices
• Learn from peers across the country
• Strengthen impact through collaboration

Executive assistants play a vital role in organizational success. Let’s build a community that reflects that value.

2025-26 Virtual Meeting Dates (12:00-1:00 pm ET):

• September 24, 2025 (Topic: Best practices in taking meeting minutes)

• January 28, 2026

• April 22, 2026

• June 24, 2026

Pricing:

• Annual Individual Membership: $150

Register today and invite your colleagues to join you!

AESA celebrates Indiana’s extraordinary progress in third grade literacy. Results from the 2024–25 Indiana Reading Evaluation and Determination (IREAD) show a nearly five percentage point increase in just one year — the largest single-year growth since the assessment began in 2013.

This achievement reflects the power of intentional investment, collaboration, and evidence-based practice. Thanks to the commitment of educators, families, and communities, more than 87% of Indiana’s third graders are reading proficiently, with gains across every student population.

Indiana’s success highlights what’s possible when states and ESAs focus on early literacy foundations, provide strong instructional support, and keep equity at the center.

In the pursuit of student success, one truth remains constant: empowered teachers are essential. Yet across Wisconsin and beyond, professional development, the cornerstone of teacher growth, is quietly eroding. In this compelling piece, Dr. Jamie Nutter, Agency Administrator at CESA 3, explores how the removal of statewide learning requirements has created a vacuum in educator support, and why meaningful investment in teacher development is not just beneficial—it’s urgent.

The U.S. Department of Education issued a “Dear Colleague” letter that outlines the responsibilities of states and districts in providing services to students and teachers in private schools and highlights some flexibilities in how entities may go about doing so. Read more here.

The National Newcomer Network has created a helpful one-page guide outlining the recent changes to the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) and what they mean for school districts.

These updates can have a significant impact on schools, particularly in how districts support newcomer and immigrant students. The one-pager breaks down the key changes in clear, concise language and provides practical guidance for administrators and staff.

School leaders can use this resource to ensure their policies and practices align with current federal requirements while continuing to provide equitable support for all students.

SchoolSafety.gov launched a new youth substance use topic page, which features evidence-based practices and guidance to help members of the K-12 community prevent and reduce youth substance use. The new page includes close to 40 resources specifically designed for K-12 settings and was published as part of SchoolSafety.gov’s Back-to-School Campaign, an annual initiative to support schools and districts in preparing for a safe year.

A coalition of 23 of the nation’s most respected civics education organizations has launched a new website, ConstitutionDayHub.org, designed to help school districts celebrate Constitution Day with ease and impact.

The Constitution Day Hub provides a one-stop shop for Constitution-specific lessons that are:

• Freely accessible – no cost to schools or educators.

• High quality – created by experts in civics education.

• Age appropriate – suitable for students from kindergarten through high school.

• Non-partisan – focused on education, not politics.

School districts are encouraged to take a district-wide approach to Constitution Day. The Hub offers materials to meet the challenge of engaging all students on the same day, from young learners to seniors, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to explore the Constitution in a meaningful way.

Hechinger Report summarizes a new study that evaluated the effectiveness of tutoring initiatives as a pandemic-recovery strategy. The study examined tutoring for 20,000 students and found uneven implementation associated with learning gains that fell short of what the existing evidence base on high-dosage tutoring suggested would be possible: “Each minute of tutoring that students received appeared to be as effective as in the pre-pandemic research, but students weren’t getting enough minutes of tutoring altogether.”

K-12 Dive reports on the impacts of current financial strains on states and their universal school meal programs, highlighting Michigan and Colorado as example states facing uncertainty in the future of these programs. 

The74 highlights the Future of High School Network, a Carnegie Foundation led cohort of two dozen school systems working to redefine student learning by developing a framework to help districts modernize their systems and expand high school models that boost engagement, achievement, and postsecondary success.