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
-
May 03, 2022
The Advocate May 2022: Biden Administration Focuses on Building Better SchoolsThe health of our school buildings has long been a major problem. The 2021 State of Our Schools Report from the 21st Century School Fund estimates that the U.S. is underinvesting in school buildings and grounds by $85 billion each year.
-
April 04, 2022
EPA Announces Details for Electric School Bus RebatesToday, the EPA held a webinar on their new $5 billion electric school bus program. In case you missed the presentation, you can find the slides and content here.
-
April 26, 2022
萝卜AV视频Joins Groups in Letter Supporting Biden Admin New Public Charge Rule萝卜AV视频joined 110 children鈥檚 advocacy and child-serving organizations in support of the Biden Administration鈥檚 new proposed rule on public charge.
-
April 22, 2022
萝卜AV视频Asks Congress to Invest in $3 Billion Title II, Part AOn April 21, 萝卜AV视频joined 51 education organizations in asking Congress to invest in retaining and recruiting teachers, principals and other school leaders by providing $3 billion in FY23 appropriations for the Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants program 鈥� Title II, Part A of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).
-
April 18, 2022
President Biden, USDA Forest Service Announce more than $238 Million to Support Rural Schools, Roads, Other ServicesPresident Biden and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service announced the SRS funding to invest more than $238 million to support public schools, roads, and other municipal services through the Secure Rural Schools Program.
-
April 11, 2022
AASA-Endorsed HERE Act IntroducedOn Thursday, April 7, Representative Joaquin Castro (D-TX) and Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) introduced the Hispanic Educational Resources and Empowerment (HERE) Act.
-
April 07, 2022
The Advocate April 2022: Child Nutrition WaiversAt the beginning of the pandemic, Congress granted the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) the authority to provide waivers for child nutrition programs to allow critical flexibilities for program operators to continue operations and feed children despite school closures and supply chain challenges.
-
April 04, 2022
White House Announces Actions for Bolstering Clean School Infrastructure and Transportation to Support Student Learning and HealthToday, Vice President Kamala Harris announced the Biden-Harris Action Plan for Building Better School Infrastructure.
-
April 04, 2022
Spread the Word about Changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness ProgramLast year, the Department of Education (USED) issued a Limited Time Waiver to improve the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program and help those who qualify get closer to forgiveness.
-
April 01, 2022
萝卜AV视频Leads Amicus in Key School Prayer Case Before SCOTUSAASA, along with our friends at the National Associations of Elementary and Secondary School Principals, filed an amicus brief in a pivotal Supreme Court case that will be heard later this month called Kennedy v Bremerton.
-
March 31, 2022
萝卜AV视频Quarterly Federal Policy Update with Sasha PudelskiWe had a blast at yesterday's 萝卜AV视频Quarterly Federal Policy Update with Sasha Pudelski.
-
March 31, 2022
萝卜AV视频Releases Fourth Installment of the Learning Recovery and Redesign Guidance: Using ARP to Support Homeless StudentsThis week, 萝卜AV视频has released the fourth installment of the 萝卜AV视频Learning Recovery & Redesign tools.
-
March 30, 2022
New EPA Rebate Program for School BusesWant some new clean school buses? Here鈥檚 your chance to get them!
-
March 29, 2022
FY23 Appropriations Process: Off to A Strong Start! President Biden鈥檚 Budget Continues Support for Education InvestmentsThe ink on the final FY22 budget is barely dry, and we are already off and running with all the FY23 budget fun. ICYMI: check out the blog with all our details on the final FY22 budget.
-
March 29, 2022
DOT FMCSA Extends 鈥楿nder the Hood鈥� Waiver to Help Address School Bus Driver Labor ShortageEarlier this year, USED partnered with USDOT to provide temporary relief for the 鈥榰nder the hood鈥� requirement to help address the school bus drive shortage.
Latest Advocacy & Policy Resources
-
July 30, 2026
America's Youth AI Festival: A Student-Led AI PolicyType:Policy/Regulations Topics: Advocacy & Policy, Technology & AIAmerica's Youth AI Festival: students from across the country gathered in Boston to shape the nation's first student-led AI policy for schools. -
July 23, 2026
PEP Talk Episode 47: An E-Rate EmergencyType:Podcast Topics: Advocacy & Policy, Finance & Budgets, Technology & AIOn this episode of PEP Talk: Kat Sturdevant sits down with Noelle Ellerson Ng, Chief Advocacy & Governance Officer about serious concerns for the future of the E-Rate program, and what that means for districts. -
June 30, 2026
PEP Talk Episode 46: The Budgetary Impact of Health Care Costs on School DistrictsType:Podcast Topics: Advocacy & Policy, District & School Operations, Finance & Budgets, Health & Wellnessn this episode of PEP Talk: Kat Sturdevant explores the findings of a new report, "Rising Premiums, Falling Opportunities: The Budgetary Impact of Health Care Costs on School Districts," with Sasha Pudelski, 萝卜AV视频and Elleka Yost, ASBO International.
Receive legislative and regulatory actions direct to your inbox
Stay updated on the issues that matter most to you and understand how they could affect you, your district, your students and your community.