AASPA Legislative Priorities
AASPA gives school personnel administrators the information and resources they need to become influential advocates for their schools, staff and students. AASPA members will receive Legislative Briefs and would have the opportunity to participate on our Legislative Committee. Below is a list of AASPA's Legislative Priorities.
Modernize the National Apprenticeship Act to Support Teacher Recruitment and Retention
School districts face difficult workforce challenges that demand innovative solutions to recruit, prepare, and retain qualified educators. As universities, and in turn school districts, struggle with declining enrollment in traditional teacher preparation programs and fierce competition from other sectors, modernizing the National Apprenticeship Act presents an opportunity to create new pathways into the education profession. By expanding apprenticeship programs to explicitly include education careers, we can provide structured routes for aspiring educators – particularly paraprofessionals seeking advancement – while maintaining high standards for teacher preparation. This approach would help districts address both immediate staffing shortages and long-term workforce development needs, creating a more resilient and diverse education workforce capable of serving all students effectively.
Build Sustainable Talent Pipelines To Grow the Education Workforce
School districts nationwide grapple with shortages of teachers and essential staff. These challenges threaten the ability of schools to provide high-quality education to all students, particularly those in under-resourced communities. To help districts address this problem, Congress should prioritize policies that streamline pathways into education careers, support the development of a diverse and sustainable workforce, and reduce barriers to entry for aspiring educators. By modernizing workforce development initiatives and leveraging federal and state partnerships, school administrators can strengthen talent pipelines, improve retention, and ensure every student has access to skilled and dedicated education professionals.
Strengthen Professional Development and Support for Educators
School districts must not only recruit talented educators, they must also provide them with comprehensive, sustained support to help them most effectively serve students and families. Districts need help to invest in robust professional development, mentorship, and wellness support that enables educators to thrive in their roles and grow professionally. By strengthening these support systems, particularly in high-need areas like special education and learning recovery, schools can better retain experienced staff while creating collaborative, growth-oriented environments that attract new talent to the profession. Strategic federal investments in educator development and well-being represent a crucial lever for addressing both immediate workforce challenges and long-term educational quality.
Use Strategic Tax Incentives to Boost Recruitment and Retention
As the education workforce challenges continue, innovative policies and strategies are needed to attract and retain talented educators in our nation's classrooms. While schools struggle to compete with private sector wages and benefits, strategic tax incentives represent an underutilized tool for addressing critical staffing shortages, particularly in high-need areas and subjects. By implementing targeted tax credits and benefits, policymakers can reduce financial barriers to entering the profession, reward long-term commitment to teaching, and create meaningful incentives for educators to serve in our highest-need communities. These tax-based approaches offer a practical pathway to strengthen the education workforce while providing tangible financial relief to both current and aspiring educators.
Enhance Data Privacy and Protect School District NetworksSchool district leaders face myriad complex privacy and cybersecurity challenges. Districts must protect confidential student and personnel data – including academic records, financial and employment-related records, and other personal identifiers – while simultaneously maintaining open, collaborative learning and work environments. The rising frequency and sophistication of cyberattacks targeting educational institutions has created an urgent need for robust network security infrastructure and incident response protocols. Schools must also navigate a complex web of privacy laws like the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) while managing the integration of new educational technologies, each introducing its own privacy implications. Equally critical is the task of educating teachers, administrators, and staff about privacy best practices, data handling procedures, and their legal obligations, as human error remains one of the leading causes of data breaches.
AASPA committees are a driving force in the development of new programs and services for members and for school personnel administrators. Through collaboration and initiatives, these dedicated volunteers provide information crucial to advancing the profession of school personnel administrators.
By joining an the AASPA Legislative Committee you’re doing more than volunteering—you’re shaping the future of school HR administration. If you have questions about participating in any of these committees, please contact us.