May 20, 2025

Earlier today, we announced that registration is now open for AESA’s 2025 Annual Conference and Expo, held at the prestigious Broadmoor resort in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

• Storytelling: Leverage innovation and AI to communicate your impact in compelling ways.

• Well-Being: Discover practical strategies to support the mental, emotional, and professional well-being of educators, students, and leaders.

• Governance/ESA Board: Explore best practices in leadership, governance, and board development tailored to educational service agencies.

• Educational Excellence: Dive into cutting-edge approaches to accountability, continuous improvement, and program effectiveness

ATTENTION Member Exhibitors, Business Partners, and Sponsors:

Please do not use the general registration link. You’ll receive a separate email with a special registration link from AESA Chief of Staff, Ann Fiene, to register your booth staff.

AESA Chief Operating Officer John Bass hit the road last week, making meaningful connections and representing AESA at two outstanding events—starting in Columbus, Ohio and ending in Bardstown, Kentucky.

John began the week at the Ohio ESC Association Conference, where he had the privilege of presenting during the lunch session. He shared updates about AESA services and explored new opportunities for collaboration with ESC leaders from across the state. The energy and commitment of Ohio’s educational service centers were evident, and AESA was honored to be part of the conversation.

From there, John traveled to beautiful Bardstown, Kentucky, to join the Kentucky Education Cooperatives Annual Retreat. This two-day event brought together a strong network of leaders from across the Commonwealth. The retreat served as a powerful space for collaboration, strategic discussions, and the exchange of innovative ideas—all focused on strengthening educational outcomes across the region.

Why Invite AESA to Your Event?
These visits highlight how impactful it can be when AESA connects directly with member agencies. Inviting AESA to your regional event helps:

• Deepen relationships between your agency and the AESA national network

• Provide timely updates on services, programs, and advocacy efforts

• Spark collaboration across state lines

• Ensure your agency’s voice is heard and reflected in national conversations

Let’s Connect!
If you're planning a conference, retreat, or professional gathering, consider inviting AESA to attend or present. Contact Joan Wade, AESA Executive Director, or John Bass, AESA COO, to get started. We’d love to be part of your event and support your work in person.

Last week, separate House committees met to advance pieces of the Republican reconciliation proposal. Of significant concern for K-12 school and state education leaders is the shift of costs to states that the federal government has traditionally subsidized. If this reconciliation package becomes law, states will be forced to pick up close to a trillion dollars in costs previously paid by the federal government which will lead to pressure on states to cut K-12 education funding. These cost-shifting proposals are coupled with a $20 billion school voucher proposal which together pose an existential threat to ensuring adequate funding for public education at the local level. The next step is merging the proposals into one mega-bill that will be on the floor of the House perhaps even this week. If the House vote is successful, it will move to the Senate for consideration. Read a breakdown.

During a recent House hearing, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. assured lawmakers that the agency will continue to support the Head Start program, which provides early education and health services to low-income children and families. This commitment comes despite the program's exclusion from the initial fiscal 2026 budget requests, raising concerns about its future funding. Kennedy's statement aims to alleviate worries about potential cuts to this vital program amid broader departmental budget reductions. Read more here.

On May 8, the Senate voted 50-38 on S.J.Res.7, a Continuing Resolution Act (CRA) that would roll back a recent update to the E-Rate program that allows E-Rate dollars to be used to provide hot spots to students and library patrons. (How does a bill pass with only 50 votes? This represented a majority of those present and voting. Republican leadership closed the vote early because they did not want to get backed up on to other votes.)

AESA members are invited to attend an important upcoming webinar hosted by AASA and the Public Interest Privacy Center (PIPC):

Recent Updates and Compliance with FERPA

Date: May 27, 2025
Time: 3:00 – 4:00 PM ET
Register Here
Note: This webinar will not be recorded.

With the U.S. Department of Education launching new FERPA investigations in California, Maine, and Washington State, now is the time for Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to review and revise their student data privacy policies.

Please feel free to share this opportunity with your colleagues and school districts.

The USDA agreed in a federal settlement to stop freezing funds to Maine as a consequence of the state’s violation of a Trump administration Title IX rule, but two investigations by USED and HHS referred to the DOJ remain ongoing. 

A federal judge halted the Trump administration’s decision to move up the deadline for the spending of COVID relief funds for more than a dozen states which filed a lawsuit and ruled that USED cannot modify extensions for the states that sued to spend their relief dollars without at least 14 days notice announcing a new deadline.

New resource from Education Law Center details, at the Congressional District and State level, how much education cuts under the new administration will impact your state/district. Access the Tool.

AESA is proud to welcome Regional Office of Education #11, based in Charleston, IL, as our newest member!

Under the leadership of Dr. Kyle Thompson, Regional Superintendent, ROE #11 serves a diverse region in east-central Illinois, supporting schools, educators, and students through professional development, licensure, school improvement services, and more.

We’re excited to have Dr. Thompson and his team join the AESA network and look forward to learning from their work, sharing resources, and collaborating to strengthen educational service agencies nationwide.

Welcome to the AESA community, ROE #11!

Have we missed one of your ESA’s stories? Send submissions to csowder@aesa.us to be included in future editions of Online News.