August 12, 2025

Examples of our vision in motion:

Recently, West 40 ISC and their Coordinator of Global Connections, Stuart Brown, welcomed President Jin Byonghwa and Supervisor Kim Hyungu from the Busan Metropolitan Institute for Gifted Education and Promotion. Their visit, coordinated by AESA Global and West 40, offered a rich exchange of ideas and insights into the U.S. education system—a powerful reminder of the value in building a more collaborative and connected educational future.

Boone-Winnebago Regional Superintendent Scott Bloomquist, in this local news segment, sees international collaboration as a tool to tackling Illinois school challenges like teacher recruitment and substitute shortages. Welcoming teachers from abroad, he hopes, will bring fresh ideas, spark creativity, and strengthen support networks.

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

AESA’s Technology Leaders Network is built for ESA tech leaders who want to stay current, solve real challenges, and connect with peers from across the country. The network focuses on timely, relevant topics and gives you a space to share ideas, ask questions, and learn from others. Whether you're a returning member or new this year, it's a great way to stay sharp and help shape the future of edtech in your agency.

2025-26 Virtual Meeting Dates (2:00-3:00 pm ET):

• August 28, 2025 (Kickoff in less than 3 weeks!)

• October 2, 2025

• November 6, 2025

• December 18, 2025

• February 5, 2026

• March 19, 2026

• April 30, 2026

• June 4, 2026

Pricing:

• Annual Individual Membership: $299

Register today and invite your colleagues to join you!

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996—originally enacted to reform the nation’s welfare system—contains provisions that limit immigrants’ access to public benefits. The Trump administration recently announced it will invoke PRWORA to restrict immigrant families from receiving services it classifies as “similar to welfare,” including federally funded early childhood and career and technical education programs.

Another Call to Action!

The HHS notice is open for public comment by TOMORROW, August 13 in most states, and by September 3 in states involved in the litigation. AESA has drafted a comment template to help members submit comments in opposition of this ruling. Find the resources here.

There was quite the flurry of federal activity in the final week of last month:

• On 7/29, the USED issued a Dear Colleague letter to chief state school officers inviting state education agencies, local education agencies, schools, and tribal leaders to seek waivers for ESEA to improve student achievement and maximize the impact of Federal funds.
• On 7/30, the DOJ issued non-binding guidance to recipients of federal funds to ensure compliance with federal antidiscrimination laws as applied to “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” programs.
• On 7/31, Penny Schwinn (the former Tennessee state superintendent) withdrew her nomination to serve as Deputy Secretary of Education, after which Secretary McMahon announced that Schwinn will serve as Senior Advisor and Chief Strategist to the USED, roles that do not require Senate confirmation.
• Also on 7/31, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed its Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) bill with bipartisan support. The bill provides small increases for Title I, IDEA, and REAP, and level funds for most other K12 programs.

This EdWeek article dives into the responses from governors’ offices in all 50 states, plus the mayor’s office in the District of Columbia, to ask about their plans for opting in to the new private school choice program passed in OBBBA.

Using data from the Education Law Center, The74 examines how state school spending and staffing levels correlate with NAEP scores, highlighting their impact on outcomes while noting important state-specific considerations.

The Hechinger Report outlines seven key takeaways from a recent AEI symposium on chronic absenteeism, acknowledging some improvements in attendance rates while highlighting broader challenges that schools and states still face about attitudes towards attendance.

In the first entry of their Pandemic Learning Project, researchers from Bellwether examine promising state-level examples of interventions to address learning loss and highlight the success of well-designed and properly implemented interventions. 

Please join Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) School Safety on Thursday, August 28 from 3:00-4:00 pm EDT for a virtual training on back-to-school safety and emergency preparedness actions for kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) schools.

Attendees will gain insight into updating and sustaining crisis response and reunification plans with an emphasis on ensuring plans are well understood and practiced by staff and students. The session will also provide actionable tools and guidance to support the implementation of developmentally-appropriate preparedness efforts throughout the school year.

Pictured (l to r): Allen Betry, CESA 9 Agency Administrator; Jenny Seymour, WVS Executive Director; Dawn Nordine, Retired WVS Executive Director and WVS Co-Founder; Jerry Fiene, Retired CESA 9 Agency Administrator and WVS Co-Founder 

The P2C Impact Study offers ESAs a unique opportunity to lead innovation in their regions. By joining this research initiative, ESAs can equip their schools with cutting-edge tools, resources, and professional learning that connect math instruction directly to students’ future career opportunities.

Participation not only provides schools with data-driven insights to boost engagement, achievement, and readiness—it also positions the ESA as a catalyst for sustainable, systemic change.

Too many students don’t see the point of what they’re learning. Backed by the AESA Foundation and the P2C Foundation, the P2C Impact Study explores how career-connected learning can improve math achievement, engagement, and postsecondary readiness.

The need is clear:

• Students who fail Algebra I are 4.5× more likely to drop out.

• Over 60% of students enter college needing remedial math.

• By 2030, more than 70% of jobs will require education beyond high school.

Relevance isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity! Learn more at https://p2c.org/impact-study/ or reserve your spot today by contacting Dr. Joseph Goins, CEO & Founder, Pathway2Careers. 

Data Magic is the official podcast of Project Unicorn, a national initiative dedicated to radically improve data interoperability - the safe and secure flow of education data across systems to support student learning.

With AESA's Joan Wade and Sheila King serving on the Project Unicorn Steering Committee, this work is closely tied to our mission of supporting ESAs and their partners in leading the future of education.

Each episode of Data Magic features thought-provoking conversations with leaders who are shaping the future of data interoperability. From state and district leaders to ed tech developers, guests share their work on building secure, real-time, student-centered data systems that empower educators and protect learners.

If you’re interested in the future of educational data, this podcast is a must-listen. Data Magic helps us all understand why interoperability matters—and how we can be part of the solution.