January 13, 2026

The results of the AESA Executive Council election are in. Congratulations to the following leaders who will serve on the Executive Council, officially starting Spring 2026:

We appreciate all members who participated in the election process and extend our congratulations to the newly-elected representatives.

As many educational service agencies begin planning for upcoming leadership transitions, we want to remind you of the comprehensive Executive Search Services available through AESA.

At AESA, we know that selecting the right CEO is one of the most important decisions your board will make. Our Executive Search Services are designed specifically for ESAs, drawing on decades of experience in educational leadership and a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities within your organizations. We offer a customized, flexible, and data-informed process to help you find a leader who aligns with your agency’s mission and future direction.

At this time last year, “writing a book” was definitely not on our BINGO card. Today, STEM Century: AESA Edition is on Amazon’s bestseller list and stands as a compelling compilation of stories showcasing the impactful work ESAs are doing across the country.

The book opens with the first chapter by AESA Executive Director Joan Wade, who reflects on the early days of ESAs, the leaders who built them, and how their mission has evolved to meet the changing needs of schools and communities. It is as much a story about leadership as it is about public education. If you care about how meaningful change begins and how it scales, we invite you to get your copy today!

The AESA Virtual Federal Advocacy Committee Meeting is next week. This year’s meeting will provide timely federal updates, focused discussion on priorities critical to ESAs, and an opportunity to align our collective advocacy efforts for 2026.  Participation in this meeting is free, and no travel is required. 

Congress is back in Washington, DC, with a sharp focus on Fiscal Year 2026 spending as the January 30 deadline to fund the federal government approaches. In late December, House and Senate Appropriations Committee leaders reached agreement on funding totals for the remaining bills, including Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education.

Read the full update to understand what this could mean for education funding and planning in the months ahead. 

K-12 Dive has an analysis on  six trends for K-12 leaders to watch in 2026, including enrollment concerns, growing school choice competition, data privacy and new federal policy priorities.

States can now sign up for the new federal tax credit for private school choice, which could potentially spread voucher-like programs nationwide. But the public still wants a say in how the government regulates the new policy, and how much. Coverage on The 74Million.

K-12 Dive has compiled Supreme Court cases directly related to K-12 education since the 2019-20 term to track the high court’s influence on a rapidly shifting education policy landscape.

This article on The 74Million features a retrospective look into K-12 Education Policy from 2025 in the form of charts and graphs.

EducationWeek has a video look at some of the key funding issues school district leaders will be watching in 2026.

To limit reliance on ultra-processed foods in school meals, a majority of school nutrition directors report needing additional resources that include funding, menu development, culinary training, staffing, and equipment and infrastructure, according to survey data released by the School Nutrition Association.