Call to Action: Advocate for FY26 Funds

December 03, 2025

The Nation's Children Need You - Urge Congress to Maintain Education Funding for Vital Programs Now

Congress is back to work on Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 funding, and it’s critical they hear directly from superintendents about the importance of federal funding for the public schools and students in their districts. As a school system leader, you are the only one who can ensure members of Congress fully understand how crucial federal education funding is for their district.

In September, the House Appropriations Committee advanced an FY26 Labor, Health and Human Services Education and Related Services proposal that cut Title I by almost $4 billion and eliminated other critical formula programs like Title II and Title III.

ܲAVƵneeds you to contact Congress to share how your district relies on federal funding and urge each member of your Congressional delegation to support the bipartisan Senate proposal that maintains education funding for vital formula programs.

Dear XXXXX,

As superintendent of [school district] in [city, state], serving [describe your students], I am reaching out to urge Representative/Senator [last name] to protect federal investments in education and oppose any measure that cuts critical resources for our schools.

I am deeply concerned by the drastic cuts the House Appropriations Committee approved in September. H.R.5304 slashes Title I funding by $3.78 billion and eliminates entire programs critical to ensuring a quality education for every child across the nation.

In [school district], we rely on [include information on how you use Title I and Title II funds – what would a 20% decrease in Title I funding mean for your district? A complete loss of Title II? What services does Title III make possible?]

In contrast to the House, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed a bipartisan FY26 proposal which demonstrates that it is possible to preserve critical investments in education, while honoring fiscal responsibility. The Senate bill ensures that K–12 funding will be disbursed on July 1, preserving a decades-long schedule. This past July, as districts prepared for the upcoming school year, superintendents faced extreme financial uncertainty as we waited to see if essential federal funding—already incorporated into our budgets—would be released by the Administration. This key provision gives districts the confidence to plan for access to federal funding on July 1, thanks to Congress’s added directive.

As FY26 appropriations negotiations continue, I urge your boss to support the funding levels and policy language in the bipartisan Senate appropriations bill, ensuring that any final FY26 spending bill invests in K-12 education and the future of America’s children.

Sincerely,
XXXXXXX



Don't Know Who to Contact?

Access staffer email addresses in the ܲAVƵAdvocacy App, or contact Tara Thomas at tthomas@aasa.org for more information.

FY26 Proposals by Program
ProgramHouse FY26 Proposal Senate FY26 Proposal
Title I, Part A$14.626 billion (-$3.78 b)$18.457 billion (+$50 m)
IDEA, Part B$14.234 billion (+$20 m)$14.264 billion (+$50 m)
Title I, Part C (Migrant Education)$0 (-$376 million)$376 million (level)
Title I, Part D (Neglected and Delinquent)$0 (-$49 million)$49 million (level)
Title II, Part A$0 (-$2.19 billion)$2.19 billion (level)
Title III, Part A $0 (-$890 million)$890 million (level)
Title IV, Part A$1.385 billion (+$5 m)$1.380 billion (level)
REAP$225 million (+$5 m)$225 million (+$5 m)
Impact Aid$1.630 billion (+$5 m)$1.625 billion (level)
Head Start$12.272 billion (level)$12.357 (+$50 m)
Other Provisions of Note Rescinds $2.628 billion of FY26 advance funding ($938 million from Title I-A and $1.7 billion from Title II-A). Funds expected on Oct. 1 Includes language requiring funds be allocated by the date they are available for obligation (avoiding a future withholding).
 
Sample Letter to the Editor & Op-Ed

To personalize your submission - whether it’s a Letter to the Editor (LTE) or an op-ed – you can make it “your own” by including some of the following information:

  • Your district size, demographics, or unique needs
  • Specific Title I programs that you would lose or reduce under the House proposal
  • A short anecdote about a student, teacher, or program impacted by federal funding
  • Any recent local news story the op-ed/LTE responds to
  • The importance of receiving funds by July 1 for budget stability
Template: Letter to the Editor

Purpose: Typically in response to a story the publication has recently published.
Length: Approximately 200–250 words.
Title (optional): Congress Must Protect Education Funding in FY26

Dear Editor,

As a public-school superintendent in [Your District/Community], I was concerned to read your recent coverage of federal budget negotiations. This story [link the piece here] highlighted uncertainty for the coming fiscal year—uncertainty that directly impacts our students, educators, and families.

The U.S. House FY26 proposal would cut Title I by nearly $4 billion and eliminate Title II and Title III entirely—programs our district relies on to support high-need students, strengthen teacher quality, and provide essential services for English learners. If enacted, these cuts would mean [describe specific impact: reduced reading specialists, fewer afterschool programs, larger class sizes, loss of professional development, etc.].

Fortunately, the Senate has advanced a bipartisan FY26 bill that maintains funding for core K–12 programs and protects the decades-long schedule that ensures school districts receive these federal dollars by July 1. This guarantee matters: last summer, districts nationwide were forced to finalize budgets without knowing when or even if federal funds that had been appropriated by Congress would arrive.

I urge our congressional delegation to support the Senate’s responsible, bipartisan approach that sustains essential federal investments in education. Our students cannot afford damaging cuts—and our schools cannot plan effectively when funding is delayed.

Our community’s future depends on these crucial federal dollars. Congress should adopt the Senate’s FY26 proposal and maintain our nation’s commitment to public education and, most importantly, to our children.

Sincerely,

[Name, Title, School District]

Template: Op-Ed (Long-Form)

Purpose & Length: Approximately 600–750 words, which is adaptable depending on specific publication requirements.
Title (optional): Schools Need Stability, Not Cuts: Congress Must Protect FY26 Education Funding

Recent reporting about the federal budget process underscores something those of us in public education know all too well: national debates in Washington have real consequences in our classrooms. As superintendent of [School District], serving [brief description of student population], I see the direct impact federal funding has on our students every day—and how harmful proposed cuts would be to our community.

This year, the stakes are unusually high. Competing FY26 funding proposals in Congress would take our schools in dramatically different directions. The House Appropriations Committee advanced a bill that slashes Title I by nearly $4 billion and eliminates foundational formula programs like Title II and Title III altogether. These are not abstract numbers.

In [Your District], Title I supports [examples: literacy coaches, interventionists, classroom aides, reading/math specialists, tutoring programs, evidence-based interventions]. Title II makes it possible for us to [examples: provide teacher training, strengthen recruitment and retention, support new teachers]. Title III ensures high-quality services for our multilingual learners—students who bring incredible strengths and deserve the tools to succeed.

A cut of this magnitude would require school leaders to make painful decisions. It could mean [larger class sizes, reduced instructional time, cuts to arts or STEM programs, fewer counselors, loss of summer programming, etc.]. At a moment when students are working hard to recover academically and emotionally from the disruptions of recent years, these types of reductions could undermine the progress that has been made.

Contrast this with the bipartisan proposal from the Senate, which takes a far more responsible approach: maintaining funding for core K–12 programs and directing the Administration to ensure these funds reach districts by July 1. This detail may seem technical, but its impact is enormous.

Last summer, districts across the country—including ours—built budgets based on federal funds that have historically arrived every July. When that schedule was disrupted, school systems were left wondering if dollars that had been appropriated by Congress would ever materialize. No business, nonprofit, or local government could responsibly operate amid that level of instability—and neither can public schools. The Senate bill restores predictability, ensuring the decades-long Congressional schedule of funds being delivered on time, by July 1.

Our community knows that student success is not accidental. It requires investment by teachers and staff, strong parental engagement, and financial resources for all our students.

Federal dollars make up a relatively small share of our budget, but they are often the most targeted, supporting students with the greatest needs. That’s why maintaining Title I, II, and III funding is not merely beneficial; it is essential.

This is not a partisan issue. It’s about ensuring that every child in every community has access to an excellent education and the opportunity to thrive and succeed.

I urge our elected officials in Congress to support the Senate’s bipartisan FY26 proposal and reject cuts that would harm students in [State/Region]. Our educators are working harder than ever. Our families depend on the services that our schools provide. And our children deserve a stable, well-funded education system so they can develop real skills for real life, enabling them to reach their full potential.

The decisions made in Washington will shape what is possible in classrooms here at home next fall. I hope our representatives choose to invest in the future of our community—and most importantly in the future of our children.

[Name, Title, School District]


Thank you for helping to keep this critical funding in our public schools.

See more federal education funding updates here