2026 AAEA Summer Conference

Direct from the halls of Congress to the heart of Arkansas, this session provides a high-level briefing on the legislative shifts and federal policy changes currently unfolding in Washington, D.C.. Join Kimberly Glass, Lea Metcalf-McDonald, and Amanda Bittle as they break down the latest news on federal funding, evolving regulations, and the K-12 policies most likely to impact your district in the coming school year.

Federal funds should be strategic investments, not routine expenditures. This session explores how to measure return on investment, use data to determine what is closing achievement gaps, and make informed funding decisions. Learn practical strategies to evaluate impact, adjust ineffective programs, and ensure every federal dollar drives measurable student success.

For school and district leaders, resource management is a constant balancing act. The challenge isn't just having enough funding—it’s understanding the specific "buckets" those funds come in, the restrictions attached to them, and the timeline for spending them.

This session provides a clear framework for managing local, state, and federal funding streams effectively. We will discuss how to maximize current-year allocations to meet immediate student needs while simultaneously building a resilient 5-year budget. Participants will learn how to bridge the gap between site-level priorities and district-level finance, ensuring that today’s spending supports tomorrow’s stability.

Federal program coordinators quickly learn that managing federal funds is not just about compliance, it is about strategy, planning, and making decisions that have the greatest impact on students while staying within complex regulations and timelines. This session will walk participants through a "Year in the Life of a Federal Coordinator," highlighting key deadlines, required tasks, and planning points from July through June. Presenters will share practical systems for managing the constant requests for funding, staying on budget, and ensuring funds are used effectively to support student outcomes. Participants will learn how to shift their mindset from "funding the plan" to "planning the fund," a concept shared at a recent national ESEA conference, and how this approach leads to better return on investment and fewer budget surprises. This session is designed especially for new federal coordinators and administrators who oversee federal programs, and will include timelines, planning tools, and real-world strategies that can be implemented immediately.

Participants will leave with:
- A month-by-month overview of federal program responsibilities
- Strategies for budgeting and avoiding common funding pitfalls
- Tools for prioritizing requests and improving return on investment
- Practical ideas for planning ahead to reduce stress and last-minute spending

Federal program coordinators quickly learn that managing federal funds is not just about compliance, it is about strategy, planning, and making decisions that have the greatest impact on students while staying within complex regulations and timelines. This session will walk participants through a "Year in the Life of a Federal Coordinator," highlighting key deadlines, required tasks, and planning points from July through June. Presenters will share practical systems for managing the constant requests for funding, staying on budget, and ensuring funds are used effectively to support student outcomes. Participants will learn how to shift their mindset from "funding the plan" to "planning the fund," a concept shared at a recent national ESEA conference, and how this approach leads to better return on investment and fewer budget surprises. This session is designed especially for new federal coordinators and administrators who oversee federal programs, and will include timelines, planning tools, and real-world strategies that can be implemented immediately.

Participants will leave with:
- A month-by-month overview of federal program responsibilities
- Strategies for budgeting and avoiding common funding pitfalls
- Tools for prioritizing requests and improving return on investment
- Practical ideas for planning ahead to reduce stress and last-minute spending

Federal and categorical funds can do more than “cover costs”. They can become powerful tools for accelerating student success when used strategically, creatively, and compliantly. Join Ashten Black (CFO) and Kris Williams (Assistant Superintendent) for a session designed specifically for school and district leaders who want to maximize every dollar while avoiding costly mistakes.

Federal and categorical funds can do more than “cover costs”. They can become powerful tools for accelerating student success when used strategically, creatively, and compliantly. Join Ashten Black (CFO) and Kris Williams (Assistant Superintendent) for a session designed specifically for school and district leaders who want to maximize every dollar while avoiding costly mistakes.