Federal Updates

USED’s latest resource, 2025 K-12 Digital Infrastructure Brief: Accessibility, is the fourth installment in a series of resources designed to support educational leaders in creating and sustaining inclusive digital infrastructures.

There are reports that a new memo from the Trump Administration rescinds a 2021 memo by DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas that designated schools, as well as other community services as “protected areas”. This 2021 rule stated that to the extent possible, ICE agents should not carry out any enforcement activities in these locations.

2025 will usher in significant changes in Washington. However, as some of the oldest and most effective nonpartisan education organizations in the country, AESA and AASA have successfully navigated all combinations of political leadership. The incoming Republican trifecta is no exception. We stand ready to help both Congress and the Trump Administration know better, so they can do better, as it relates to policy and funding that strengthens public schools.

In April 2024, the Department of Justice published a rule that sets technical requirements for state and local governments including public school districts to follow to make sure that their websites and mobile apps are accessible to people with disabilities.

We are pleased to share updated non-regulatory guidance from USED titled Parent and Family Engagement under Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as Amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act to assist State educational agencies (SEAs), local educational agencies (LEAs), and schools in administering the parent and family engagement provisions of Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).

USED shared updated online non regulatory guidance, Opportunities and Responsibilities for State and Local Report Card Requirements under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as Amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act. The document aims to ensure that parents, families, and education partners have as much information as possible on student outcomes, learning conditions, and other data that can support continued academic recovery.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) released Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary & Trends Report for Dietary, Physical Activity, and Sleep Behaviors: 2013-2023. The report is part of CDC’s Healthy Schools Program to prevent chronic disease among children and adolescents.

This ECR Cross Post explores the reimplementation of the 2020 Title IX regulations in 2025. It provides insights into the implications for schools and districts, highlighting compliance challenges and potential impacts on educational institutions. The article examines key aspects of the rule, offers context for its return, and discusses strategies for navigating these changes effectively.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency will provide training that will feature a facilitated discussion with school and district leaders on their experiences with managing anonymous threats – such as hoax calls, threats received on social media or via email, and notes found on school grounds – and maintaining the safety of their communities.

C-SPAN offers a robust set of resources to school and classroom leaders. Their program, called C-SPAN Classroom, offers free education resources featuring @CSPAN’s programs including current events videos, Lesson Plans, Bell Ringers, Constitution Clips and ‘On This Day’ in History events.