https://www.aasa.org/The Leading Edge, AASA's policy & advocacy blog, provides up-to-date information about activities in Washington, D.C. and Capitol Hill that affect you and your school district.The Leading Edge BlogImmigrationSchool NutritionStudent & Child PrivacyStudent PrivacyprivacyProtection of Pupil Rights AmendmentPPRAChild PrivacyFERPAStudent & Child Privacy CenterCOPPAFamily Educational Rights and Privacy ActAdvocacy & PolicyEducation FundingDistrict & School OperationsE-RateconnectivityerateTechnology & AIed-techeducation technologyedtechaied techtechSchool Safety & CybersecurityHealth & WellnessFinance & Budgetsurn:uuid:b7ba8ddf-8b10-44d0-b8a8-4948ca70e6e8https://www.aasa.org/resources/blog/aasa-submits-commits-opposing-new-public-charge-rule The Leading Edge BlogImmigrationAASA, joined by ten other education organizations, submitted comments to the Department of Homeland Security urging them to rescind the new public charge rule. Fri, 19 Dec 2025 20:44:43 Zurn:uuid:9d7140bb-b59c-4326-b874-2fad5d715fb2https://www.aasa.org/resources/blog/whole-milk-is-back The Leading Edge BlogSchool NutritionSchools can serve whole milk again. Mon, 15 Dec 2025 21:49:42 Zurn:uuid:d0c4f3df-0f8e-4a25-b7b2-6ae973f49a63https://www.aasa.org/resources/blog/the-advocate-december-2025--federal-policy-surge-on-kids-and-technology--what-it-means-for-schools Student & Child PrivacyStudent PrivacyprivacyProtection of Pupil Rights AmendmentPPRAChild PrivacyFERPAStudent & Child Privacy CenterCOPPAFamily Educational Rights and Privacy ActThe Leading Edge BlogAdvocacy & PolicyThis month's edition of the Advocate focuses on kids and technology in Congress.Fri, 12 Dec 2025 15:00:05 Zurn:uuid:54393d46-6c95-4fbb-a389-c515592021cdhttps://www.aasa.org/resources/blog/congress-passes-secure-rural-schools-reauthorization The Leading Edge BlogEducation FundingLast night, the House passed the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act, which reauthorizes the program for FY24-FY26. Wed, 10 Dec 2025 19:22:56 Zurn:uuid:08696039-9906-47b8-82d0-ec146d66150bhttps://www.aasa.org/resources/blog/federal-policy-action-on-screen-time--social-media-and-student-data-privacy-related-issues The Leading Edge BlogStudent & Child PrivacyStudent PrivacyprivacyProtection of Pupil Rights AmendmentPPRAChild PrivacyFERPAStudent & Child Privacy CenterCOPPAFamily Educational Rights and Privacy ActAdvocacy & PolicyDistrict & School OperationsIn recent weeks, there has been an extraordinary surge of federal policy action concerning kids and technology.Tue, 09 Dec 2025 19:09:35 Zurn:uuid:a571829b-5b97-4d60-873c-4ce8a3e813c3https://www.aasa.org/resources/blog/administration-proposes-to-revive-public-charge-rule The Leading Edge BlogLast week, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposed reissuing a regulation that could penalize noncitizens who use Medicaid and other income-based public benefit programs.Mon, 24 Nov 2025 20:04:43 Zurn:uuid:631cff52-1f1b-4d1b-bc5a-4a520491afc6https://www.aasa.org/resources/blog/ed-makes-further-moves-to-dismantle-the-department-of-education The Leading Edge BlogAdvocacy & PolicySecretary McMahon announced 6 new agreements with 4 agencies to “break up the federal education bureaucracy, ensure efficient delivery of funded programs, activities, & move closer to fulfilling the President’s promise to return education to the states."Tue, 18 Nov 2025 21:17:25 Zurn:uuid:c983057c-6cad-44c4-8352-63cadc4cdfb9https://www.aasa.org/resources/blog/unpacking-state-esea-waiver-submissions The Leading Edge BlogAdvocacy & PolicyThe Trump administration under Secretary McMahon has indicated a willingness to entertain expanded waivers of certain requirements under ESEA.Thu, 13 Nov 2025 21:37:21 Zurn:uuid:f28a5ffa-6472-4354-8adb-87111e45801bhttps://www.aasa.org/resources/blog/senate-advances-deal-to-end-shutdown The Leading Edge BlogOn Wednesday, Congress passed a deal to reopen the government. Mon, 10 Nov 2025 19:50:47 Zurn:uuid:f259d05f-9e2c-46fd-8bdb-9156e3f1e8a2https://www.aasa.org/resources/blog/update--fcc-votes-to-end-biden-era-wi-fi-hot-spot-expansion The Leading Edge BlogE-RateconnectivityerateAdvocacy & PolicyTechnology & AIed-techeducation technologyedtechaied techtechMission Telecom, a Wi-Fi on school buses provider, has agreed to allow districts to pay the E-Rate discount cost for this service for the remainder of this program year, thereby avoiding the need to cancel the contract and/or terminate the service.Fri, 07 Nov 2025 16:08:37 Zurn:uuid:b785e2de-f3bb-47fe-b8ab-d537d0c3d1a0https://www.aasa.org/resources/blog/wide-array-of-ai-legislation-introduced The Leading Edge BlogAdvocacy & PolicyTechnology & AIed-techeducation technologyedtechaied techtechSchool Safety & CybersecurityDespite the federal government remaining closed for more than a month now, multiple new bills related to AI and students have been introduced in the past several weeks. This blog post has the breakdown.Thu, 30 Oct 2025 17:21:54 Zurn:uuid:4d4dd065-a12e-46d7-b148-48a0f5aad745https://www.aasa.org/resources/blog/guest-post--maintaining-strong-foundations-for-head-start-programs-during-the-government-shutdown The Leading Edge BlogThe current federal shutdown may be causing disruption and heartache for Head Start partnerships with school systems, including those school systems that are grant recipients. This blog aims to clear up some possible misconceptions and highlight how school systems and Head Start can work together through the shutdown to ensure children and families are prioritized. Wed, 29 Oct 2025 19:15:24 Zurn:uuid:a3eaa983-4ae2-4beb-8ee9-9bec9b227fb7https://www.aasa.org/resources/blog/(updated)-administration-announces-changes-to-h-1b-visa-program The Leading Edge BlogImmigrationIn September, 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.Wed, 29 Oct 2025 16:21:08 Zurn:uuid:c209fa60-40e8-4063-b184-9951b9377c3bhttps://www.aasa.org/resources/blog/ai-changes-everything--new-data-minimization-resource-for-urgent-review The Leading Edge BlogStudent & Child PrivacyStudent PrivacyprivacyProtection of Pupil Rights AmendmentPPRAChild PrivacyFERPAStudent & Child Privacy CenterCOPPAFamily Educational Rights and Privacy ActSchool Safety & CybersecurityTechnology & AIed-techeducation technologyedtechaied techtechAdvocacy & PolicyThis blog post comes from Amelia Vance and Morgan Sexton at the Public Interest Privacy Center (PIPC supports AASA’s Student and Child Privacy Center) with a new resource.Wed, 15 Oct 2025 19:06:21 Zurn:uuid:27a0163d-84ba-4b40-8fbf-2633e9deda7dhttps://www.aasa.org/resources/blog/administration-fires-ed-staff-important-for-k-12-programs The Leading Edge BlogOn October 10, ED laid off about 450 of its staff as part of a second Reduction in Force (RIF). Most notably for district leaders, the majority of staff in both the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Office of Special Education have been let go.Mon, 13 Oct 2025 21:56:59 Zurn:uuid:e7a8f38c-e233-4c66-84fb-b7fd5f0d562chttps://www.aasa.org/resources/blog/school-mental-health-grants-reopened The Leading Edge BlogHealth & WellnessAdvocacy & PolicyFinance & BudgetsEducation FundingIt is our understanding the new grant competition will continue despite an October 27th ruling that requires the Department of Education to reinstate, for now, the original SBMH and MHSP grants that were discontinued in April.Thu, 02 Oct 2025 15:48:57 Zurn:uuid:84c78a0e-ef4c-45bd-9923-5e5ba65cacd9https://www.aasa.org/resources/blog/aasa-urges-senate-to-pass-bipartisan-fy26-proposal The Leading Edge BlogEducation FundingToday, AASA led a letter—joined by five other K-12 organizations—to the Senate urging them to swiftly pass the bipartisan FY26 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Services proposal that advanced through committee in late July. Thu, 04 Sep 2025 21:32:54 Zurn:uuid:77999948-5367-4d10-8564-17a435102678https://www.aasa.org/resources/blog/how-the-one-big-beautiful-bill-impacts-higher-education The Leading Edge BlogEducation FundingThe One Big, Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB), signed into law on July 4, made significant changes to higher education that district leaders should be aware of.Mon, 18 Aug 2025 19:25:10 Zurn:uuid:e11c763b-e1d7-4be6-a454-24be81154f70https://www.aasa.org/resources/blog/senate-committee-advances-fy26-lhhs-bill The Leading Edge BlogEducation FundingToday, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed its Fiscal Year 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies bill with bipartisan support.Thu, 31 Jul 2025 21:18:55 Zurn:uuid:bb704633-9f58-4d88-a846-1772202c9a51https://www.aasa.org/resources/blog/july-ed-releases-withheld-funds-to-education-grantees The Leading Edge BlogEducation FundingToday, ED released the funds to states it had previously withheld under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act Titles I-C, II-A, III-A, and IV-A and the Adult Education Family Literacy Act. Here's what districts need to know. Wed, 30 Jul 2025 19:20:38 Zurn:uuid:9443c59c-1aa9-42a0-a639-ce7f863fa8b3https://www.aasa.org/resources/blog/aasa-joins-600-organizations-to-urge-the-administration-to-release-fy25-funds-immediately The Leading Edge BlogEducation FundingThis week, AASA joined 600 national, state and local organizations in a letter to the USED and the OMB urging leadership to release FY25 education funds immediately. Fri, 18 Jul 2025 13:48:28 Zurn:uuid:eb2d43c1-f9e3-4959-879b-0ed015caf818https://www.aasa.org/resources/blog/ed-announces-its-withholding-many-fy25-funds The Leading Edge BlogEducation FundingYesterday afternoon, less than 24 hours before all federal education funds are expected to be available, the U.S. Department of Education notified states that it was not going to allocate FY25 funds for Title I-C, Title II-A, Title III-A, Title IV-A and Title IV-B – until further review. Tue, 01 Jul 2025 15:32:35 Zurn:uuid:c74b5327-a3cd-437d-bda1-20e02b4358a9https://www.aasa.org/resources/blog/used-budget-summary-proposes-drastic-cuts-to-k12 The Leading Edge BlogEducation FundingToday, the Trump Administration released additional budget materials to Congress for FY26. While not officially the full FY26 budget proposal, this information builds upon the “skinny budget” and provides specific funding requests for programs. Overall, the FY26 Budget Summary calls for a $12 billion cut in funding and presents Congress with a series of proposed trade-offs that reduce federal investment in K-12 education and ultimately harm schools and the students they serve.Sat, 31 May 2025 02:29:06 Zurn:uuid:2d6d6cf0-8e87-45ef-b4e6-92857acf8161https://www.aasa.org/resources/blog/ed-publishes-new-discretionary-grant-priorities The Leading Edge BlogAdvocacy & PolicyEducation FundingThe U.S. Department of Education (ED) published a set of competitive grant priorities that the agency says it intends to apply to all discretionary grants moving forward.Fri, 23 May 2025 19:46:23 Zurn:uuid:2957cf1c-f558-48f5-88e1-bbaaa047203ehttps://www.aasa.org/resources/blog/gop-reconciliation-proposal-advances-in-house-vouchers-snap-and-medicaid-implications The Leading Edge BlogAdvocacy & PolicyFinance & BudgetsEducation FundingThis week, three separate House committees met to advance pieces of the Republican reconciliation proposal. This is what superintendents need to know.Thu, 15 May 2025 16:42:03 Z