June 16, 2026

As schools prepare students for an increasingly connected world, understanding how the United States compares globally in education is more important than ever. In a recent article, AESA Chief Global Officer Jason Hiruo examines where the U.S. stands in developing global competency, the knowledge, skills, and perspectives students need to succeed across cultures and communities. Drawing on international trends and educational practices, Jason highlights both the opportunities and challenges facing American education. Read the full article to learn why global competency is becoming essential for student success and how educational leaders can strengthen it in their own communities.

The Women of Inspiration in Leadership Award, established in honor of Dr. Susan Leddick, celebrates outstanding women who lead with vision, integrity, and impact in the ESA community. Dr. Leddick’s legacy of innovation and support for women leaders lives on through this award. 

What we're looking for:

• Demonstrates a commitment to advocating for and supporting other women leaders.
• Understands and promotes innovative ideas that advance education.
• Proven record of success, growth, and influence in the field of education.
• Recognized for her positive impact and leadership capabilities.

In 2025, Dr. Carolyn Castillo of ESC Region 20 was honored for her inspirational leadership and advocacy for equity and excellence. Her mentorship and strategic initiatives have empowered women in education and fostered inclusive practices throughout Texas. 

If you're planning to attend the 2026 AESA Summer Leadership Conference, now is the time to register and reserve your room. The AESA room block at the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa closes on Sunday, June 21, 2026.

Conference registration is still open. After registering, you'll receive an email with hotel reservation instructions and room block details.

AESA Global is proud to celebrate West 40 ISC #2 and Stuart Brown, a member of the inaugural AESA Global Coordinator Training Cohort, for their work in creating meaningful global learning opportunities for students and educators.

Through West 40’s Global Connections program, students and educators are building international partnerships, expanding their perspectives, and connecting with communities across borders. This work reflects the heart of AESA Global’s mission: helping educational service agencies create powerful global learning experiences that make a lasting impact.

Stuart will also join the June 24 “Ask Jason” session to share more about his experience with the AESA Global Coordinator Training and how it has supported West 40’s global learning efforts.

Project Unicorn’s annual School System Data Survey (SSDS) helps the education sector better understand K–12 data capabilities and infrastructure, providing critical insights to policymakers, EdTech providers, and school leaders. Using only aggregate, non-identifiable data, the survey informs national efforts to improve interoperability, privacy, cybersecurity, and digital access and shapes Project Unicorn’s annual State of the Sector Report (2025).

Why participate?

• Personalized support: Free 1:1 technical assistance with a Project Unicorn expert
• Early insights: Advance access to the State of the Sector Report and pre-release briefing
• Incentive: Complete the survey by June 30 to receive a $15 gift card

Your participation helps strengthen a modern, secure, and effective EdTech ecosystem nationwide.

Project Tomorrow's 2026 K–12 Cybersecurity Survey is now open, and AESA members are encouraged to participate and share the survey with district and school technology leaders across their service areas.

Using AESA's dedicated survey link will help ensure that ESAs and the districts they support are represented in this important national research effort. AESA will receive aggregated findings specific to our network, and participants will gain access to the Project Tomorrow K–12 Cybersecurity Working Group.

The survey closes August 31, 2026.

AESA has endorsed the Beginning Educator Mentorship and Retention Act, introduced by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-CT). The bill would help states and school districts expand mentorship programs for new teachers and school leaders, strengthening support and improving educator retention. Read the announcement.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a draft Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that raises serious concerns for the future of the E-Rate program. The proposal is scheduled for a vote at the upcoming June 25 meeting of the FCC, which would then kick off a 30 day comment period. AESA advocacy will be VERY engaged in responding to the FCC and coordinating federal outreach with Congress. Please stay tuned for instructions on when and how to file comments with the FCC AND when/how to weigh in with Congress. These will be two separate efforts, but both will be critical in shaping our ability to successfully push back. Read more.

The U.S. Department of Treasury held an event where they previewed forthcoming Treasury and IRS guidance for the implementation of the new federal scholarship tax credit program created in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Of note, they said not to expect the proposed regulations before September. Given an expected 30–45 day comment period followed by OMB review, final regulations may not be issued until December. Read more.

On June 8, a U.S. district court blocked the Trump Administration’s $100,000 fees for the H-1B visa program in a lawsuit that was filed by 20 state attorneys general. The Administration has announced that they intend to appeal the decision but for the time being, this ruling means that school districts preparing to file new H‑1B petitions can proceed without paying the $100,000 fee. However, if the government successfully appeals or obtains an emergency stay reinstating the requirement, any petition filed without the $100,000 fee could be rejected and the standard filing fee lost. AESA will continue to monitor this issue and update members with additional information as it becomes available.

The Nation Center for School Infrastructure (NCSI) released a facility conditions assessment guide. This is a guide for school districts and state education agencies on conducting, scoping, and acting on facility condition assessments (FCA). An FCA is a systematic inventory of a building’s major systems paired with an evaluation of each system’s condition, remaining useful life, and estimated cost to repair or replace. Across a portfolio of school buildings, FCAs produce the baseline data that districts and states use to identify deficiencies, project capital needs, and plan investments. Check out NCSI’s full suite of technical assistance materials here.

This new report addresses the "relevance gap" in American education and outlines a path toward stronger career-connected learning opportunities for all learners. The brief offers actionable recommendations for policymakers in Congress and the Administration to strengthen federal education R&D investments that can expand access to high-quality career-connected learning, better prepare learners for the workforce, and help meet the nation's evolving economic needs.