Congratulations to the Inaugural AESA Global Advisory Council
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AESA is excited to announce the members of the newly established Global Advisory Council! This Council was created to connect AESA members with international partners and support ESAs in becoming leaders in global education. By fostering partnerships, encouraging cultural exchanges, and bringing innovative educational ideas from around the world to the ESA community, the Council aims to inspire collaboration and growth. Working alongside ACES International, the Global Advisory Council will help create opportunities for global engagement across Europe, Asia, and beyond.
Congratulations to the AESA Global Advisory Council Members:
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Michael K. Webb, Ed.D. – Assistant Director, Organizational & Professional Learning, Montgomery County Intermediate Unit (PA)
Kudos to these exceptional leaders, and we look forward to their contributions in advancing global education.
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AESA Joins National, State, and Local Groups in Letter Prioritizing IDEA Funding
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AESA was proud to join 27 national organizations and dozens of state and local groups in a letter to Congress, highlighting actions they can take to support the education of students with disabilities during the 50th anniversary of IDEA this year.
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Trump Rescinds Problematic CTE Policy Mandate
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Last December, the U.S. Department of Education finalized a new information collection system for Perkins that would have been incredibly disruptive to districts as well as not authorized by the law. We believed that it would have hindered the ability of districts to track the success of our CTE students over time and create considerable new and inappropriate unfunded mandates on districts leading to thousands of hours of additional reporting requirements. On Monday, the Trump Administration announced it would rescind this inappropriate and unhelpful policy and and we are grateful for their quick and decisive action.
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Webinar: Budgeting for School-Based Mental Health
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Join Opportunity Labs Monday, February 24 from 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. EST to discuss new resources designed to help district administrators—especially directors of student services or the equivalent—adopt a data-driven, values-based approach that enhances and sustains school-based mental health services with Dr. Sharon Hoover, Co-Director of the National Center for School Mental Health at the University of Maryland; Dr. Jessica Swanson, Independent Consultant and former Deputy Chief, Finance at DC Public School and Edunomics Senior Fellow at Georgetown University; and, Victoria Bustos, Executive Director, Student Support Services at San Antonio Independent School District. Register here!
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Frequently Asked Questions About the U.S. Department of Education
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The new Center for American Progress report highlights the importance of the Department of Education in ensuring all students have access to a quality education. Authors Paige Shoemaker DeMio and Tania Otero Martinez cover the history of the department and its present day responsibilities through five main questions:
- Why was the U.S. Department of Education established?
- What does the U.S. Department of Education do?
- What does the U.S. Department of Education not do?
- Can the U.S. Department of Education be eliminated through an Executive Order?
- Do most high-performing countries have national-level agencies that oversee and support education?
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ESA Podcast of the Week: Lead On with Greg & Mark (LOwGaM)
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Each week, we'll spotlight a podcast that highlights the voices and insights of our members. Check out AESA’s curated list of ESA podcasts. Is yours missing? Contact Claire Sowder to add it.
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Next up in our ESA podcast spotlight: Lead On with Greg & Mark (LOwGaM), hosted by Greg Koons, Executive Director of Carbon Lehigh IU 21, and Mark Hoffman, Executive Director of Bucks County IU 22.
Produced by these Pennsylvania Intermediate Units, this podcast dives into key issues in K-12 education—covering leadership, equity, innovation, and student success. Through candid conversations with school leaders, educators, and experts, LOwGaM provides valuable insights and practical strategies to inspire and support education professionals.
Tune in to stay informed, gain fresh perspectives, and lead on!
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Have we missed one of your ESA’s stories? Send submissions to csowder@aesa.us to be included in future editions of Online News.
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Read the latest update from CoSN. The primary focuses this month is on the recently released CoSN 2025 Driving K-12 Innovation Report.
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