Posts by csowder@aesa.us
GOP Reconciliation Proposal Advances in House: Vouchers, SNAP and Medicaid Implications
Last week, three separate House committees met to advance pieces of the Republican reconciliation proposal. Of significant concern for district leaders is the shift of costs to states that the federal government has traditionally subsidized.
Read MoreHHS Secretary Kennedy Affirms Continued Support for Head Start Program
During a recent House hearing, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. assured lawmakers that the agency will continue to support the Head Start program.
Read MorePresident Trump Releases ‘Skinny’ FY26 Budget Proposal
Work on the federal fiscal year 2026 (FY26) budget officially began last week with the release of the White House Office of Management and Budget’s “skinny budget.” This initial proposal outlines major consolidations and substantial cuts to education programs.
Read MoreApril 2025: AESA State Examiner
The April 2025 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.
Read MoreShowcasing the Transformative Impact of Educational Service Agencies
AESA was honored to be featured in School Administrator magazine, highlighting the critical role ESAs play in supporting schools, educators, and students nationwide. Read the full breakout stories that demonstrate ESA innovation and impact.
Read MoreFERPA Update
In recent weeks, USED has leveraged the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) as a policy tool to incentivize state compliance with other administration policy priorities. This blog post summarizes two sets of actions: specific communications with Maine and California, related to parent rights to access education records, and a broader ‘Dear Colleague’ letter about FERPA and students’ gender identity.
Read MoreESSER Liquidation Update
On March 28, the Department informed SEAs that the Administration has canceled any prior approval for “late liquidation” of remaining funds from a variety of federal pandemic recovery funds, including American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER and Homeless Children and Youth (HCY) funds.
Read MoreReconciliation vs. Appropriations
With growing discussion around potential cuts to Medicaid and other critical programs, this resource clarifies the key differences between the reconciliation and appropriations processes—and what each could mean for education.
Read MoreED Issues New DEI Directive for States
The U.S. Department of Education issued a new directive requiring every state education agency (SEA) to certify within 10 days that they are complying with federal civil rights laws, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard (SFFA). The certification does not demand the end of DEI efforts, but instead reiterates the need to ensure those efforts are lawful under Title VI and to cease “illegal DEI practices.”
Read MoreSCOTUSblog: Justices appear likely to uphold FCC telecom access subsidy
The Supreme Court last week seemed poised to uphold the federal program that provides schools, libraries, and underserved areas with access to affordable telephone and high-speed internet services.
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