Skip to content

Federal Updates

School Mental Health Grants Reopened

October 6, 2025 | Comments Off on School Mental Health Grants Reopened

The U.S. Department of Education released revised priorities for both the School-Based Mental Health Services (SBMH) Grant Program and the Mental Health Service Professional (MHSP) Demonstration Grant Program.

Read More

FCC Votes to End Biden-Era Wi-Fi Hot Spot Expansion

October 3, 2025 | Comments Off on FCC Votes to End Biden-Era Wi-Fi Hot Spot Expansion

The FCC voted 2 to 1 on orders that would make both Wi-Fi on school buses and Wi-Fi hotspots ineligible for E-Rate support.

Read More

Administration Announces Changes to H-1B Visa Program

September 26, 2025 | Comments Off on Administration Announces Changes to H-1B Visa Program

This week, the Trump Administration announced changes to the H-1B visa program, which allows employers to temporarily hire foreign workers for specialty occupation positions. Many school districts use this program to fill critical vacancies, especially in rural areas where staff shortages are more acute.

Read More

An ESA Leader’s Guide to Federal Government Shutdown

September 26, 2025 | Comments Off on An ESA Leader’s Guide to Federal Government Shutdown

Federal Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 will begin on October 1, 2025. Congress must extend funding to keep the federal government open by midnight on September 30 to avert a government shutdown. As Congress heads toward this deadline without a clear path forward, a government shutdown seems increasingly likely. Here’s what district leaders need to know about how they will (and will not) be impacted.

Read More

Trump Administration Releases MAHA Commission Report

September 19, 2025 | Comments Off on Trump Administration Releases MAHA Commission Report

Earlier this month, the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission released its “Strategy Report,” outlining federal initiatives to combat the childhood chronic disease crisis. The report outlines a strategic approach for executive actions to address the childhood chronic disease crisis through “advancing research, realigning incentives, increasing public awareness, and fostering public-private partnerships.”

Read More

(Updated) Administration Moves to Disqualify Immigrant Students from Head Start and Certain CTE Programs

September 19, 2025 | Comments Off on (Updated) Administration Moves to Disqualify Immigrant Students from Head Start and Certain CTE Programs

This article summarizes recent actions by the Trump administration invoking the 1996 PRWORA law to restrict immigrant families from accessing federally funded education programs, including Head Start and dual enrollment. The move has raised legal and equity concerns, particularly about student documentation requirements and a possible challenge to Plyler v. Doe.

Read More

AESA Joins EdLiNC to Submit Comments to Congressional USF Working Group

September 19, 2025 | Comments Off on AESA Joins EdLiNC to Submit Comments to Congressional USF Working Group

Earlier this summer, Congress announced a bipartisan, bicameral working group exploring myriad possibilities related to reforming the Universal Service Fund (USF) program. As a reminder, USF is a program created in the 1996 Telecommunications Act, providing connectivity to four historically underserved communities.

Read More

USED Plans New Civil Rights Enforcement Disparate Impact Rules

September 12, 2025 | Comments Off on USED Plans New Civil Rights Enforcement Disparate Impact Rules

In its Semi-Annual Regulatory Agenda updated earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Education (USED) stated it would issue a number of rules aimed at walking back prior civil rights requirements and aligning program enforcement with the President’s priorities.

Read More

AESA Opposes House LHHS Subcommittee FY26 Proposal

September 5, 2025 | Comments Off on AESA Opposes House LHHS Subcommittee FY26 Proposal

On August 31, the House Labor-HHS subcommittee released its FY26 budget proposal, which would affect schools in the 2026–27 school year. The topline: even before accounting for inflation, this plan provides less per-pupil funding for today’s seniors than when they were in kindergarten. After adjusting for inflation, it represents a $32 billion cut in real dollars.

Read More

ED Issues New Guidance on Equitable Services

August 28, 2025 | Comments Off on ED Issues New Guidance on Equitable Services

The U.S. Department of Education issued a “Dear Colleague” letter that outlines responsibilities of States and districts in providing services to students and teachers in private schools and highlights some flexibilities in how entities may go about doing so.

Read More

Related Resources

E-Rate
The Schools and Libraries Program of the Universal Service Fund makes discounts available to eligible schools and libraries for telecommunication services, Internet access, and internal connections. The program is intended to ensure that schools and libraries have access to affordable telecommunications and information services.

Official USAC Web site

Other websites and resources:

United States Department of Education

ESSA

IDEA Legislation:
Chapter 33-Education of Individuals with Disabilities

Scroll To Top