Federal Updates

On February 23, the U.S. Department of Education announced two additional Interagency Agreements (IAAs). Of particular relevance to superintendents, school safety grant activities at the Department which aimed to increase the number of school mental health personnel and to support schools following particularly violent or traumatic events will be transferred to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

The U.S. Department of Education has issued two new Dear Colleague letters addressing Title I funding flexibility and guidance on prayer and religious expression in schools, outlining key federal priorities and considerations for educators and ESAs.

On February 3, Congress passed a bipartisan, bicameral Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education funding package, along with 4 other bills and a two-week stopgap for Department of Homeland Security to allow Congress more time to negotiate reforms for immigration enforcement.

The Senate failed to pass a negotiated FY26 spending package before the January 30 deadline, leaving funding unresolved for six appropriations bills, including Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education.

Congress released a bipartisan, bicameral Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education funding package as part of a larger “minibus” that includes funding for three other spending bills.

On January 7, the Department of Education (ED) granted Iowa a waiver from a variety of Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) regulations through FY2028.

Congress is back in DC with a hyperfocus on Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 spending as the January 30th deadline to fund the federal government looms.

AESA, joined by ten other education organizations, submitted comments to the Department of Homeland Security urging them to rescind the new public charge rule.

On December 9, the House passed the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act, which reauthorizes the program for FY24-FY26. As a reminder, the program provides critical resources for counties and schools that are near National Forest Land and are unable to generate property tax revenue.