The Leading Edge: Policy & Advocacy Blog
The Leading Edge, AASA's policy & advocacy blog, provides up-to-date information about activities in Washington, D.C. and Capitol Hill that affect you and your school district.
Topics include new or proposed regulations and federal policies, federal funding updates and opportunities, advocacy resources and more.
Latest Posts
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January 05, 2024
USDA Releases Interim Final Rule on Summer EBT and Non-Congregate Meal Service in Rural AreasOn December 29, 2023, USDA released an Interim Final Rule on two new(ish) programs aimed to address summer hunger.
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January 05, 2024
The Advocate January 2024: What You Can Expect This YearAs we head into 2024 and a major election year, this month鈥檚 edition of The Advocate is a summary of everything that could impact K-12 leaders in the year ahead.
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December 21, 2023
ESSER in Action in Massachusetts: Berkley- A Community of CareAASA, 萝卜AV视频, is launching a series, ESSER in Action, highlighting how COVID-19 relief funds are making an impact across the country.
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December 20, 2023
FTC Issues Proposed Rule on COPPAThis blog post is cross posted from the team at the 萝卜AV视频Student and Child Privacy Center/PIPC.
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December 12, 2023
Guest Post: Making the Most of Your Summer Fun(ds)鈥� Planning Summer Learning that Works for EducatorsThis is the seventh installment of the Summer Funds series with 萝卜AV视频President Gladys Cruz.
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December 08, 2023
萝卜AV视频Endorses New Bipartisan School Safety Legislation萝卜AV视频was excited to help craft and endorse new bipartisan school safety legislation called the Preparing Leaders to Assess Needs (PLAN) for School Safety Act (H.R. 6613).
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December 06, 2023
The Advocate December 2023: Critical Funding for Rural SchoolsThis month, we are focusing on two federal programs that are critical for rural schools across the country: Rural Education Achievement Program (REAP) and the Secure Rural Schools (SRS).
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November 30, 2023
HHS Releases Proposed Rule on Head Start Staff Compensation, Benefits and MoreLast week, HHS released a proposed rule on numerous aspects of Head Start. The headline of the rule is a significant increase to staff compensation.
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November 30, 2023
New Education Impact ReportOn November 30, 2023, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative shared an impact report that looks back on eight years of CZI鈥檚 work in education.
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November 30, 2023
COVID-19 Tests Available for SchoolsEarlier this week, USED announced a partnership with the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide free COVID-19 tests to school districts.
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November 16, 2023
Department of Education Releases 2020-21 Civil Rights DataThis week, the Department of Education released the new federal civil rights data for the 2020-2021 school year. Officials have cautioned against comparing this year鈥檚 data to previous reports, since 2020-2021 was the first year coming out of the pandemic school closures.
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November 15, 2023
萝卜AV视频Supports Reauthorization of Secure Rural Schools Program萝卜AV视频joined AESA, NREA and NREAC in a joint letter to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
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November 15, 2023
萝卜AV视频Releases Rural Education Achievement Program (REAP) Survey ReportToday, your Advocacy team released the Rural Education Achievement Program (REAP) Survey Report.
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November 15, 2023
Learn Without Limits: Fully Launched!FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced her three-part Learn Without Limits initiative over the summer.
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November 15, 2023
FY2024: Avoiding a Shutdown But Still Not FundedIn a whirlwind of activity on Tuesday, the House passed (in a bipartisan manner) a continuing resolution (CR) that extends government funding at current levels for four appropriations bills through January 18 and for the other eight through February 2.
Latest Advocacy & Policy Resources
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November 20, 2025
PEP Talk Episode 42: Rethinking Special Education Dispute Resolution at IDEA鈥檚 50th AnniversaryType:Podcast Topics: Access & Opportunity, Advocacy & Policy, District & School OperationsOn this episode of PEP Talk: Kat Sturdevant interviews two of the authors of AASA's new report Rethinking Special Education Dispute Resolution at IDEA鈥檚 50th Anniversary. -
November 10, 2025
Rethinking Special Education Dispute Resolution at IDEA鈥檚 50th AnniversaryType:Report Topics: Access & Opportunity, Advocacy & PolicyWhat began as a procedural safeguard to ensure fairness and accountability has, over time, evolved into an increasingly adversarial, inequitable, and financially unsustainable process鈥攐ne that too often diverts resources from classrooms to courtrooms. -
November 01, 2025
Diplomacy Without Compromise: Advocacy in Public EducationType:Article Topics: Advocacy & PolicyA veteran superintendent reframes what it means to be both tactful and resolute when pressing for what鈥檚 important in schooling today.
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