Superintendent
Minnetonka Public Schools
AASA President
Like many of you, I struggle to balance my full-time job of leading a school district with the desire to stay current on what is happening at the federal level. We are fortunate that AASA has an amazing legislative team that works hard to provide updates that are easier to digest. I try to skim these weekly to stay informed. I have provided a quick review of recent topics that I found interesting below.
There’s been a lot of movement in Washington recently, even amid the government shutdown. The U.S. Department of Education has reopened the School-Based Mental Health and Mental Health Service Professional grant programs with revised priorities. As so many of us face budget shortfalls, reviewing these opportunities might be a good use of time.
The National Head Start Association shared helpful guidance on how schools and Head Start programs can continue supporting families through the shutdown—reminding us that collaboration is key to keeping services steady for students. For Minnesota districts that partner with Head Start, this may be good to review.
Even with much of the federal government closed, several new bills related to artificial intelligence and students have been introduced. AASA is keeping a close eye on these developments as AI continues to shape education policy. AASA also hosted an AI Summit in November and will continue to provide resources for school leaders moving forward.
The shutdown has also affected staffing at the Department of Education. A judge recently extended an order halting layoffs, temporarily protecting hundreds of employees—many from key offices that support K–12 programs. It is impossible to know the long term impact of staffing reductions at the USDOE, but I fear that when we realize the impact it will be difficult to quickly reverse.
In other updates, the Department of Education issued new guidance around how federal education funds can (and can’t) be used for lobbying activities. AASA is reviewing the details and will share more as things clarify. I have had several conversations about this with AASA staff and expect more information in the coming months.
The Supreme Court declined to hear a case challenging a Colorado district’s gender identity policy, leaving the lower court’s ruling in place.
Finally, AASA announced an exciting new partnership with the League of Women Voters to expand civic education and student voter engagement nationwide—helping schools empower the next generation of voters.
Personally, I have spent my time as AASA president on a few key projects that I find valuable. In August, I had the opportunity to participate in the Leaders of Color Summit. AASA coordinated with other national organizations to host this event. It was truly inspiring to hear from leaders across the country who shared their commitment to support all students.
I have also been working to support the rollout of the Public Education Promise guidelines, speaking to leaders in South Dakota, Utah, Minnesota, and Arizona. AASA has recently announced the release of a supporting document that will help districts implement and communicate about this work. Look for that document in January.
Another project I have taken on to support the Public Education Promise is through my AASA President’s Podcast. Each episode features a different pillar of the roadmap. We have two of these done and four more coming.
The last area that I want to showcase is the AASA monthly magazine. You may be surprised to know that the majority of school leaders find this print publication to be valuable. AASA has surveyed leaders several times, and they consistently hear that the printed form is a quality resource. For my small part, I write a brief article related to the theme of the magazine each month.
AASA continues to grow in membership, an indication that leaders find the organization to be a good investment. I feel very fortunate to have this opportunity to participate in work that impacts students and educators across the country. Thank you all for the work you do to keep education strong in Minnesota.
