Sunday, Feb. 2 | 2:30 – 3:45 p.m.
Navigating Key Legislative Challenges at the State Level: Preparing Public Education for 2025
Join an expert panel of advocates from the NSBA Conference of State Association Legislative Staff (CSALS) for an insightful look at key issues expected to impact public education in 2025. Panelists will delve deeply into themes such as funding, budget shortfalls, cell phone bans, connectivity, and E-rate, discussing what this means for public schools in various regions throughout the nation and how they can best position themselves for the year ahead.
Moderator:
Jason Amos, NSBA Senior Director of Communications
Panelists:
Caroline Bobick - Deputy Director of Governmental and External Relations, New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA)
Jennifer Smith – Director of Government Relations, Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB)
Matt Cook – Director of Public Policy & Advocacy, Colorado Association of School Boards (CASB)
Sheila McKay – Associate Executive Director for Government Relations, Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (CABE)
Resource Equity in Advocacy: Becoming a Resource Equity Champion in Your Community
There’s no denying that money matters in education. However, districts must not only consider “how much” money is available but also “how well” that money is being used to leverage available resources. To best meet the unique needs of every student, especially students from systemically marginalized groups, districts have a responsibility to distribute resources equitably across and within schools, and advocates and policymakers, including school board members, play a crucial role in ensuring this happens. This session will focus on how school board members and education leaders can utilize advocacy to ensure their district allocates the combination of resources that gives each student, especially students from marginalized groups, a fair shot at success while holding high expectations for all students.
Participants will learn why resource equity matters in advocacy and how to use the comprehensive Alliance for Resource Equity (ARE) framework and toolkit to start conversations, create shared understandings, and build action plans. The session will provide an overview of the suite of resources that school board members and leaders can use to understand the state of equity and excellence in their schools, analyze their local data, consider root causes, pinpoint relevant actions, identify appropriate decision-makers, and develop an impactful message to help drive their advocacy efforts. This session will also provide hands-on experience with the ARE tools by working with their peers to analyze sample district data.
Presenters:
Nicholas Munyan-Penney, Assistant Director of P-12 Policy, EdTrust
Shayna Levitan, P-12 Policy Analyst, EdTrust
Advancing Student Leadership & Representation Through Student Voice on School Boards
By involving students in the highest levels of decision-making, we take a crucial step toward creating an inclusive environment where every student has the opportunity to succeed. Student board members bring a unique perspective to decision-making processes, offering valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by their peers. This session explores how student board members can be empowered to lead alongside educators and policymakers, helping to eliminate barriers to equity in education. By integrating students into the leadership framework, we can create policies and practices that truly reflect the needs of all students and foster a more inclusive and representative educational environment. Join us to explore how:
- You can advocate for student voice in your school board in partnership with students, including through student advisory councils, student surveys, and more.
- Students on school boards represent their peers and work across generations to improve education systems.
- The National Student Board Member Association can support you and your students to uplift student voice and promote youth participation in educational decision-making.
Presenters:
George-Constantinos Charonis, Executive Director, National Student Board Member Association (NSBMA)
Ugonma Chike-Kalu, National Policy Director, National Student Board Member Association (NSBMA), Student School Board Member, Baltimore County Public Schools (MD)
Khoa Ta, Southeast Regional Strategy Coordinator, National Student Board Member Association (NSBMA), Student Board Member, Owensboro Independent School District (KY)
Sunday, Feb. 2 | 4 – 5:15 p.m.
Legal Updates from the National School Boards Association
In this session, NSBA’s legal team will provide an update on the most recent changes from the U.S. Supreme Court’s last term and changes in federal law and federal agency rules. Among other things, the team will address Supreme Court holdings in Muldrow; the new Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) and the accompanying changes in Title IX and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) in relation to the PWFA; Title IX; the new FLSA rule that relates to overtime for highly compensated individuals and recent court action regarding that rule; and the change in the Americans with Disabilities Act regarding website accessibility.
Presenters:
Tammy Carter, Senior Director of Legal Services and NSBA Governance, National School Boards Association (NSBA)
Jordan Cooper, Senior Staff Attorney, National School Boards Association (NSBA)
Civic Learning as a Pathway to Equity: The Essential Role of School Boards
The majority of Americans, across demographics and political divides, support teaching a full, inclusive history of the United States. To create a more equitable society, all young people must have access to civic education that embraces diverse perspectives and fosters curiosity, connection, and joy. As the most diverse generation in our nation's history, today’s students need learning opportunities that reflect civic honesty and inspire reflective patriotism. School boards have an incredibly important role to play in broadening support for civic education and implementing stronger civic education programs in their districts. In this session, we will explore how school boards can advocate for and implement high-quality civic education programs that engage students, empower communities, and ensure equitable outcomes for all.
In this session participants will:
- Learn about the challenges, opportunities, and state of civic learning nationally and across states and specific subgroup populations.
- Understand polling and messaging on how to communicate the importance of civic learning across racial, ethnic, and political divides.
- Learn about the Educating for American Democracy Roadmap and the language and structure it provides to help navigate civic honesty and reflective patriotism.
- Explore local policies so your school board can advocate for high-quality civic learning to support equity and access.
Presenter:
Ace Parsi, Director of Coalition Engagement, ICivics
Opportunities to Advance and Fund Equitable School Health Services Through Medicaid
How can schools fund more school health services, including mental health and behavioral health, to support student well-being and advance equity? States and schools can leverage Medicaid to increase school health services. Yet, many states and districts are not taking up this opportunity — leaving money on the table. In this session, we will share how different states and districts are implementing the school Medicaid program to increase funding and support the needs of under-resourced students. The session will discuss how school board members and education leaders can get involved and advocate for more states and school districts to take action. In addition, we will share why recent legislative and regulatory changes make this an especially important moment, as well as the steps ahead to ensure school health services are inclusive of all students.
In this session, participants will be provided with:
- Enhanced understanding of why consistent school health services can reduce disparities and advance equity.
- An overview of how the school Medicaid program operates and the status of school Medicaid expansions across states.
- An overview of current state and school district opportunities to expand school Medicaid.
- Identify ways that school board members, education leaders, and other key stakeholders can get involved and engage.
- Additional actions needed so that school health services, including those that are Medicaid-funded, are culturally and linguistically responsive and advance equity.
Presenter:
Lena O'Rourke, Consultant, Healthy Schools Campaign
Monday, Feb. 3 | 10:30 – 11:45 a.m.
AI and Education: A Roadmap for School Board Leaders
This session will provide school board leaders with an overview of the key issues surrounding AI in education. You'll gain insights into the benefits and challenges, as well as best practices for setting a clear vision and supporting effective policies. We’ll dive into resources from TeachAI and Code.org to ground our conversation.
By the end of this session, you will be equipped to:
- Understand the fundamental concepts of AI and its applications in education.
- Identify potential benefits and risks associated with AI in the classroom.
- Develop a strategic vision for AI implementation in your district.
- Advocate for policies that support responsible and ethical use of AI.
- Collaborate with educators and stakeholders to create a future-ready learning environment.
Presenter:
Sean Roberts, Vice President of U.S. Strategy, Code.org
From Research to Results: Advancing Math Access for Equitable Student Success
This session will explore how collaborations with the E3 Alliance and National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity (NAPE) supported Central Texas school districts in driving equity in advanced math access through action research. This workshop will highlight a transformative approach where feedback from students and parents, data analysis, and root-cause exploration led to impactful shifts in district policies and practices. It also will discuss the journey from classroom changes to policy development and how advocacy efforts culminated in Texas Senate Bill 2124 to increase math access for all students. Through this case study, attendees will gain insights into how action research can support advocacy efforts and shape policy for lasting student success for all students.
Presenters:
Brittany Brady, Ed.M., CAP®, CEO, National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity (NAPE)
Kimberly Rowe, Director of Academics - Secondary, Round Rock ISD (TX)
Heather Salaz, Director of Strong Foundations, E3 Alliance
Prioritizing and Advocating for Evidence-Based Policies to Engage Each and Every Family in Your Community
Closing the persistent and inequitable achievement gaps that plague our schools compels us to move beyond our assumptions about the way education should be delivered to our nation’s children. The past decade has seen a rise in advocacy for evidence-based policies and practices, spurred in part by federal guidance within the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and brought to more recent focus with the science of reading. In this session, participants will learn about Evidence for ESSA, an initiative to catalog and evaluate the effectiveness of thousands of interventions used in schools today to advocate for the effective allocation of limited funds in their local context to drive student success. More so, this session will challenge participants to reflect on the purpose of family engagement in light of its potential to address educational inequities. How can we implement and advocate for educational investments that treat each and every family member as a valued partner in their child’s education AND have an impact? National PTA also will share how school boards can embrace and advocate for a more rigorous approach to family engagement that drives equitable student learning and well-being outcomes using a free new tool to find proven programs that drive meaningful changes in communities by strengthening family-school partnerships.
Presenters:
Helen Westmoreland, Director, Family Engagement, National PTA
Dr. Amanda Neitzel, Deputy Director of Evidence Research, Center for Research and Reform in Education, Johns Hopkins University
Monday, Feb. 3 | 2:15 – 3:30 p.m.
The AI Wave: Navigating the Opportunities and Challenges for Education
Ever since the release of generative AI tools, the speed of innovation has continued at a quick pace. From using AI to generate text to now multimodal properties like voice, image, and videos, the potential use cases in education are exciting. But there are also concerns about academic integrity, bias, cost, and more. This session will equip school board members with a foundational understanding of AI’s impact on public education and provide practical strategies to guide equitable policy development in their districts. Attendees will explore how to advocate for responsible AI use, ensure alignment with community values, and prepare students for an increasingly AI-driven world while safeguarding the principles of equity and integrity in education.
Presenter:
Steven Butschi, Director of Education, North America, Google
Addressing Poor Indoor Air Quality to Boost Academic Success for Low-Income Students of Color
Why are low-income students of color disproportionately affected by poor indoor air quality (IAQ) in their schools? Children in underserved communities, including communities of color, low-income areas, and Tribal populations, as well as children with disabilities, are often exposed to higher levels of environmental contaminants in the places they live, learn, and play. In schools, these inequities manifest as classrooms with pest problems, legacy toxins, inadequate heating and cooling, and poor air quality, which contribute to health disparities and hinder educational achievement.
This session will equip school board members and education leaders to address these challenges, even when budgets are tight. Participants will learn practical, low- or no-cost strategies to improve IAQ and enhance student and staff well-being. Experts, including representatives from the EPA, will provide proven tools and resources that can be adapted for use in any district, regardless of economic circumstances. Participants will gain an understanding of how indoor air quality directly impacts student health and academic success, gaining insights into leveraging EPA resources and strategies to advocate for and implement equitable improvements in school environments.
Presenter:
Jill Buck, Founder & CEO, Go Green Initiative
Bridging Equity and Advocacy: Integrating Community Voices in Local Policymaking
Join us for an engaging and interactive session that explores the intersection of equity and advocacy within local policymaking spaces. We will begin with an introduction to the American Institute for Research (AIR) Opportunity Fund, which supports programs that expand access to quality learning, close achievement gaps, and create opportunities for all students to thrive. This session will highlight the impactful work of the Bridges Collaborative Study and the Equitable Collaboration Project, both funded by the AIR Opportunity Fund, which aim to elevate community voices and develop best practices for integration initiatives.
Participants will engage in dynamic discussions prompted by lessons learned from these pioneering projects. The session will feature interactive activities, including small group discussions and breakout sessions, where attendees will explore how these insights resonate with their own community work. We will share examples of successful integration efforts from other school districts, emphasizing the crucial role of school boards and leaders in supporting these initiatives.
Attendees will have the opportunity to discuss their district's future directions, identify necessary tools and resources, and explore ways to leverage policy and budgeting to support integration efforts. This session aims to foster knowledge exchange and generate new insights among peers through interactive discussions and resource sharing.
Presenters:
Terris Ross, Managing Director, AIR Opportunity Fund
Megan Sambolt, Principal Researcher, Bridges Collaborative Continuous Learning Study
Gislene Tasayco, Technical Assistance Consultant, Equitable Collaboration Project