June 12, 2026
FCC Rulemaking Puts E-Rate at Risk
Last Friday, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a draft Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that raises serious concerns for the future of the E-Rate program. The proposal is scheduled for a vote at the upcoming June 25 meeting of the FCC, which would then kick off a 30 day comment period. AASA advocacy will be VERY engaged in responding to the FCC and coordinating federal outreach with Congress. Please stay tuned for instructions on when and how to file comments with the FCC AND when/how to weigh in with Congress. These will be two separate efforts, but both will be critical in shaping our ability to successfully push back. More on The Leading Edge blog.
Tax Credit Scholarship/Voucher Program Update
This week, AASA participated in a U.S. Department of the Treasury event previewing forthcoming Treasury and IRS guidance on implementation of the federal scholarship tax credit program established under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The stated aim of the preview was to address concerns from governors in blue states seeking additional detail before deciding whether to opt into the program. Treasury officials indicated that proposed regulations are not expected before September. With an anticipated 30–45 day public comment period followed by review from the Office of Management and Budget, final regulations may not be issued until December. In the interim, AASA has provided a brief overview of how certain proposed interpretations could affect school districts’ ability to partner with SGOs.
U.S. District Court Blocks H-1B Visa Fee
a U.S. district court blocked the Trump Administration’s $100,000 fees for the H-1B visa program in a lawsuit that was filed by 20 state attorneys general. The Administration has announced that they intend to appeal the decision but for the time being, this ruling means that school districts preparing to file new H-1B petitions can proceed without paying the $100,000 fee. However, if the government successfully appeals or obtains an emergency stay reinstating the requirement, any petition filed without the $100,000 fee could be rejected and the standard filing fee lost. AASA will continue to monitor this issue and update this blog with additional information as it becomes available.
AASA Urges House Appropriations Committee to Oppose FY27 Education Funding Bill
Ahead of Ahead of the markup, AASA sent a letter to the House Appropriations Committee urging members to oppose the FY2027 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Services proposal that includes drastic cuts for K-12 education. After 12 hours of amendment consideration, the Committee passed the legislation along party lines. More on The Leading Edge blog.
Apply Now: 2026-2027 National School Air Quality Fellowship
The Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council is now accepting applications for the 2026-2027 School Air Quality Fellowship. Running from September 2026 to May 2027, this program equips up to 50 K-12 public school district staff to develop plans for cleaner, healthier indoor air and energy efficiency. The School Air Quality Fellowship offers personalized training and technical assistance, fully paid access to professional credentials, travel and attendance to the Green Schools Conference, and connection with peers. The estimated monetary value of the Fellowship is $5,000, with potential for up to $30,000 in mini-grant funding through a collaboration with the American Lung Association. Applications are due by July 10, 2026. Learn more and apply today.
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Guidance on Maximizing Energy Tax Credits
School districts across the country are leveraging federal energy tax credits to install ground-source heat pumps, a modern HVAC solution that supports healthy, safe, and resilient school buildings. With energy tax credits, schools can typically earn 30% of the project costs as a cash reimbursement. The key to earning and maximizing these funds is to plan ahead. Ground-Source Heat Pumps in Schools: A Guide to Maximizing Energy Tax Credits (UndauntedK12) is a new, advanced tool designed for school districts and project teams pursuing ground-source heat pump projects. The guide outlines how districts can plan ahead to maximize energy tax credits with key strategies, tips, and resources from the planning stage to the filing process. This is a key resource for those involved in facilities projects incorporating this technology and planning to claim the tax credit. Visit www.undauntedk12.org or email info@undauntedk.12.org to learn more.
New Facility Conditions Assessment (FCA) Guide
The Nation Center for School Infrastructure (NCSI) released a facility conditions assessment guide. This is a guide for school districts and state education agencies on conducting, scoping, and acting on facility condition assessments (FCA). An FCA is a systematic inventory of a building’s major systems paired with an evaluation of each system’s condition, remaining useful life, and estimated cost to repair or replace. Across a portfolio of school buildings, FCAs produce the baseline data that districts and states use to identify deficiencies, project capital needs, and plan investments. Check out NCSI’s full suite of technical assistance materials here.
Feds Issue a Slimmed-Down Data Release on U.S. Schools
The significantly scaled-back Condition of Education report highlights declines in public K–12 enrollment and birth rates while raising concerns among advocates about the capacity of federal education research agencies.
June 5, 2026
House Subcommittee Advances FY27 Education Funding Proposal
This morning, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies advanced its Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 funding proposal. This funding would be available for districts in the 27-28 school year. While not as drastic as the prior year’s proposal, House Republican leadership, who wrote the bill without consulting Democrats on the Committee, once again propose significant cuts to most K-12 funding. More details on The Leading Edge blog.
New Proposed OMB Rules Would Impact LEAs
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has proposed new revisions to the Uniform Grants Guidance, which dictates the terms under which federal awards must be managed, as well as how and when they can be granted and rescinded. These changes will impact LEAs as well as many other recipients of federal funding. More on what this means for schools on The Leading Edge blog.
AASA Sends Letter to Senate on 2026 Farm Bill
Earlier this week, AASA joined the Association of School Business Officials, International (ASBO) and the National Rural Education Association (NREA) in a letter to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Nutrition outlining our priorities for the 2026 Senate Farm Bill. Specifically, we urged the Senate to include two provisions in their bill, which you can read about on The Leading Edge blog.
Second Lady Usha Vance Introduces the 2026 Summer Reading Challenge
Second Lady Usha Vance’s 2026 Summer Reading Challenge is officially live for your communities to participate. Details, including the reading log form, submission form, and prizes, can be found at http://www.wh.gov/read. This year, the Summer Reading Challenge includes a brand-new Nationwide Leaderboard, where you can see how your state ranks against others across the country. Read more about how to submit on The Leading Edge blog.
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America’s First A.I. High School Is Great. But Not Because of A.I.
This New York Times article takes a deep look at a cluster of schools in Gwinnett County Public Schools that are implementing the district’s AI framework at each level in the cluster.
12.6M Kids Lack Access to Summer Programming
A new report from the Afterschool Alliance finds that more than half of U.S. children lack access to summer learning opportunities due to cost, transportation, location, and program availability barriers, and urges schools and community organizations to work together to expand access.
To Help Teens Get More Sleep, Experts Push for Later School Start Times
Two studies published this month on declining adolescent sleep quality have renewed calls from experts to delay school start times, citing evidence that later starts can improve student health, attendance, and academic achievement.
Budget Cuts Hit Half of America’s Largest School Districts
Chalkbeat examines the difficult budget outlook facing school districts, noting that more than half of the nation’s 50 largest districts have implemented or are considering cuts amid declining enrollment, rising inflation, the end of federal pandemic relief funding, and increasing healthcare costs.
What Michigan Schools Reveal about Reversing Chronic Absenteeism
A report on efforts to reduce chronic absenteeism in Michigan schools found that frequent home visits to families of absent students contributed to encouraging attendance gains over a three-year period, while noting that the strategy is not a guaranteed solution and should be paired with additional interventions.
Why Writing by Hand Beats Typing (in 6 Charts)
Edutopia reviews the research about the importance of writing by hand and the need to preserve a role for it in an increasingly digital world (and classroom).