/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 & PolicyFinance & BudgetsSchool NutritionImmigrationStudent & Child PrivacyStudent PrivacyprivacyProtection of Pupil Rights AmendmentPPRAChild PrivacyFERPAStudent & Child Privacy CenterCOPPAFamily Educational Rights and Privacy ActDistrict & School OperationsE-RateconnectivityerateTechnology & AIed-techeducation technologyedtechaied techtechSchool Safety & CybersecurityHealth & Wellnessurn:uuid:8f8ddea6-6898-4e0c-94e5-0fa87e7e0d2f/resources/blog/new-dear-colleague-letters-on-title-i-and-school-prayer The Leading Edge Blog�ܲ�AV��Ƶis sharing information about two recent pieces of guidance issued by the U.S. Department of Education. Fri, 06 Feb 2026 17:06:45 Zurn:uuid:e37a2166-fc0b-4161-a9aa-ffd23eedb529/resources/blog/congress-passes-bipartisan--bicameral-fy26-lhhs-proposal The Leading Edge BlogEducation FundingAdvocacy & PolicyFinance & BudgetsYesterday, Congress passed a bipartisan, bicameral FY26 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education funding package, providing level funding (and some small increases) for education programs. Wed, 04 Feb 2026 17:41:05 Zurn:uuid:8cb1c876-057e-4cf8-8739-c4b2820107e5/resources/blog/ed-issues-fy26-small--rural-school-achievement-program-application-notice Education FundingThe Leading Edge BlogThe Department will send an email with a unique application link to each local education agency (LEA) that is eligible and estimated to receive a positive allocation. Tue, 03 Feb 2026 23:18:41 Zurn:uuid:c9d76fa7-b5f5-4eb3-9804-1289d21b8e05/resources/blog/the-advocate--advocacy-sessions-at-nce The Leading Edge BlogAASA’s advocacy team has many great sessions planned to discuss how federal actions are impacting local districts. From vouchers to strengthening special education systems – there’s a wide range of content for those interested in how the federal government intersects with K-12 issues.Mon, 02 Feb 2026 20:43:24 Zurn:uuid:0620eb45-e47a-4220-a3a5-51ef247863e5/resources/blog/update--whole-milk-is-back The Leading Edge BlogSchool NutritionSchools can serve whole milk again, but only at lunch. Fri, 23 Jan 2026 17:40:35 Zurn:uuid:38a212ec-bb57-469c-a376-e82187afbdc4/resources/blog/congress-releases-bipartisan--bicameral-fy26-lhhs-proposal The Leading Edge BlogEducation FundingAdvocacy & PolicyFinance & BudgetsThis morning, Congress released a bipartisan, bicameral FY26 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education funding package as part of a larger “minibus” that includes funding for three other spending bills. Tue, 20 Jan 2026 17:21:18 Zurn:uuid:ecee5f82-fbfd-45ed-94b1-37117e992d65/resources/blog/administration-releases-dietary-guidelines-for-americans The Leading Edge BlogSchool NutritionLast week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs). Updated every five years, the DGAs provide evidence-based recommendations to promote health and reduce chronic disease risk, and by law, USDA must use them to update school nutrition regulations.Mon, 12 Jan 2026 19:04:20 Zurn:uuid:6edd64c8-1b3d-41bf-a6f5-2d3aa7fd4bcf/resources/blog/aasa-comments-on-treasury-s-approach-to-federal-tax-credit-voucher-program The Leading Edge BlogIn December, �ܲ�AV��Ƶsubmitted a joint public comment to the U.S. Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service regarding the federal tax credit program for contributions to scholarship-granting organizations.Mon, 12 Jan 2026 19:00:35 Zurn:uuid:618d5749-562c-495d-b997-d159f25ed057/resources/blog/department-of-education-grants-iowa-waiver-for-esea-state-flexibility The Leading Edge BlogOn Wednesday, the Department of Education (ED) granted Iowa a waiver from a variety of Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) regulations through FY2028. Fri, 09 Jan 2026 19:27:04 Zurn:uuid:5abdbb67-2e44-4a50-9a5e-24cf41127106/resources/blog/appropriations-update--what-to-consider-as-you-budget-for-the-next-school-year The Leading Edge BlogEducation FundingAn update on FY2026 funding and a few considerations for superintendents as they continue the budget process for school year 2026-2027. Wed, 07 Jan 2026 19:15:25 Zurn:uuid:b7ba8ddf-8b10-44d0-b8a8-4948ca70e6e8/resources/blog/aasa-submits-comments-opposing-new-public-charge-rule The Leading Edge BlogImmigrationAASA, joined by ten other education organizations, submitted comments to the Department of Homeland Security urging them to rescind the new public charge rule. Fri, 19 Dec 2025 20:44:43 Zurn:uuid:d0c4f3df-0f8e-4a25-b7b2-6ae973f49a63/resources/blog/the-advocate-december-2025--federal-policy-surge-on-kids-and-technology--what-it-means-for-schools Student & Child PrivacyStudent PrivacyprivacyProtection of Pupil Rights AmendmentPPRAChild PrivacyFERPAStudent & Child Privacy CenterCOPPAFamily Educational Rights and Privacy ActThe Leading Edge BlogAdvocacy & PolicyThis month's edition of the Advocate focuses on kids and technology in Congress.Fri, 12 Dec 2025 15:00:05 Zurn:uuid:54393d46-6c95-4fbb-a389-c515592021cd/resources/blog/congress-passes-secure-rural-schools-reauthorization The Leading Edge BlogEducation FundingLast night, the House passed the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act, which reauthorizes the program for FY24-FY26. Wed, 10 Dec 2025 19:22:56 Zurn:uuid:08696039-9906-47b8-82d0-ec146d66150b/resources/blog/federal-policy-action-on-screen-time--social-media-and-student-data-privacy-related-issues The Leading Edge BlogStudent & Child PrivacyStudent PrivacyprivacyProtection of Pupil Rights AmendmentPPRAChild PrivacyFERPAStudent & Child Privacy CenterCOPPAFamily Educational Rights and Privacy ActAdvocacy & PolicyDistrict & School OperationsIn recent weeks, there has been an extraordinary surge of federal policy action concerning kids and technology.Tue, 09 Dec 2025 19:09:35 Zurn:uuid:a571829b-5b97-4d60-873c-4ce8a3e813c3/resources/blog/administration-proposes-to-revive-public-charge-rule The Leading Edge BlogLast 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 & PolicySecretary 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 & PolicyThe 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 BlogOn 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 techtechMission 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 & CybersecurityDespite 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 BlogThe 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 BlogImmigrationIn 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:27a0163d-84ba-4b40-8fbf-2633e9deda7d/resources/blog/administration-fires-ed-staff-important-for-k-12-programs The Leading Edge BlogOn 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 FundingIt 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: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 Z