The Eddies—annual, advocate-nominated and voted awards—feature strategic advocacy that is driving impactful policy change. Best Defense highlights campaigns that strategically defended important policy at significant risk and overcame significant odds using innovative tactics; sometimes, the most significant wins are actually holding the line. Nominees in this category provide models for how to deploy sharp strategies to […]
The Eddies—annual, advocate-nominated and voted awards—feature strategic advocacy that is driving impactful policy change. This Eddies category honors an individual local, state, or national leader who embodies the “give and get” spirit of PIE Network. Recipients of this award consistently work to build and strengthen the impact of the Network and the sector. This category recognizes individuals who are […]
The Eddies—annual, advocate-nominated and voted awards—feature strategic advocacy that is driving impactful policy change. This Eddies category features unique coalitions of leaders and organizations who worked together to achieve a significant impact for students and families. Working in coalition can be incredibly powerful—and incredibly challenging. This category honors the hard work of coalitions that organized artfully to […]
The Eddies—annual, advocate-nominated and voted awards—feature strategic advocacy that is driving impactful policy change. This Eddies category recognizes local, state, or national advocacy campaigns that tackled a big problem and achieved a new, game-changing policy. Sometimes a policy window opens quickly, and advocates move fast; sometimes, the window opens after years of sustained advocacy efforts. Either way, nominees in […]
Audience: Staff at PIE Network member organizations Federal special education funding plays a critical role in ensuring students with disabilities receive the services they need — but the system is complex and evolving. This session will unpack how federal dollars flow to states and districts, explore current proposals that could shift funding and oversight, and […]
Audience: Executive Directors or Executive Director Designees The U.S. Department of Education is considering providing states increased flexibility with funds and some policies. While we don’t yet know the exact form these flexibilities will take, we do know it’s important for state and city-level advocates to begin thinking about how to ensure that any new state […]
Congress is considering a range of changes to federal safety net programs that could affect how services are delivered to students and families and have a significant impact on state, district, and charter school finances. Some proposals may shift funding responsibilities to states, adjust eligibility requirements, or introduce new administrative processes for schools and districts. […]
How should state and local advocates prepare to influence spending decisions if states are given more flexibility to spend federal funds? What is clearly required by law and what flexibilities do states already have that advocates can help states leverage effectively? In this discussion, Anne Hyslop (All4Ed), Rebecca Sibilia (EdFund), Jennifer O’Neal Schiess (Bellwether), and Bonnie O’Keefe (Bellwether) will share an overview of […]
Alabama leaders made big moves in the 2025 legislative session, passing major legislation to modernize its education finance system and direct resources where they are needed most. The RAISE Act–the first significant update to the state’s formula in 30 years–creates a new hybrid funding formula to target student needs, and includes weights for special education, […]
The shifting federal landscape on charter schools can make it hard to successfully navigate federal funding opportunities. Join this session to learn more about the Charter School Program (CSP), which provides funding for the startup of new charter schools and the replication and expansion of existing high-quality charter schools serving students from pre-K to 12. Starlee Coleman (National […]
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