/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 BlogE-RateconnectivityerateAdvocacy & PolicyTechnology & AIed-techeducation technologyedtechaied techtechDistrict & School OperationsEducation FundingFinance & BudgetsImmigrationSchool Climate & CultureSchool Safety & CybersecuritySchool NutritionSchool Staff Shortagesurn:uuid:8436299d-b9d8-499d-84d0-111b763d3d3a/resources/blog/indiana-becomes-third-state-approved-for-esea-waiver The Leading Edge BlogThis week, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) approved a waiver for Indiana under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Indiana joins two other States who have been approved for similar waivers, Louisiana and Iowa, but Indiana’s waiver includes the broadest flexibility that ED has approved so far.Thu, 18 Jun 2026 17:50:54 Zurn:uuid:b249777e-ade1-4b0a-91df-7cc2156b0ba1/resources/blog/aasa-joins-shlb-edlinc-in-initial-meetings-to-pushback-on-fcc-proposal-to-end-e-rate The Leading Edge BlogE-RateconnectivityerateAdvocacy & PolicyTechnology & AIed-techeducation technologyedtechaied techtechDistrict & School Operations�ܲ�AV��Ƶwas one of a handful of groups that met with the offices of all 3 FCC commissioners over the last week to provide initial feedback on the FCC proposal that would, among other things, consider ending the program and limiting access to rural schools.Tue, 16 Jun 2026 20:37:23 Zurn:uuid:25bd186f-ada0-44b8-8111-712587e8c323/resources/blog/osers-and-ocr-will-move-out-of-ed The Leading Edge BlogEducation FundingAdvocacy & PolicyDistrict & School OperationsToday, the U.S. Department of Education announced two new interagency agreements that would move key education offices and functions outside of ED. Tue, 16 Jun 2026 18:13:09 Zurn:uuid:9a9270ed-8906-44b2-8556-0fbf3f45ee2b/resources/blog/treasury-outlines-sgo-parameters-expected-in-regulations The Leading Edge BlogAdvocacy & PolicyDistrict & School OperationsFinance & BudgetsYesterday, the U.S. Department of Treasury held an event where they previewed forthcoming Treasury and IRS guidance for the implementation of the new federal scholarship tax credit program created in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.Wed, 10 Jun 2026 21:30:13 Zurn:uuid:c2dca14f-dc98-492b-b170-d82007d7247e/resources/blog/fcc-rulemaking-puts-e-rate-at-risk The Leading Edge BlogE-RateconnectivityerateAdvocacy & PolicyTechnology & AIed-techeducation technologyedtechaied techtechLast Friday, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a draft Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that raises serious concerns for the future of the E-Rate program.Tue, 09 Jun 2026 18:26:17 Zurn:uuid:67ab9d3c-bde4-4be4-ad77-79bf8acac24f/resources/blog/u.s.-district-court-blocks-h-1b-visa-fee The Leading Edge BlogImmigrationA U.S. district court has blocked the Trump Administration’s $100,000 fees for the H-1B visa program in a lawsuit that was filed by 20 state attorneys general.Tue, 09 Jun 2026 17:07:10 Zurn:uuid:d9e7a8d6-4255-45f0-8cbc-e193feb8617b/resources/blog/aasa-urges-house-appropriations-committee-to-oppose-fy27-education-funding-bill The Leading Edge BlogEducation FundingAhead of today's markup, �ܲ�AV��Ƶsent a letter to the House Appropriations Committee urging members to oppose the FY2027 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Services proposal that includes drastic cuts for K-12 education. Tue, 09 Jun 2026 13:44:29 Zurn:uuid:3a45bfac-3076-4939-ac2e-6045f1a25d8e/resources/blog/house-subcommittee-advances-fy27-education-funding-proposal The Leading Edge BlogThis morning, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies advanced its Fiscal Year 2027 funding proposal. Fri, 05 Jun 2026 17:18:02 Zurn:uuid:69289a73-c202-4f08-bf0a-46b083d96c22/resources/blog/second-lady-usha-vance-introduces-the-2026-summer-reading-challenge The Leading Edge BlogSchool Climate & CultureSecond Lady Usha Vance’s 2026 Summer Reading Challenge is officially live for your communities to participate. Wed, 03 Jun 2026 20:22:52 Zurn:uuid:48c4d45f-dc2b-40a3-ad9c-6319317b97a4/resources/blog/aasa-sends-letter-to-senate-on-2026-farm-bill The Leading Edge BlogYesterday, �ܲ�AV��Ƶjoined the Association of School Business Officials, International (ASBO) and the National Rural Education Association (NREA) in a letter to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Nutrition outlining our priorities for the 2026 Senate Farm Bill. Tue, 02 Jun 2026 21:25:08 Zurn:uuid:7efc2284-e6ed-41c5-9f91-b71973b4a59e/resources/blog/new-proposed-omb-rules-would-impact-leas The Leading Edge BlogThe OMB has proposed new revisions to the Uniform Grants Guidance, which dictates the terms under which federal awards must be managed, as well as how and when they can be granted and rescinded. These changes will impact LEAs as well as many other recipients of federal funding.Tue, 02 Jun 2026 13:46:06 Zurn:uuid:ebbbf849-d311-4556-bcfd-9e4c84e460fc/resources/blog/daca-renewals-are-delayed---what-district-leaders-should-know The Leading Edge BlogImmigrationThe latest data indicates that about 20,000 educators across the country have work authorization through the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) program. Current delays in renewals could impact school districts’ ability to maintain their staff.Fri, 29 May 2026 20:59:54 Zurn:uuid:fb878693-b220-4062-85a1-61b63b495ead/resources/blog/cross-post--how-rising-diesel-costs-are-squeezing-district-budgets The Leading Edge BlogAdvocacy & PolicyDistrict & School OperationsThis blog post was co-written by AASA’s Noelle Ellerson Ng with ASBO’s Elleka Yost, another look at the organizations’ recent joint survey to gauge the impact of diesel costs on district budgets.Wed, 27 May 2026 20:12:25 Zurn:uuid:d09dcd4b-873f-43c1-9b1f-cebc82e9ff09/resources/blog/hhs-issues-proposed-rule-to-rescind-head-start-wage-requirements The Leading Edge BlogHHS has issued a proposed rule to eliminate requirements for increased wages and benefits for Head Start staff. These requirements were established in a 2024 regulation under the Biden Administration but did not go into effect until 2028 or later.Tue, 26 May 2026 21:17:54 Zurn:uuid:d0889f91-8987-40d2-bd15-c5aa361bd2eb/resources/blog/surgeon-general-issues-advisory-on-screen-time The Leading Edge BlogTechnology & AIed-techeducation technologyedtechaied techtechAdvocacy & PolicyEarlier this week the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a new advisory on children’s screen use. Tue, 26 May 2026 12:43:40 Zurn:uuid:f78f5f3d-e74c-4da9-b3cb-76504254febf/resources/blog/new-department-of-education-guidance-emphasize-local-flexibility The Leading Edge BlogAdvocacy & PolicyDistrict & School OperationsThe U.S. Department of Education (ED) issued two new “Dear Colleague” letters on Tuesday, emphasizing existing funding flexibility in Title V of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).Thu, 21 May 2026 20:33:43 Zurn:uuid:f3fad7df-aa9d-41dd-aed9-ed03bcb328f2/resources/blog/aasa-joins-coalition-letter-on-cybersecurity-and-infrastructure-protection The Leading Edge BlogSchool Safety & CybersecurityAdvocacy & Policy�ܲ�AV��Ƶjoined 14 other national education and technology associations in a letter to Capitol Hill.Mon, 18 May 2026 19:07:39 Zurn:uuid:d6f1552a-d600-4bf7-98ca-eae6dfacdc6e/resources/blog/latest-aasa-survey-looks-at-impact-of-rising-diesel-costs-on-district-budgets The Leading Edge BlogAdvocacy & PolicyDistrict & School OperationsEarlier this month, �ܲ�AV��Ƶpartnered with the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO) and National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) to gauge how rising diesel costs are impacting school district budgets.Mon, 18 May 2026 18:00:54 Zurn:uuid:6eec4c19-4fe7-4813-b020-d496df8f1cfd/resources/blog/update--whole-milk-is-back-again The Leading Edge BlogSchool NutritionA new final rule clarifies that schools can serve whole milk at breakfast and lunch. Fri, 08 May 2026 13:25:25 Zurn:uuid:a052fa3f-26fa-4fad-a2f4-5bcbd47e8778/resources/blog/department-of-education-releases-final-rule-on-reimagining-and-improving-student-education The Leading Edge BlogSchool Staff ShortagesED has released its Reimagining and Improving Student Education—Federal Student Loan Program Final Regulations. This final rule codifies the higher education provisions that Congress included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which established new aggregate lifetime loan limits for students and restructured loan repayment systems. Here’s what K-12 leaders should be aware of. Wed, 06 May 2026 19:57:35 Zurn:uuid:c7418870-d846-4aef-90b8-28beb8129971/resources/blog/fcc-finalizes-new-e-rate-bidding-portal E-RateconnectivityerateThe Leading Edge BlogAdvocacy & PolicyTechnology & AIed-techeducation technologyedtechaied techtechWhile the portal, as adopted, reflects some of the changes �ܲ�AV��Ƶasked for, it still represents a redundant element of the application process that will only increase administrative burden for E-Rate applicants.Wed, 06 May 2026 17:58:15 Zurn:uuid:0bb57a58-9299-4eca-86c3-65c5567accda/resources/blog/aasa-sends-letter-to-house-on-farm-bill The Leading Edge BlogToday, �ܲ�AV��Ƶsent a letter to all members of the House of Representatives to share our thoughts on the Farm, Food and National Security Act (H.R. 7567) ahead of the floor vote.Wed, 29 Apr 2026 21:36:42 Zurn:uuid:5e496cfe-15ab-4d57-a754-138ab58bc930/resources/blog/how-changes-to-h.r.-1-affect-direct-certification-and-school-districts--recommendations-for-district-leaders The Leading Edge BlogSchool NutritionThe One, Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1) included major changes to SNAP and Medicaid eligibility that are expected to affect direct certification data. This resource explains how declining direct certification numbers may impact CEP eligibility and FRPL enrollment in school districts, and best practices for district leaders to respond. Access it here.Thu, 23 Apr 2026 21:39:14 Zurn:uuid:72f3b430-7dd1-49a9-a933-292d8f380bdc/resources/blog/aasa-files-letter-in-response-to-fcc-s-proposed-new-e-rate-portal The Leading Edge BlogE-RateconnectivityerateAdvocacy & PolicyTechnology & AIed-techeducation technologyedtechaied techtechThe FCC is poised to approve a significant change to the E Rate program that would reshape the procurement process by requiring schools & libraries to conduct & document nearly every step of competitive bidding through a new, mandatory FCC online portal.Thu, 23 Apr 2026 19:35:35 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 Z