April 2025: AESA State Examiner

April 30, 2025

Each month, the State Examiner covers five topics including:

Legislative Issue Monitoring
Statehouse News: Education Policy (with links to news items)
State Budget and Finance Monitoring
National Reports Impacting Education
Advocacy Tips

Each topic includes a brief introduction. To read the full articles under each headline, click on the "+" sign next to the topic. Please find the pdf here for readers who prefer to print a version of the April 2025 State Examiner.

Legislative Issue Monitoring

In each edition of the State Examiner, AESA monitors state-level legislation and legislative trends impacting educational service agencies and their client schools and districts. This month's report will explore emerging state policies on student data privacy and artificial intelligence, offering a comprehensive scan of recently enacted and pending legislation of significance.

Student Data Privacy & AI

The intersection of K-12 student data privacy and artificial intelligence (AI) has become a top priority for state legislators, school administrators, and education advocates with the exponential advancement of generative AI and associated Large Language Models (LLMs). As AI-powered tools become more prevalent in classrooms, ensuring the protection of student data and responsible use of technology is critical. This month’s State Examiner article provides a cursory overview of significant state-level legislation enacted in 2024 and key bills pending in 2025, with a focus on both student data privacy and AI governance. It also highlights the broader implications, emerging trends, and recommended actions for education stakeholders like educational service agency personnel and administrators.

2024 Enacted Legislation: Establishing Guardrails for AI and Data Privacy

As states recognized the urgent need to address the risks and opportunities posed by AI and student data collection, several took decisive legislative action in 2024. These new laws set important precedents for how schools must manage technology, protect student information, and ensure ethical AI use. Outlined below are a few leading examples of these state-level efforts.

Tennessee SB 1711 (AI Policy Framework): Tennessee now requires school boards to adopt formal policies governing the use of AI by both students and staff. The law emphasizes the importance of ethical guidelines, transparency in procurement, and oversight of AI tools used for instructional purposes.
Alabama AI Policy Template: The Alabama State Department of Education released an eight-pillar framework for AI governance, covering data privacy, risk management, and competency development. The policy notably prohibits AI from being used in high-stakes decisions, such as setting Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals, and stresses the necessity of human oversight.
Texas HB 18 (Student Data Privacy): Texas mandates that school districts audit the security practices of edtech vendors and block applications that fail to meet state standards. The law aligns state requirements with updated federal regulations, particularly the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), and requires parental consent for the use of student data.
Ohio SB 29 (Data Transparency): Ohio’s new law requires districts to maintain public-facing lists of approved edtech tools and conduct regular privacy assessments, fostering greater transparency and accountability.

The 2024 legislative session saw states taking proactive steps to create clear frameworks for both AI use and student data privacy. These laws reflect a growing recognition of the need for transparency, ethical guidelines, and alignment with federal standards. They serve as models for other states and lay the groundwork for a safer, more responsible approach to technology in K-12 education.

2025 Pending Legislation: Next-Generation Protections

Building on the momentum of 2024, several states have introduced bills in 2025 that aim to further strengthen student protections and define AI’s role in education. These pending bills reflect evolving concerns and a desire to keep pace with technological advancements.

Georgia AI Implementation Act: This bill proposes a “Traffic Light” system for AI use in schools, categorizing applications as prohibited (red), allowed with oversight (yellow), or encouraged (green). The approach is designed to provide clarity and flexibility as AI tools proliferate.
Nebraska LB 1234 (Biometric Data Restrictions): Nebraska’s proposal would expand the definition of “personal information” to include biometric data, such as facial recognition, and limit the retention of student data to periods deemed “reasonably necessary.”
New Hampshire HB 5678 (AI Ethics in Education): This bill would require rigorous evaluation of AI tools for bias, accessibility, and educational value before they can be adopted by schools.
Ohio House Bill 96 (FY 2026-2027 Budget): The Executive Budget proposal, still working its way through the legislative process, would require DEW to adopt a model policy by December 31, 2025, to address the appropriate use of artificial intelligence by students and staff for educational purposes, and require each school district, community school, and STEM school to adopt a policy on the use of artificial intelligence by July 1, 2026. Permits a district or school to adopt the model policy developed by DEW.
Federal Executive Order on AI Education (April 2025): While not a state law, this executive order directs federal agencies to promote AI literacy, create public-private partnerships for K-12 AI resources, and establish a White House Task Force to oversee AI integration.

The 2025 legislative landscape demonstrates a more nuanced, future-oriented focus on student data and privacy related protections. For example, states are considering comprehensive frameworks that address not only traditional privacy concerns but also the unique challenges posed by AI, such as biometric data and algorithmic bias. These bills, if enacted, will further elevate the standards for student safety and responsible technology use.

Implications for K-12 Education: Balancing Innovation and Security

The surge in legislative activity underscores the dual imperative facing K-12 education: harnessing the benefits of AI while safeguarding student data. It also reflects that stark reality that legislatures generally react and seldom lead having waited until many of these tools were already in use before crafting appropriate policy to guide their use. Schools must now navigate a complex web of federal and state requirements, including FERPA, COPPA, and a growing patchwork of state laws. The new and proposed regulations demand robust processes for vetting edtech tools, clear communication with families, and ongoing professional development for educators. This is an area where educational service agencies (ESAs) can be particularly helpful.

As legal requirements evolve, K-12 leaders must be vigilant in updating policies, training staff, and engaging families. Effective implementation can empower schools to leverage AI for personalized learning while maintaining public trust and minimizing risks.

So, What Do These Legislative Activities Reveal: Emerging Trends

Recent legislation reveals several key trends shaping the future of K-12 technology:

Ethical AI Frameworks: States are moving beyond blanket bans or unrestricted adoption, instead developing nuanced frameworks that specify where and how AI can be used.
Alignment with Federal Standards: Many new laws mirror or anticipate updates to federal statutes, such as COPPA 2.0, ensuring consistency and clarity for districts operating across jurisdictions.
Emphasis on Transparency: Requirements for public lists of approved tools and regular privacy assessments are becoming standard, fostering greater accountability.
Focus on Biometric and Sensitive Data: Lawmakers are increasingly attentive to the risks associated with biometric identifiers and algorithmic bias.

These trends indicate a shift toward proactive, collaborative governance of technology in schools. By prioritizing transparency, ethical use, and ongoing review, states are laying the foundation for responsible innovation.

Recommendations for ESA Advocates: Action Steps for the Year Ahead

ESA advocates play a crucial role in shaping and supporting effective policy implementation. To ensure student data privacy and responsible AI adoption, advocates should:

Monitor Legislative Developments: Stay informed about state and federal policy changes and share updates with local stakeholders.
Promote Policy Alignment: Encourage districts to update their own policies to reflect new legal requirements and best practices.
Support Professional Development: Advocate for training that equips educators to evaluate and use AI tools ethically and effectively.
Champion Funding Initiatives: Push for increased funding to support cybersecurity, privacy audits, and AI literacy programs.

By remaining engaged and proactive, education advocates can help schools navigate the evolving landscape of data privacy and AI, ensuring that the promise of technology is realized without compromising student safety or parent and community trust.

State Budget and Finance Monitoring

AESA monitors state level budget and finance news impacting preschool and primary and secondary education. These curated articles (with links) can provide insights into what is happening in your state and collectively across the U.S. The latest state budget and finance-related news for April 2025 follows below.

State Budget and Finance Monitoring

IDEA Services Brace for Budget Impact

K-12 Dive

What Federal Chaos Means for State Budgets

Pluribus News

States That Enshrined Medicaid Expansion in Their Constitutions Could be in a Bind

Stateline

Colorado’s 2025-26 budget has more money for schools, but it’s less than was promised

Colorado Public Radio

Alaska Legislature Passes $1000 Per Student Funding Boost Despite Veto Threat

Juneau Empire

Ohio House Passes State Budget: The Highlights

WEWS 5 News

State budget talks at the capitol begin as Minnesota stares down deficit in future

CBS News

Kansas governor vetoes bill that would extend state budget if lawmakers fail to pass one
Kansas Reflector

Q&A: State budget director on NC's projected 'fiscal cliff,' governor's budget

WFAE

Income Tax Cuts and Enacted Across GOP-Run States

Forbes

Statehouse News: Education Policy

Each month AESA finds representative examples (with links) of news items coming out of the states or impacting the states that may be of interest to ESAs and their client schools and districts:

Statehouse News: Education Policy - News Links

Voter Across Parties Want Action on Education

Inside Higher Education

ISTE & ASCD Partner with Instagram, Pinterest to Address Online Safety

Gov Tech

Texas Poised to Create the Largest Voucher Program in the Country

Governing

South Dakota turned to paraprofessionals to attack a teacher shortage

Argus Leader

As reading scores fall, states turn to phonics — but not without a fight

Stateline

Governor Hochul visits Albany campus of Capital Region BOCES, discusses childcare support

WRGB

With the threat of federal funding cuts looming, here’s what’s at stake in Michigan schools

Chalk Beat | Detroit

Utah judge declares private school choice program unconstitutional

K-12 Dive

National Reports Impacting Education

AESA monitors state and national reports highlighting state-level information of interest to ESAs. As always, it is important to view these reports through a critical lens with attention to research design, methodology, data sources and citations, peer review, and publication venue. This month AESA spotlights reports from the CoSN, RAND, NASBO and the Learning Policy Institute:

CoSN: 2025 National Student Data Privacy Report

The CoSN 2025 National Student Data Privacy Report provides results of an extensive survey of district representatives about their privacy expertise and district privacy practices. This one-of-a-kind report, divided into two parts, provides an unprecedented look into how districts are managing the critical task of safeguarding student data. The full report, downloadable in two parts, is accessible here.

RAND: More Districts Are Training Teachers on Artificial Intelligence

A nationally representative RAND survey found that by fall 2024, about half of U.S. school districts had provided training to teachers on generative artificial intelligence tools, doubling from 23% the previous year; another quarter of districts planned to begin such training in the 2024–2025 school year. However, significant disparities persist, with low-poverty districts much more likely to offer AI training than high-poverty districts (67% vs. 39%), and most initial trainings focused on addressing teachers’ anxieties and confusion about AI rather than direct classroom applications. Many districts developed their own training programs due to a lack of external expertise, and nearly all made participation voluntary, highlighting ongoing challenges in ensuring equitable and comprehensive professional development on AI for educators. Read the summary of findings.

NASBO: Summaries of Governors’ 2025 State of the State Addresses

NASBO, the National Association of State Budget Officials, has release a state-by-state and overall analysis of Governor’s State of the State addresses and implications for state budgets. Governors are proposing a wide range of tax policy changes for FY 2026 - ranging from broad-based tax cuts, targeted relief, and revenue-raising measures as well as far-reaching policy priorities. Learn more at: Summaries of Governors’ 2025 State of the State Addresses

Learning Policy Institute: Funding Student Needs

The report analyzes how states fund schools to address the unique needs of English learners (ELs) and students from low-income backgrounds. It finds that while nearly all states provide some form of additional funding for these groups-most commonly through weighted funding formulas or designated per-student amounts-the level and method of support vary widely, and only some states provide dual funding for students who fall into both categories. The report underscores the importance of updated costing studies to ensure funding formulas are sufficient to meet diverse student needs and recommends that states consider both the distinct and overlapping needs of ELs and low-income students to promote equitable educational outcomes. Read the full report.

Advocacy Tip: The Power of Forecasting

In a rapidly shifting education landscape, the ability to forecast state policy and funding trends is not just a strategic advantage - it is a necessity for effective advocacy. As a responsibility left largely to the states, state legislatures wield significant influence over education funding, governance, policy and standards. Education advocates must look beyond the present to anticipate what’s next. Proactive forecasting empowers advocates to shape policy, secure resources, and advance student success, rather than simply reacting to legislative developments as they unfold. Controlling the narrative is critical to building and sustaining support for the issues one cares about most.

Why Forecasting Matters

State education policy and funding is entering a new era. After several years of robust spending, often buoyed by federal stimulus dollars, states are now projecting a slowdown in general fund growth. For example, in 2025, state K-12 spending is expected to fall about 6% below the previous year, with revenue projections essentially flat. This “return to normal” means districts and advocates must be more vigilant than ever, as small changes in enrollment or funding formulas can have outsized impacts on school budgets and student services.

Forecasting is more than number crunching; it is about understanding the underlying assumptions, demographic shifts, and economic factors that drive policy decisions. By regularly updating forecasts and scenario plans, advocates can identify challenges early, craft compelling narratives, and propose solutions before issues reach a crisis point.

Top Tools and Resources for Effective Monitoring & Forecasting

Education advocates seeking to monitor and forecast likely legislative activity in education have access to a range of powerful tools designed to track, analyze, and respond to policy developments at the state and federal levels. The best tools offer real-time updates, comprehensive bill tracking, and user-friendly features tailored to the unique needs of education policy professionals.

To stay ahead, education advocates should leverage a suite of resources designed for monitoring, analysis, and scenario planning:

Forecasting Matrix

There are also simple practical tools that one can use to monitor policy trends, anticipate future actions, track status of initiatives and strategize. The Policy Forecast Matrix below allows one to break down policy areas, responsible parties, timelines, and implications for schools.

The matrix serves as an “environmental scan” of the policy and political landscape to be populated with what advocates can be reasonably sure is coming down the path including but not limited to the following:

Congressional action (reauthorizations, budgets, likely legislative initiatives);
US Dept of Ed (regulations, guidance, Secretary/President priorities, etc);
State Legislature (legislative priorities or actions);
Office of the Governor (Executive Actions or Priorities); and
State Departments of Education (regulations, guidance, state board actions).

This tool can be completed as a way to forecast federal and state education activity advocates know, or have reason to believe, will be coming down the road over a certain period of time. Once completed, one can use the matrix as a way to gather feedback from leaders about opportunities to pursue via federal and state advocacy efforts. This structured approach helps prioritize advocacy efforts and respond strategically.

Strategies for Forward-Thinking Advocacy

Advocacy is most effective when it is proactive, collaborative, and informed by real-world experiences. In this section, we highlight key strategies that empower educational leaders and advocates to make a lasting impact. By building relationships early, coordinating with partners, leveraging compelling data and stories, engaging diverse stakeholders, and committing to continuous learning, you can strengthen your advocacy efforts and ensure that education remains a priority in policy discussions. The following best practices are designed to help you navigate the evolving landscape of education policy and amplify your voice for positive change:

Build Relationships Early: Establish credibility and trust with lawmakers and their staff before critical decisions are made. Regular communication and participation in hearings keep education issues on the agenda.
Coordinate and Collaborate: Join forces with allied organizations and campaigns to amplify your message and create broad-based support for your priorities.
Leverage Data and Stories: Combine rigorous data analysis with compelling real-world narratives to humanize policy debates and illustrate the impact on students and communities.
Engage Stakeholders: Involve educators, parents, and community members in the forecasting and advocacy process to ensure diverse perspectives and build grassroots momentum.
Continuous Learning: Stay informed about emerging trends, policy innovations, and legislative developments through webinars, workshops, and professional networks.

Forecasting state education policy and funding trends is the cornerstone of proactive, effective advocacy. By embracing data-driven tools, scenario planning, and collaborative strategies, education advocates can anticipate change, influence outcomes, and secure a brighter future for all students.

AESA State Advocacy Resources for ESAs

State-level legislative advocacy plays a crucial role in shaping the educational landscape. While federal policies often set broad educational priorities, state legislatures hold significant power over the funding, governance, and standards that directly impact local schools and districts. AESA supports state-level advocacy by offering training through publications, workshops, and presentations, which can be customized for individual states.

State Advocacy Webinar Series

Navigating the ever-changing policy landscape is critical for ESAs to remain effective and influential. AESA is proud to present a three-part webinar series designed to equip ESA leaders with the knowledge and strategies to understand, build, and implement effective advocacy efforts!

Session 2 (May 14): Building a Winning Advocacy Strategy to Maximize Impact

Find Opportunities in Complexity – Discover how to turn policy challenges into wins for your ESA.

Break Through Bureaucracy – Learn how to work effectively with state education leaders.
Find New Funding – Explore creative ways to secure funding outside the usual sources.

Session 3 (June 3): Turning Strategy into Action - Executing Your Advocacy Plan

Make the System Work for You – Understand how to influence legislative decisions.
Meet with Legislators – Learn how to advocate effectively in person.
Craft Your Message – Perfect a short, powerful pitch to get your point across fast.

This webinar series will give you the tools to help shape education policy and funding for your ESA.

Each 90-minute session will begin at 2:00 pm Eastern Time (1 pm Central; 12 noon Mountain; 11 am Pacific; 10 am Alaska). If you still wish to register, the workshop series price is $250 (which will include the recording of the April 29 session). Sessions will be recorded and shared with registered participants. Contact Ann Fiene if you would like to register for the remaining sessions.

AESA Advocacy Guide: Maximizing Impact

Educational Service Agencies play a critical role in supporting schools and districts, yet their unique needs and challenges often require tailored advocacy approaches. The recently released AESA Advocacy Guide recognizes the distinct position of ESAs and offers targeted strategies to help you navigate the complex landscape of education policy and funding.

Key Features of the toolkit include:

Audience Analysis
Message Development
Channels & Content
Advocacy Tactics

Advocacy is essential for ensuring that ESAs receive the support and recognition they deserve. With this specialized Advocacy Guide, you’re equipped to lead impactful advocacy efforts that can make a real difference. Download your copy today and take the first step towards stronger, more effective advocacy for your ESA.

AESA Advocacy Workshops

AESA offers three levels of workshops designed to enhance your understanding and effectiveness in state-level advocacy: the Three-Day Workshop, the One-Day Workshop, and Customized Presentations.

Three-Day Workshop

Objective: This in-depth, three-day workshop covers the essential aspects of state advocacy and lobbying, providing participants with the knowledge and skills needed to engage effectively in the state legislative and policy-making process.

Day 1: Understanding the State Legislative Landscape

Day 2: Navigating State Policy and Rulemaking

Day 3: Advocacy in Action

One Day Workshop

Objective: This condensed one-day workshop covers the essential aspects of state advocacy and lobbying, providing participants with a comprehensive overview of the state legislative process, budgeting, rule-making, and effective advocacy strategies.

All workshop sessions include specific learning objectives to ensure participants gain valuable insights in the available timeframe.

Customized Workshops and Presentations

You can rely on AESA to provide highly qualified, experienced speakers for presentations at your local or regional events. This approximately one-hour legislative update presentation will cover state politics, finance, and education policy with an added emphasis on effective advocacy embedded throughout. It can be customized as appropriate to a state’s unique issues.

Please contact Joan Wade, AESA Executive Director, for more information.

SHARE YOUR ADVOCACY SUCCESS STORIES

AESA would like to highlight successful state-level advocacy campaigns. Share your triumphs in state advocacy with fellow members! Contribute to our newsletter by submitting your success stories – your experiences can enlighten and inspire others in navigating the often complex landscape of state advocacy. Together, we can amplify our collective knowledge for the benefit of the entire AESA membership. Send your stories to jwade@aesa.us.

STAY CONNECTED & INVOLVED

Have feedback for the AESA State Advocacy Team? Would you like to see a particular issue area addressed in future editions? Send feedback to jwade@aesa.us.

April 2025: AESA State Examiner

Legislative Issue Monitoring

State Budget and Finance Monitoring

Statehouse News: Education Policy

National Reports Impacting Education

Advocacy Tip: The Power of Forecasting

AESA State Advocacy Resources for ESAs

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