AASA’s advocacy team has many great sessions planned to discuss how federal actions are impacting local school districts. From vouchers to underfunded special education systems, there’s a wide range of content for those interested in how the federal government is addressing K-12 schooling in 2026.
On Thursday, Feb. 12, start at 9 a.m. with a session on “Reclaiming Resources: Practical Approaches to Lower Legal Risk and Strengthen Special Education Systems.” This session examines the fiscal and organizational impacts of today’s dispute landscape and explains how recent legal developments have expanded district exposure. Participants will explore practical, district-level strategies to reduce litigation risk.
During the annual Federal Relations Luncheon at noon that day, David Hinojosa, co-director of litigation at the National Center for Youth Law, will discuss the history of state and district efforts to exclude undocumented immigrant children from enrolling in public schools and how these efforts led to the landmark Supreme Court decision in Plyler v. Doe. He will share concerns over a potential challenge to overturn Plyler, policy implications and what schools can do to ensure all children are welcome. Only a handful of tickets remain for this event.
At 2:15 p.m. on Feb. 12, join Sasha Pudelski, AASA’s director of advocacy, to learn about the federal education tax credit program taking effect next Jan. 1, including the structure, responsibilities and compliance considerations for scholarship-granting organizations. Attendees will explore how to strengthen and expand education foundations in order to qualify as scholarship-granting organizations under the new federal voucher law. She’ll share counsel on remaining agile amid political shifts affecting public education and school choice.
On Friday, Feb. 13 at 12:45 p.m., the AASA advocacy team will provide our full federal update where we will cover everything that’s happening in Washington, D.C., that impacts education. You don’t want to miss it!
Then at 2:30 p.m., give yourself a break from talking about the feds and hear from AASA professor in residence, Chris Tienken, on the findings from the “2025 American Superintendent Study, Mid-Decade Update.” The findings point to the role of the superintendency growing more complex, demanding and multifaceted. Leaders are navigating unprecedented pressures around finance, staffing, safety and politics, all while remaining steadfast in their commitment to the growth and well-being of every student. This session will provide additional insight into the study and what the findings means for the profession.
In addition to the advocacy sessions, AASA’s Advocacy Center has returned to the exhibit hall floor where attendees will be able to advocate in real time with their members of Congress, underscoring the importance of public education. Visit the AASA Bookstore to send a letter to your elected officials or chat with our advocacy team. Don’t miss it!
You can follow the goings-on of the advocacy team and the conference’s policy sessions on the AASA blog and by following @AASAdvocacy and the advocacy team on Twitter: Noelle Ellerson Ng (@Noellerson), Sasha Pudelski (@SPudelski), Kat Sturdevant (@K_Sturdevant) and Tara Thomas (@TaraEThomas1). Or you can always follow along by downloading the AASA Advocacy app, available on the App Store and Google Play.
(Tara Thomas is AASA’s senior government affairs manager.)