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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February 28, 2025
Cyber Training: Join CISA on March 13CISA School Safety is hosting a virtual training on implementing and enhancing bystander reporting programs to reduce violence in K-12 schools; join them on Thursday, March 13 at 3pm ET.
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February 27, 2025
萝卜AV视频Urges Congress to Finalize FY25 Appropriations萝卜AV视频send a letter to lead appropriators urging them to swiftly complete FY2025 funding so schools can begin budgeting for next school year.
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February 26, 2025
Where in the NCE Can You Find 萝卜AV视频Advocacy?A comprehensive list about where to find us at the National Conference on Education March 6 - 8, 2025!
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February 25, 2025
Brookings Webinar: What do education leaders need to know about the Department of Education's new guidance on race and civil rights?Join Brookings for a webinar on Friday, February 28 at 1:30 p.m. ET to discuss the U.S. Department of Education鈥檚 Office for Civil Rights February 14 guidance letter.
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February 25, 2025
Secure Rural Schools Reintroduced in 119th CongressCongress has reintroduced the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act (H.R. 1381/S. 356) which reauthorizes the program from FY24-FY26.
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February 20, 2025
ED Announces Policy Shift in Dispersing Late COVID-relief DollarsYesterday, the Department of Education announced that going forward states will need to pay first for any activities covered by COVID-relief funding and then ask the Department for reimbursement.
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February 19, 2025
Sharing a Survey: School Superintendent Opioid Response SurveyWe are happy to share an important survey from our friends at Opportunity Labs to better understand district superintendents' perspectives of school-based opioid prevention and response.
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February 17, 2025
Section 504 Litigation: What the Texas v. Becerra Lawsuit Could Mean for DistrictsAn update on the lawsuit filed last fall by 17 States, known as Texas v. Becerra, and how it could affect districts.
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February 17, 2025
OCR Issues Guidance on Title VI Compliance for DistrictsThis blog post deep dives the February 14 OCR guidance, and will be updated if we gain any further clarity on the intent of not only the guidance, but also the willingness of the Trump Administration to enforce it.
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February 17, 2025
萝卜AV视频Leads Letter Opposing Medicaid Cuts in ReconciliationToday, 66 national education, disability, healthcare, child welfare, family organizations and their allies sent a letter to Congress to express their deep opposition to any major restructuring of the Medicaid program.
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February 13, 2025
Various Resources to Frame Conversations About Funding and Department Elimination ProposalsWe鈥檝e had a variety of good resources come across our desks as groups look to provide real-time information on what proposed policy changes鈥攊ncluding funding cuts and gutting USED鈥攚ill mean, and several of these provide state or local analysis.
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February 11, 2025
GUEST BLOG: USED鈥檚 Regional Educational Lab Program: Using Evidence to Maximize your InvestmentsThe advocacy team is happy to debut the first in a series of blogs with the Institute of Educational Sciences. Our department relies on and draws upon the data and resources provided by NCES and IES.
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February 11, 2025
Webinar: IDEA Full FundingLearn more from our expert panelists about the implications of an unmet funding pledge to policy and practice and explore new advocacy resources from the IDEA Full Funding Coalition.
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February 11, 2025
萝卜AV视频Joins National, State and Local Groups in Letter Prioritizing IDEA Funding萝卜AV视频was proud to join 27 national organizations and dozens of state and local groups in a letter to Congress.
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February 10, 2025
Trump Rescinds Problematic CTE Policy MandateThe Trump Administration rescinded the U.S. Department of Education's information collection system for Perkins, finalized last December, that would have been incredibly disruptive to districts.
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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