Member Newsletter

AESA’s weekly newsletter, Online News, is full of important updates, articles, and features. It is intended to connect members with information about what is happening at the federal level, provide AESA event information, and share news important to ESAs.

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Read the Current Issue of AESA Online News

April 29, 2025: State Advocacy Webinar Starts Today, Application Deadlines this Week for Leadership Academy, EIR, and GenAI Trainer; Member Survey Still Open; Federal Advocacy Updates; Member Updates including West 40's Shift Everything podcast, and more.

Online News Archives

2025 Online News

April 22, 2025: Member Survey Open; Become a K-12 AI Trainer; Events & Deadlines Next Week; Federal Advocacy Updates; Member Updates including the ROE 17 Pod podcast, and more.

April 15, 2025: EIR Participant Experience; Annual Conference - Submit a Proposal and/or Exhibit; Revised Timing for Leadership Academy Deadline and BSF 2.0; Federal Advocacy Updates; Member Updates including CKEC's EdVantage podcast, and more.

April 8, 2025: AESA in AASA Magazine; March 2025 State Examiner; April Deadlines; Federal Advocacy Updates; Member Updates including MOEC Highlighting #IDEA50 and CESA 6's Smart Thinking podcast, and Exhibit at Annual Conference & Expo.

April 1, 2025: New AESA Address Reminder; Tribute Donations to the AESA Foundation; Hotel Cutoff Date Extended for BSF 2.0; Opportunities Abound; Federal Advocacy Updates: Member Updates including Ventura COE's Focus on Education podcast, and Business Partner news.

March 25, 2025: Last Call for BSF 2.0; Submit Proposals for 2025 Annual Conference; 2026 Leadership Academy Going to Spain & Portugal; Register for 2026 EIR; State Advocacy Webinar Seriers; Federal Advocacy Updates: Member Updates including Sourcewell’s EdSoul podcast, and Business Partner news.

March 18, 2025: Registration Open for EIR program, Leadership Academy, and Summer Leadership Conference; State Advocacy Webinar Seriers; Federal Advocacy Updates: Member Updates including the SBO Perspectives podcast, and Business Partner news.

March 11, 2025: Call for Proposals for 2025 Annual Conference, New AESA Staff Member, Reminder for AI Regional Leaders Info Sessions, Federal Advocacy Updates, Member Updates including Carbon Lehigh IU’s ChangED podcast, and Business Partner news.

March 5, 2025: Tribute Donations to the AESA Foundation, AESA/CoSN Call for AI Regional Leaders, February 2025 State Examiner, Final Call for Proposals for 2025 Summer Leadership Conference, Federal Advocacy Updates, Member Updates including ESUCC's The Good Life podcast, and AESA's New Business Partner, 21stCenturyEd.

February 25, 2025: Call for Proposals for 2025 Summer Leadership Conference, Share Your Story of Federal Funding Cuts, Federal Advocacy Updates, Member Updates including KEDC's On the Road with Carla podcast, and More!

February 18, 2025: AESA's Inaugural Global Advisory Council, Federal Advocacy Updates, Member Updates including the Lead On with Greg & Mark (LOwGaM) podcast, Business Partner News; and More!

February 11, 2025: Final Call for Women’s Leadership Network Gathering, Federal Advocacy Updates, Member Updates including MESD's Leaders Build Leaders podcast, Business Partner News; and More!

February 4, 2025: January 2025 State Examiner, Lead Trainer in AI, AESA Women’s Leadership Network Gathering, Federal Advocacy Updates, Member Updates including LTC's One-to-One podcast, Business Partner News; and More!

January 28, 2025: Become a Leader in Generative AI for K-12 Education, Invitation to the AESA Women’s Leadership Network Gathering, Federal Advocacy Updates, Member Updates, Business Partner News; and More!

January 21, 2025: Business Stratedgy & Development Services and Classes, Federal Advocacy Updates, Member Updates, Business Partner News; and More!

January 14, 2025: Executive Search Service, AESA/CoSN announcement, Newly Elected AESA Executive Council Members, New AESA Staff Member, New AESA business addresses reminder, Federal Advocacy Updates, Member Updates, Business Partner News; and More!

January 7, 2025: AESA Executive Council election deadline, Virtual Federal Advocacy Meeting reminder, December 2024 State Examiner link, 2025 Reading Leaders Book Club list (first half), New AESA business addresses reminder, federal advocacy updates, partner news; and more!

2024 Online News

December 31, 2024: New AESA mailing addresses; federal advocacy updates; member news; and more!

December 17, 2024: 2024 AESA Award Winners, AESA Annual Conference Photos, Federal Advocacy, Members Call to Action for Podcasts; and more!

December 10, 2024: 2024 Annual Conference Recap, At-A-Glance Schedule, Federal Advocacy, Members Call to Action for Podcasts

December 3, 2024: Giving Tuesday; Monthly State Examiner Released; Federal Advocacy; Members in the News; Business Partner Spotlight; and More!

November 26, 2024: Latest Perspectives Journal Issue; Annual Conference App; Federal Advocacy; Members in the News; Business Partner Spotlight; and More!

November 19, 2024: Executive Search Partners; Annual Conference App; Support for AESA Foundation; Upcoming Events; Federal Advocacy; Members in the News; Business Partner Spotlight; and More!

November 12, 2024: Election Takeaways; Annual Conference App; Support for AESA Foundation; Global Advisory Council; Upcoming Events; Federal Advocacy; Members in the News; Business Partner Spotlight; and More!

November 5, 2024: Election Message; AESA Foundation Support; October State Examiner Released; Global Advisory Council; AESA Meeting and Event Coordinator position; Upcoming Events; Federal Advocacy; Members in the News; Business Partner Spotlight; and More!

October 29, 2024: International Expansion for AESA; Global Advisory Council Applications; AESA Meeting and Event Coordinator position; Upcoming Events; Federal Advocacy; Members in the News; Business Partner Spotlight; and More!

October 22, 2024: AESA Meeting and Event Coordinator position; Current Perspectives Journal; Virtual Federal Advocacy Committee Meeting; Upcoming Events; Federal Advocacy; Members in the News; Business Partner Spotlight; and More!

October 15, 2024: Hurricane Relief Efforts; Annual Conference Early Bird Registration Ending Soon; Upcoming Events; Federal Advocacy; Members in the News; Business Partner News; and More!

October 8, 2024: Advocacy in Action Handouts; Annual Conference Keynote Speakers Announced; Upcoming Events; Federal Advocacy; Members in the News; Business Partner News; and More!

October 1, 2024: Advocacy in Action Review; Congressional Servicer Award Announced; State Examiner Released; Annual Conference Early Bird Registration; Upcoming Events; Federal Advocacy; Members in the News; Business Partner News; and More!

September 24, 2024: Outstanding Individual Achievement Award; Annual Conference Early Bird Registration; Upcoming Events; Federal Advocacy; Members in the News; Business Partner News; and More!

September 17, 2024: Member Benefits; Advocacy in Action Conference; Annual Conference Early Bird Registration; Upcoming Events; Federal Advocacy; Members in the News; and More!

September 10, 2024: New CFO for AESA; Advocacy in Action Conference; Annual Conference Early Bird Registration; Upcoming Events; Federal Advocacy; Members in the News; and More!

September 3, 2024: State Examiner Release; AESA Executive Council Nominations; Upcoming Events; Federal Advocacy; Members in the News; and More!

August 27, 2024: Advocacy in Action Registration; Executive Council Nominations; Upcoming Events; Federal Advocacy; Members in the News; and More!

August 20, 2024: National Awards Recipients; Executive Council Nominations; AESA Foundation Auctions; Upcoming Events; Federal Advocacy; Members in the News; and More!

August 13, 2024: My Membership Portal; AESA Executive Council Nominations; AESA Foundation Auction Items; Upcoming Events; Federal Advocacy; Members in the News; and More!

August 6, 2024: Executive Council Nominations; State Examiner; Upcoming Events; Federal Advocacy Updates; Members in the News; Business Partner News; and More!

July 30, 2024: AESA Foundation; Leadership Academy; AESA Networks; AESA Upcoming Events; Federal Advocacy Update; Business Partners News; and More!

July 23, 2024: Craig Burford Exemplary Service Award; 2023-24 Executives in Residence; Leadership Academy; AESA Networks; AESA Upcoming Events; Federal Advocacy Update; Members in the News; and More!

July 16, 2024: AESA Networks; Advocacy in Action Conference; Annual Conference; Federal Advocacy Update; Members in the News; and More!

July 9, 2024: Advocacy in Action Registration; AESA Networks; Federal Advocacy; Members In The News; and More!

July 2, 2024; State Examiner; AESA New Staff Claire Sowder; Summer Leadership Registration; Federal Advocacy; Members In The News; and More!

June 25, 2024; AESA Position Opening; ; Business Strategy Framework 2.0 Registration; Summer Leadership; National Awards Nominations; Federal Advocacy; and More!

June 18, 2024; Job Central; Network Reminders; BSF Reminders; Summer Leadership; National Awards Nominations; Federal Advocacy; and More!

June 11, 2024; AESA CFO applications open; Summer Business Strategy Framework workshops; National Awards Nominations; Federal Advocacy Updates; McREL Math Research Study applications; and More!

June 4, 2024; Cordell Retirement; Summer Leadership Early Bird Deadline; Small Staff ESAs Network; National Awards; Federal Advocacy; Members In The News; and More!

May 29, 2024: Early Bird Discount for Annual Conference; Small Staff ESAs Meeting; National Awards Program; Professional Learning Opportunities; Members In The News; and More!

May 21, 2024: Small Staff Network Meeting; Annual Conference Registration; Perspectives Article; National Award Nominations; Federal Advocacy Update; Professional Learning Opportunities; and More!

May 14, 2024: Annual Conference Registration Open; National Award Program Applications; Speak Up! GenAI Survey; Federal Advocacy Update; Members In The News; Summer Professional Learning; and More!

May 7, 2024: National Award Program Applications; Federal Advocacy Updates; DOE Applications for Comprehensive Centers Program; Members In the News; and More!

April 23, 2024: Reading Leaders Book Club; Job Central; Public Interest Privacy Center Webinar Series; Member Updates; Federal Advocacy and Legislative Updates; and More!

April 16, 2024: Summer Leadership Pre-Conference; Small ESAs Network Meeting: Executive Council; Member Updates; Federal Advocacy and Legislative Updates; and More!

April 9, 2024: Executives In Residence Applications; Cybersecurity In Schools; AESA Foundation Tributes; Federal Advocacy and Legislative Updates; and More!

April 2, 2024: AESA Executive Search; AESA Annual Conference Session Proposals; National ESA Leadership Academy; Federal and State Legislative Updates; ESA in the News; and More!

March 26, 2024: Executives In Residence Applications; AESA Annual Conference Session Proposals; ESA Leadership Academy Applications; Legislative Updates; Members In the News; and More!

March 19, 2024: Executives In Residence Applications; Job Central Service; Legislative Updates; Members In the News; and More!

March 12, 2024: FAFSA Hurdle; AESA Opportunities; Ed-Fi Alliance Technical Advisory; and More!

March 5, 2024: Project Tomorrow Survey; Member News; K12 Cybersecurity Pilot; Legislative Update; and More!

February 27, 2024: Iowa AEA Commentary; Legislative Update; National Ed Tech Plan Survey; and More!

February 20, 2024: E-Rate Update; Legislative Update; Professional Learning Opportunities; and More!

February 13, 2024: AESA Executive Search Service; Member News Roundup; Legislative Update; and More!

February 6, 2024: Business Strategy and Development Workshops; Small ESA Staff Network; ESAs in the News; State Advocacy Training Webinar; and More!

January 30, 2024: Jerry Maze retirement; Value of Student Data with EdFi; ESAs in the News; Legislative Update; USED National Technology Plans; Business Partner News; and More!

January 23, 2024: New Executive Council members; News Roundup; State Level Advocacy Event; Legislative Update; Federal Advocacy Committe Meeting; USAC E-Rate Update; and More!

January 16, 2024: School News Roundup; Legislative Updates; State Advocacy Training; Program Evaluation Network Spotlight; Upcoming Events; and More!

January 9, 2024: Introduction to Foundation Coordinator; Members in the News; Legislative Update; Federal Advocacy Committee; Reading Leaders Club; and More!

January 2, 2024: Members In The News; Legislative Update; News To Know; Upcoming AESA Events; and More!

Federal Updates

FERPA Update

April 25, 2025

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.

ESSER Liquidation Update

April 17, 2025

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.

ED Issues New DEI Directive for States

April 3, 2025

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.”