This year’s program will feature engaging panels and sessions on timely topics, including:
- Four key U.S. Supreme Court Cases that will have significant implications for schools.
- Proposals to implement block grants and cut or rescind education funding.
- New proposals to align apprenticeships, career and technical education (CTE) programs. and workforce development programs.
- The future of the federal E-Rate connectivity program.
Leaders from ASBO International’s Legislative Advisory Committee (LAC) and Board of Directors will join other attendees on Capitol Hill to advocate for education. They will share with their officials ASBO International’s 2025-2026 U.S. Policy Priorities, ASBO’s federal advocacy agenda that outlines the association’s positions on education funding, school infrastructure and safety, child nutrition, and health and labor issues. This brochure also provides information about ASBO, the school business profession, and high-level talking points.
This is a great leave-behind resource for policymakers to remind them of your meeting, guide them in how to support public education, and encourage them to contact ASBO about education policy questions. A digital version of the brochure will also be available at ASBO’s Advocacy Center in early July, at asbointl.org/advocacy, to support members’ advocacy engagement throughout the year.
Members of ASBO International’s Board and Legislative Advisory Committee gather for Senate meetings at the 2024 Legislative Advocacy Conference.
What Should First-Time Attendees
Federal advocacy presents an exciting opportunity, but it can be daunting, even for the most experienced school business professional. However, don’t worry, you don’t have to do it alone. The Legislative Advocacy Conference will equip you with the tools and information you need to prepare for the Hill, and your peers will be there right beside you! If this year is your first time attending, you probably have questions about what to expect. Here's what three of your colleagues have to say about this unique advocacy leadership event and why they make it a point to attend year after year.
Christopher Smith, Chief Financial Officer, Katy Independent School District, TX
“I am thrilled to be able to attend the ASBO/AASA Legislative Advocacy Conference. My attendance gives me the opportunity to play an important role in shaping policies that affect our schools and students, ensuring that their voices are heard at the national level.
The conference provides a unique opportunity to meet with U.S. Senators, Representatives, and their staff on Capitol Hill, allowing attendees to share firsthand experiences and advocate for policies that directly impact our schools and communities.
Attendees learn effective strategies for communicating with legislators, understanding the legislative process, and influencing policy decisions. I am able to gain insights into the latest federal policy issues affecting education.
Finally, attending allows us the opportunity to connect with fellow school business officials from across the country. These connections provide the opportunity to share experiences and challenges, and offer solutions. These relationships can lead to collaborative efforts and a stronger collective voice in advocacy.”
Lynn Knight, CSRM, Director of Business Services, School District of Nekoosa, WI
“Every year, school business officials and superintendents from across the country gather in Washington, D.C., for the ASBO/AASA Legislative Advocacy Conference—a unique opportunity to raise our voices for the students, staff, and schools we serve. For those of us working in rural school districts, this conference offers more than just policy updates; it offers a national stage to share our stories and ensure that the needs of our communities are not overlooked.
As a representative from a rural district in Wisconsin, I’ve learned that sometimes the most powerful advocacy tool is a story. Behind every data point is a student, a teacher, a small-town community doing more with less. Whether it’s describing how a federal funding formula falls short in sparsely populated areas or explaining the real impact of broadband inequity on our students' ability to learn, storytelling brings clarity and compassion to the conversation. When we meet with U.S. Senators, Representatives, and their staff on Capitol Hill, these stories become the bridge between policy and real-life impact.
At the conference, public school voices unite to paint a clear picture of the challenges we face—and the creative, community-driven solutions we bring to the table. Whether we’re talking about unfunded mandates, declining enrollment, or transportation costs that soar with every mile between homes and school buildings, we speak as one: public education matters, and it must be funded equitably for every child, regardless of their ZIP code.
The conference also offers practical tools for effective advocacy. From legislative briefings to strategy sessions, participants gain insight into how Congress works, how to craft compelling messages, and how to turn passion into policy influence. It's a crash course in how to be heard.
Just as valuable is the chance to network with others who understand the realities of public education. In conversations with peers from other school districts, we find not only camaraderie but new ideas and partnerships. We share what’s working—and what’s not. We support each other, learn from each other, and come away re-energized for the work ahead.
In today’s political climate, it’s easy for the voices of rural schools to get drowned out. But the ASBO/AASA Legislative Advocacy Conference gives us the mic—and the means to use it well. When we show up together, when we speak with one voice, and when we tell the stories of our schools and our students, we make a difference.”
Mary Jo Gruber, CPA, SFO, CGMA, Chief Financial/Operating Officer, Pattonville School District, MO
“Attending the ASBO/AASA Legislative Advocacy Conference has been one of the most impactful experiences of my career as a school business official. Having participated twice before and planning to return this year, I can confidently say that this conference is not just informative—it's empowering.
What makes this conference so valuable is its direct connection to the heart of our work: advocating for our students, schools, and communities. From understanding the nuances of proposed changes to federal education policy to learning how to effectively communicate with legislators directly from staffers on Capitol Hill, the content is designed to equip us with the knowledge and tools needed to make an impact.
One of the most powerful moments of the conference is the opportunity to meet directly with our elected officials on Capitol Hill. It’s one thing to read about proposed legislation or funding decisions—it’s another to sit across from a lawmaker and explain how those decisions play out in our schools. These conversations are eye-opening for both sides and reinforce how important our voices are in the legislative process.
Equally valuable is the chance to connect with colleagues from across the country. The networking is exceptional, and I always come away with fresh ideas, new perspectives, and renewed energy. Whether we’re sharing strategies, challenges, or successes, the sense of community and shared mission is incredibly motivating.
If you’re a school business official who is passionate about shaping the policies that affect our schools, this conference is for you. It’s an opportunity to be at the table—not just reacting to decisions, but helping to inform them. I encourage anyone who’s considering it to take that step. Your voice matters, and this conference helps you use it effectively.
I’m looking forward to attending again this year and hope to see many of you there. It’s a truly meaningful experience that I believe benefits not just us as professionals, but the students and communities we serve.”
ASBO leaders and superintendents advocate on Capitol Hill at the 2024 conference.
Advocacy Is a Year-Round Process
Registration for the 2025 conference is now closed, but if you can’t join us this year, we hope to see you at next year’s event! Save the date for the 2026 Legislative Advocacy Conference, July 7-9, in Washington, D.C.
Remember that advocacy is a year-round process, not a one-off activity. Advocacy takes time, and meaningful change doesn’t happen overnight. Advocacy requires building relationships with lawmakers through ongoing interactions over time.
While this conference presents one opportunity to initiate those relationships, school business leaders can contact their officials anytime, whether in D.C. or at their local state offices. There’s never a bad time to get involved! Reach out to your officials to schedule a meeting, share your district’s story, and offer to be a resource to help create better education policy.
If there are specific topics you would like ASBO to advocate for this summer or throughout the year, or if you need help contacting your federal representatives, we are here to support you. ASBO International wants to ensure your voice is heard, and policymakers need to hear from you! Contact us with questions, feedback, or to explore other ways you can get involved in federal advocacy or other volunteer opportunities.