December 16, 2025

The AESA Foundation Silent Auction at the Annual Conference & Expo and the Online Auction, which officially closed last Friday, were both tremendous successes! We are grateful for the incredible generosity shown by our community. Together, these efforts exceeded our fundraising goals and will directly support scholarships and leadership initiatives that strengthen education nationwide.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who donated items, placed bids, shared the auctions, and helped make both events so meaningful. 

Thank you again for your continued support!

We are pleased to share that the paperback edition of STEM Century: AESA Edition is now available for purchase. Following its recent achievement as the #1 Best Seller in Science Education for Kids, the release of the physical edition offers members and partners another convenient way to access and share this important resource.

Whether you prefer a book in hand, want copies for your team, or plan to use it in professional learning settings, the paperback version provides a practical option to support your work.

As a reminder, all proceeds from the book benefit AESA, thanks to the generosity of our partners at 21stCenturyEd. Your continued support helps strengthen leadership development and innovation across our nationwide network.

The Montgomery County Educational Service Center (MCESC) is celebrating 10 years of partnership with Graduation Alliance, a collaboration dedicated to ensuring that every student has the tools and support needed to succeed and reach their full potential.

Over the past decade, this partnership has redefined what’s possible for at-risk students. What began as a dropout prevention initiative has grown to include both dropout prevention and credit recovery, establishing new pathways to graduation for youth and adults across Ohio. Through innovation, flexibility, and steadfast support, MCESC and Graduation Alliance continue to help students overcome challenges, complete their education, and build brighter futures.

This milestone highlights the impact of sustained collaboration in transforming educational opportunities and outcomes across the region.

As the holiday season approaches, the Educational Service Center of the Western Reserve (ESCWR) and local superintendents came together for their annual Day of Giving at the Painesville Salvation Army. The event provided meals, educational kits, and family care packages, while creating a welcoming space for children and caregivers. ESCWR Superintendent Jennifer Felker emphasized that the event shows the impact of schools, organizations, and volunteers working together to support families during the holidays.

Read the full News-Herald article here.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposed reissuing a regulation that could penalize noncitizens who use Medicaid and other income-based public benefit programs. Under the “public charge rule,” immigration officials can deny applications for permanent residency or visa extensions if it is determined they are likely to become a “public charge,” meaning that the individual has received or could expect to receive certain other benefits. Comments are due Decemebr 19. Read more here.

In recent weeks, there has been an extraordinary surge of federal policy action concerning kids and technology. Just before Thanksgiving, the House Commerce Committee introduced 19 separate bills regarding technology, many of which impact students and schools. Read more here.

On December 9, the House passed the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act, which reauthorizes the program for FY24-FY26. As a reminder, the program provides critical resources for counties and schools that are near National Forest Land and are unable to generate property tax revenue. Read more about it here.

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

The U.S. Supreme Court ordered a federal appeals court to reconsider its decision to uphold a New York state law that eliminates religious exemptions for required school vaccinations. The justices asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit, in New York City, to give a second look to the claims of a group of Amish schools and parents in light of the high court’s decision last summer in Mahmoud v. Taylor, which held that parents have a free exercise of religion right to challenge certain aspects of the public school curriculum. More on EducationWeek.

Superintendents spend most of their time dealing with finances, but few of them consider financial management to be one of their top strengths. That mismatch, along with marked differences in the way male and female superintendents approach the job, is among the findings in a new survey of superintendents from across the country from AASA, The School Superintendents Association. The survey highlights just how much money is top of mind for the leaders of the nation’s school districts. Coverage on EducationWeek.

The Education Law Center released, Making the Grade: How Fair is School Funding in Your State?, the latest contribution to the organization’s decade and a half series of annual reports on school funding fairness. 

The U.S. Supreme Court on Dec. 8 refused to hear a Texas case that could have decided the constitutionality of book bans in public libraries. In doing so, the justices left in place a lower court ruling allowing state and local governments to make decisions on book bans. Rationale on K-12 Dive.

Project Tomorrow recently launched the Leading Toward Tomorrow Project, an equity-focused, research-driven initiative aimed at advancing statewide educational innovation. The project brings together state education agencies, membership organizations, and local districts in a structured research and innovation process.

The first cohort includes Alabama, California, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, and Virginia, with each state leading districts to design strategies informed by research and tailored to their unique educational landscapes.