Federal Updates

The FCC is considering significant changes to E-Rate, the program that helps schools and libraries afford the connectivity they rely on every day.

As AESA’s advocacy partner, AASA is inviting AESA members to join its E-Rate Town Hall for an update on what’s happening and what it could mean for schools, students, and budgets.

The U.S. Department of Education recently released new guidance on the use of education technology in schools, along with its annual update on FERPA and the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA). The updates address responsible technology use, student privacy, and parental consent requirements.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a proposed rule to implement a $103,265 fee for H-1B visa petitions. This move comes after a Federal court blocked the original fee that was announced in September 2025.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the Harvest to Hallways Initiative to provide new investments and technical assistance for school meal programs. The announcement is the latest step in a broader federal effort to change federal nutrition programs. USDA is also expected to release new school meal regulations in the coming months.

The FCC is considering significant changes to E-Rate. Explore AESA and AASA resources, use the comment template, and submit your comments by October 13, 2026.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released new cybersecurity resources to help schools strengthen their defenses.

On August 8, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a proposed rule that amends the Head Start Program Performance Standards to streamline the program, provide greater flexibility and allow for more state and local control. The proposed rule represents the most substantial set of regulatory changes to the program’s governing rules since its inception 61 years ago.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has released a final regulation on public charge that could penalize noncitizens who use income-based public benefit programs such as school meals, SNAP and Medicaid.