The Leading Edge 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.The Leading Edge BlogEducation FundingAdvocacy & PolicyImmigrationE-RateconnectivityerateTechnology & AIed-techeducation technologyedtechaied techtechSchool Safety & CybersecurityHealth & WellnessFinance & BudgetsStudent & Child PrivacyStudent PrivacyprivacyProtection of Pupil Rights AmendmentPPRAChild PrivacyFERPAStudent & Child Privacy CenterCOPPAFamily Educational Rights and Privacy ActDistrict & School Operationsurn:uuid:a571829b-5b97-4d60-873c-4ce8a3e813c3/resources/blog/administration-proposes-to-revive-public-charge-rule The Leading Edge BlogAdministration Proposes to Revive Public Charge RuleLast week, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposed reissuing a regulation that could penalize noncitizens who use Medicaid and other income-based public benefit programs.Mon, 24 Nov 2025 20:04:43 Zurn:uuid:631cff52-1f1b-4d1b-bc5a-4a520491afc6/resources/blog/ed-makes-further-moves-to-dismantle-the-department-of-education The Leading Edge BlogAdvocacy & PolicyED Makes Further Moves To Dismantle the Department of EducationSecretary McMahon announced 6 new agreements with 4 agencies to “break up the federal education bureaucracy, ensure efficient delivery of funded programs, activities, & move closer to fulfilling the President’s promise to return education to the states."Tue, 18 Nov 2025 21:17:25 Zurn:uuid:c983057c-6cad-44c4-8352-63cadc4cdfb9/resources/blog/unpacking-state-esea-waiver-submissions The Leading Edge BlogAdvocacy & PolicyUnpacking State ESEA Waiver SubmissionsThe Trump administration under Secretary McMahon has indicated a willingness to entertain expanded waivers of certain requirements under ESEA.Thu, 13 Nov 2025 21:37:21 Zurn:uuid:f28a5ffa-6472-4354-8adb-87111e45801b/resources/blog/senate-advances-deal-to-end-shutdown The Leading Edge BlogCongress Passes Deal to End ShutdownOn Wednesday, Congress passed a deal to reopen the government. Mon, 10 Nov 2025 19:50:47 Zurn:uuid:f259d05f-9e2c-46fd-8bdb-9156e3f1e8a2/resources/blog/update--fcc-votes-to-end-biden-era-wi-fi-hot-spot-expansion The Leading Edge BlogE-RateconnectivityerateAdvocacy & PolicyTechnology & AIed-techeducation technologyedtechaied techtechUPDATE: FCC Votes to End Biden-Era Wi-Fi Hot Spot ExpansionMission Telecom, a Wi-Fi on school buses provider, has agreed to allow districts to pay the E-Rate discount cost for this service for the remainder of this program year, thereby avoiding the need to cancel the contract and/or terminate the service.Fri, 07 Nov 2025 16:08:37 Zurn:uuid:b785e2de-f3bb-47fe-b8ab-d537d0c3d1a0/resources/blog/wide-array-of-ai-legislation-introduced The Leading Edge BlogAdvocacy & PolicyTechnology & AIed-techeducation technologyedtechaied techtechSchool Safety & CybersecurityWide Array of AI Legislation IntroducedDespite the federal government remaining closed for more than a month now, multiple new bills related to AI and students have been introduced in the past several weeks. This blog post has the breakdown.Thu, 30 Oct 2025 17:21:54 Zurn:uuid:4d4dd065-a12e-46d7-b148-48a0f5aad745/resources/blog/guest-post--maintaining-strong-foundations-for-head-start-programs-during-the-government-shutdown The Leading Edge BlogGuest Post: Maintaining Strong Foundations for Head Start Programs During the Government ShutdownThe current federal shutdown may be causing disruption and heartache for Head Start partnerships with school systems, including those school systems that are grant recipients. This blog aims to clear up some possible misconceptions and highlight how school systems and Head Start can work together through the shutdown to ensure children and families are prioritized. Wed, 29 Oct 2025 19:15:24 Zurn:uuid:a3eaa983-4ae2-4beb-8ee9-9bec9b227fb7/resources/blog/(updated)-administration-announces-changes-to-h-1b-visa-program The Leading Edge BlogImmigrationUPDATE: Administration Announces Changes to H-1B Visa ProgramIn September, the Trump Administration announced changes to the H-1B visa program, which allows employers to temporarily hire foreign workers for specialty occupation positions. Many school districts use this program to fill critical vacancies, especially in rural areas where staff shortages are more acute.Wed, 29 Oct 2025 16:21:08 Zurn:uuid:c209fa60-40e8-4063-b184-9951b9377c3b/resources/blog/ai-changes-everything--new-data-minimization-resource-for-urgent-review The Leading Edge BlogStudent & Child PrivacyStudent PrivacyprivacyProtection of Pupil Rights AmendmentPPRAChild PrivacyFERPAStudent & Child Privacy CenterCOPPAFamily Educational Rights and Privacy ActSchool Safety & CybersecurityTechnology & AIed-techeducation technologyedtechaied techtechAdvocacy & PolicyGUEST POST: AI Changes Everything: New Data Minimization Resource for Urgent ReviewThis blog post comes from Amelia Vance and Morgan Sexton at the Public Interest Privacy Center (PIPC supports AASA’s Student and Child Privacy Center) with a new resource.Wed, 15 Oct 2025 19:06:21 Zurn:uuid:27a0163d-84ba-4b40-8fbf-2633e9deda7d/resources/blog/administration-fires-ed-staff-important-for-k-12-programs The Leading Edge BlogUPDATE: Administration Fires ED Staff Important for K-12 ProgramsOn October 10, ED laid off about 450 of its staff as part of a second Reduction in Force (RIF). Most notably for district leaders, the majority of staff in both the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Office of Special Education have been let go.Mon, 13 Oct 2025 21:56:59 Zurn:uuid:e7a8f38c-e233-4c66-84fb-b7fd5f0d562c/resources/blog/school-mental-health-grants-reopened The Leading Edge BlogHealth & WellnessAdvocacy & PolicyFinance & BudgetsEducation FundingUPDATE: School Mental Health Grants ReopenedIt is our understanding the new grant competition will continue despite an October 27th ruling that requires the Department of Education to reinstate, for now, the original SBMH and MHSP grants that were discontinued in April.Thu, 02 Oct 2025 15:48:57 Zurn:uuid:17cbc1b5-3fd7-43d2-86a2-773bb0ed9291/resources/blog/aasa-urges-house-appropriations-committee-to-reject-fy26-proposal The Leading Edge BlogEducation FundingܲAVƵUrges House Appropriations Committee to Reject FY26 ProposalAhead of September 9 hearing on the FY26 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Services proposal, ܲAVƵsent a letter to the House Appropriations Committee urging members to reject the measure. Mon, 08 Sep 2025 18:28:13 Zurn:uuid:84c78a0e-ef4c-45bd-9923-5e5ba65cacd9/resources/blog/aasa-urges-senate-to-pass-bipartisan-fy26-proposal The Leading Edge BlogEducation FundingܲAVƵUrges Senate to Pass Bipartisan FY26 ProposalToday, ܲAVƵled a letter—joined by five other K-12 organizations—to the Senate urging them to swiftly pass the bipartisan FY26 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Services proposal that advanced through committee in late July. Thu, 04 Sep 2025 21:32:54 Zurn:uuid:4b6962d4-4163-426e-9f58-75710281d0be/resources/blog/aasa-opposes-house-lhhs-subcommittee-fy26-proposal The Leading Edge BlogAdvocacy & PolicyFinance & BudgetsEducation FundingܲAVƵOpposes House LHHS Subcommittee FY26 ProposalOn Sunday the House LHHS subcommittee released its proposal for FY26, funding that would be available to schools for the 26-27 school year. ܲAVƵreleased letter in response.Tue, 02 Sep 2025 17:40:01 Zurn:uuid:09144a93-e703-449f-9468-d63679cf3ae1/resources/blog/aasa-whitepaper-on-obbb-impacts-on-k-12 The Leading Edge BlogAdvocacy & PolicyFinance & BudgetsEducation FundingܲAVƵWhitepaper on OBBB Impacts on K-12New whitepaper that outlines the key policy and funding impacts for public schools following the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.Tue, 02 Sep 2025 14:57:11 Zurn:uuid:471e3fe0-2301-4e29-9fe7-89bd483703a2/resources/blog/new-undauntedk12-resources-for-infrastructure-investments The Leading Edge BlogAdvocacy & PolicyDistrict & School OperationsFinance & BudgetsEducation FundingGUEST POST: New UndauntedK12 Resources for Infrastructure InvestmentsThis guest post from UndauntedK12 showcases new resources to help schools make sense of the new federal budget reconciliation bill and implications for clean energy projects at schools.Thu, 21 Aug 2025 17:19:46 Zurn:uuid:77999948-5367-4d10-8564-17a435102678/resources/blog/how-the-one-big-beautiful-bill-impacts-higher-education The Leading Edge BlogEducation FundingHow the One Big Beautiful Bill Impacts Higher EducationThe One Big, Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB), signed into law on July 4, made significant changes to higher education that district leaders should be aware of.Mon, 18 Aug 2025 19:25:10 Zurn:uuid:e11c763b-e1d7-4be6-a454-24be81154f70/resources/blog/senate-committee-advances-fy26-lhhs-bill The Leading Edge BlogEducation FundingSenate Committee Advances FY26 LHHS BillToday, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed its Fiscal Year 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies bill with bipartisan support.Thu, 31 Jul 2025 21:18:55 Zurn:uuid:bb704633-9f58-4d88-a846-1772202c9a51/resources/blog/july-ed-releases-withheld-funds-to-education-grantees The Leading Edge BlogEducation FundingED Releases Withheld Funds to Education GranteesToday, ED released the funds to states it had previously withheld under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act Titles I-C, II-A, III-A, and IV-A and the Adult Education Family Literacy Act. Here's what districts need to know. Wed, 30 Jul 2025 19:20:38 Zurn:uuid:3ae3425a-09ad-47ae-aeb3-b6bbac056dd9/resources/blog/update-on-fy25-funding-freeze-july25 The Leading Edge BlogAdvocacy & PolicyFinance & BudgetsEducation Funding(UPDATED) FY25 Funding FreezeUPDATE July 25: The Administration announced the release of the remaining $4.9 billion in K-12 funds.Fri, 25 Jul 2025 19:20:45 Zurn:uuid:9443c59c-1aa9-42a0-a639-ce7f863fa8b3/resources/blog/aasa-joins-600-organizations-to-urge-the-administration-to-release-fy25-funds-immediately The Leading Edge BlogEducation FundingܲAVƵJoins 600 Organizations to Urge the Administration to Release FY25 Funds ImmediatelyThis week, ܲAVƵjoined 600 national, state and local organizations in a letter to the USED and the OMB urging leadership to release FY25 education funds immediately. Fri, 18 Jul 2025 13:48:28 Zurn:uuid:eb2d43c1-f9e3-4959-879b-0ed015caf818/resources/blog/ed-announces-its-withholding-many-fy25-funds The Leading Edge BlogEducation FundingED Announces It's Withholding Many FY25 FundsYesterday afternoon, less than 24 hours before all federal education funds are expected to be available, the U.S. Department of Education notified states that it was not going to allocate FY25 funds for Title I-C, Title II-A, Title III-A, Title IV-A and Title IV-B – until further review. Tue, 01 Jul 2025 15:32:35 Zurn:uuid:c74b5327-a3cd-437d-bda1-20e02b4358a9/resources/blog/used-budget-summary-proposes-drastic-cuts-to-k12 The Leading Edge BlogEducation FundingUSED Budget Summary Proposes Drastic Cuts to K12Today, the Trump Administration released additional budget materials to Congress for FY26. While not officially the full FY26 budget proposal, this information builds upon the “skinny budget” and provides specific funding requests for programs. Overall, the FY26 Budget Summary calls for a $12 billion cut in funding and presents Congress with a series of proposed trade-offs that reduce federal investment in K-12 education and ultimately harm schools and the students they serve.Sat, 31 May 2025 02:29:06 Zurn:uuid:2d6d6cf0-8e87-45ef-b4e6-92857acf8161/resources/blog/ed-publishes-new-discretionary-grant-priorities The Leading Edge BlogAdvocacy & PolicyEducation FundingED Publishes New Discretionary Grant PrioritiesThe U.S. Department of Education (ED) published a set of competitive grant priorities that the agency says it intends to apply to all discretionary grants moving forward.Fri, 23 May 2025 19:46:23 Zurn:uuid:2957cf1c-f558-48f5-88e1-bbaaa047203e/resources/blog/gop-reconciliation-proposal-advances-in-house-vouchers-snap-and-medicaid-implications The Leading Edge BlogAdvocacy & PolicyFinance & BudgetsEducation FundingGOP Reconciliation Proposal Advances in House: Vouchers, SNAP and Medicaid ImplicationsThis week, three separate House committees met to advance pieces of the Republican reconciliation proposal. This is what superintendents need to know.Thu, 15 May 2025 16:42:03 Z