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Last week, 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 U.S. Department of Education (ED) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking on August 24th that would make it easier for the agency to terminate or discontinue discretionary grants and further cement administration policies in regulations.

U.S. Department of Education published a new guidance document for superintendents that lays out the Department’s interpretation of the legal standards governing the consideration of race in school discipline and how districts can ensure compliance with federal law.

Stay informed on the latest federal education policy and advocacy issues. Join AESA’s Federal Advocacy Update Webinar on August 19, 2026.

On July 30, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held its first significant markup of K-12 education legislation this Congress. AESA has been closely following these proposals and shares the positions outlined below on the bills and amendments considered by the committee.

On July 23, the U.S. Department of Education announced it would be removing regulations that had been in place for over 60 years that recognized discrimination can occur through the effects of a policy, not just intent.

On July 7, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) approved Arkansas for a Sec. 8401 waiver under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), including some flexibility that other States have not yet received, as well as for Ed-Flex authority.

On July 15, the House Education and Workforce Committee passed a series of bills meant to codify many of the Inter Agency Agreements (IAAs) announced by the U.S. Department of Education over the past year.

The U.S. Department of Education has announced a new national K-12 enforcement initiative focused on preventing sexual misconduct in schools and addressing the practice commonly known as “passing the trash”—when an employee credibly accused of sexual misconduct is allowed to move to another position or district without appropriate accountability.