AASA’s policy and advocacy team as organized six sessions at the 2017 AASA national conference covering the gamut of federal policy.

On Thursday, March 2, at a session titled “Special Education 2.0: Breaking Taboos to Build a New Education Law,” attendees can hear about the state of IDEA and relevant legislation and court cases. The same day’s schedule includes an AASA Advocacy Meet & Greet, where you can hear more about the work of the AASA public policy staff and ask questions, and “State Policy 2017: What to Expect, What to Plan For,” where you can hear from a panel of lobbyists and directors about what is happening at the state level and how you can get involved in your own state.

On Friday, March 3, join the team for “Federal Education Policy in a Post-ESSA Era,” which will focus on what is happening in Washington and what is coming up before the new Congress. Also slated is “The Third Branch: Supreme Court and Schools,” where legal experts will explain the education-related court cases being heard this year and how they may affect school districts, and “Schools in Transition: Gender Diversity and Best Practices.” The latter will help attendees navigate the current atmosphere around transgender students and how to best serve them and your school community.

This year’s Federal Relations Luncheon on March 2 will address public school choice vs. private school vouchers. The speaker will be Richard Kahlenberg, senior fellow at The Century Foundation and expert on private school vouchers, charter schools and turnaround school efforts.

(By Leslie Finnan, a member of the AASA public policy staff.)