/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 BlogAdvocacy & PolicyFinance & BudgetsEducation FundingDistrict & School OperationsHealth & WellnessE-RateconnectivityerateTechnology & AIed-techeducation technologyedtechaied techtechImmigrationAccess & OpportunityaccessopportunityequityinclusiondiversityCurriculum & Assessmenturn:uuid:33778b6a-15b2-4983-aef8-639980f1d1cf/resources/blog/ed-issues-guidance-on-lobbying-with-federal-education-funding The Leading Edge BlogAdvocacy & PolicyEducation FundingThe Dear Colleague letter includes no changes in law, regulation or guidance. Given the new guidance, it would be prudent for grantees to take this opportunity to review their practices and ensure compliance. Fri, 03 Oct 2025 14:40:33 Zurn:uuid:171479a2-fb10-4912-bf3e-3f562d3eb083/resources/blog/the-advocate-october-2025--government-shutdown-and-fy26-funding-outlook The Leading Edge BlogEducation FundingAs the federal government is officially shut down for an unknown period, we thought now would be a good opportunity to provide an update on what’s happening (and more likely not happening) with federal funding for K-12 education for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026.Thu, 02 Oct 2025 17:57:21 Zurn:uuid:e7a8f38c-e233-4c66-84fb-b7fd5f0d562c/resources/blog/school-mental-health-grants-reopened The Leading Edge BlogHealth & WellnessAdvocacy & PolicyFinance & BudgetsEducation FundingOn Monday, the U.S. Department of Education released revised priorities for both the School-Based Mental Health Services (SBMH) Grant Program and the Mental Health Service Professional (MHSP) Demonstration Grant Program.Thu, 02 Oct 2025 15:48:57 Zurn:uuid:fb366a60-f197-440d-bfb5-3007d0eef066/resources/blog/fcc-votes-to-end-biden-era-wi-fi-hot-spot-expansion The Leading Edge BlogE-RateconnectivityerateAdvocacy & PolicyTechnology & AIed-techeducation technologyedtechaied techtechOn Tuesday, the FCC voted 2 to 1 on orders that would make both Wi-Fi on school buses and Wi-Fi hotspots ineligible for E-Rate support. �ܲ�AV��Ƶjoined other groups in a press release opposing the vote. Thu, 02 Oct 2025 13:25:31 Zurn:uuid:2ca9a0de-21c3-4989-8b2b-a139af8ac3bd/resources/blog/administration-announces-changes-to-h-1b-visa-program The Leading Edge BlogImmigrationThis week, 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, 24 Sep 2025 17:35:51 Zurn:uuid:ccd515e7-b964-46fe-965a-f23e9db66652/resources/blog/aasa-announces-collaboration-with-league-of-women-voters-to-support-student-voters The Leading Edge BlogAdvocacy & PolicyAccess & Opportunityaccessopportunityequityinclusiondiversity�ܲ�AV��Ƶis proud to announce a new partnership with the League of Women Voters (LWV) aimed at educating, equipping, and empowering student voters in 2025 and beyond.Wed, 24 Sep 2025 14:08:12 Zurn:uuid:fa663733-926e-4e05-9b34-393c62187350/resources/blog/aasa-joins-edlinc--shlb-coalitions-in-letter-to-fcc-opposing-hotspots-bus-wifi-reversal E-RateconnectivityerateThe Leading Edge BlogAdvocacy & PolicyAccess & OpportunityaccessopportunityequityinclusiondiversityTechnology & AIed-techeducation technologyedtechaied techtechAASA, proud co-chair of the EdLiNC coalition, representing the entirety of the beneficiary community for the E-Rate program, was proud to join a letter calling on the FCC to preserve critical E-Rate initiatives that keep students and families connected.Wed, 24 Sep 2025 12:52:22 Zurn:uuid:84110883-1ac8-4a2e-80e3-b8f8f1f2ec4b/resources/blog/a-district-leader-s-guide-to-a-federal-government-shutdown The Leading Edge BlogEducation FundingAs Congress heads toward the funding deadline without a clear path forward, a government shutdown seems increasingly likely. Here’s what district leaders need to know about how they will (and will not) be impacted.Tue, 23 Sep 2025 17:14:17 Zurn:uuid:c5441d16-2154-4030-8bc6-3265e5553b91/resources/blog/aasa-joins-edlinc-to-submit-comments-to-congressional-usf-working-group The Leading Edge BlogE-RateconnectivityerateAdvocacy & PolicyTechnology & AIed-techeducation technologyedtechaied techtech�ܲ�AV��Ƶwas proud to file in coordination with EdLiNC, the Education and Libraries Network Consortium, the premier advocacy coalition representing all beneficiaries of the E-Rate program. Tue, 16 Sep 2025 22:27:21 Zurn:uuid:405d4788-b3df-41e8-b72b-f42f263b815a/resources/blog/(updated)-administration-moves-to-disqualify-immigrant-students-from-head-start-and-certain-cte-programs The Leading Edge BlogUPDATE: Two court challenges result have led to injunctions of this new rule, including a nationwide injunction for the Head Start interpretation. Tue, 16 Sep 2025 17:19:53 Zurn:uuid:c16ef770-e6ac-4543-9dde-36166cb1327a/resources/blog/is-your-district-ready-for-constitution-day-requirements The Leading Edge BlogAdvocacy & PolicyCurriculum & AssessmentIf your district receives federal funds, you are required to provide an educational program on the US Constitution for your students on or around September 17. USED issued a letter on this, which we are sharing.Mon, 15 Sep 2025 19:20:07 Zurn:uuid:17cbc1b5-3fd7-43d2-86a2-773bb0ed9291/resources/blog/aasa-urges-house-appropriations-committee-to-reject-fy26-proposal The Leading Edge BlogEducation FundingAhead of September 9 hearing on the FY26 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Services proposal, �ܲ�AV��Ƶsent 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 FundingToday, �ܲ�AV��Ƶled 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 FundingOn Sunday the House LHHS subcommittee released its proposal for FY26, funding that would be available to schools for the 26-27 school year. �ܲ�AV��Ƶreleased 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 FundingNew 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 FundingThis 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 FundingThe 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 FundingToday, 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 FundingToday, 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 FundingUPDATE 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 FundingThis week, �ܲ�AV��Ƶjoined 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 FundingYesterday 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 FundingToday, 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 FundingThe 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 FundingThis 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