On the fifth anniversary of COVID school closures, more than 450 principals and student leaders from every state are converging on Capitol Hill to give the school community a seat at the table during the critical final hours of Congressional budget negotiations. Their unified message to lawmakers: Invest in public education, student mental health, school safety and the educator pipeline. 

“Education leaders are coming together in Washington, D.C., to champion all students,” said NAESP Executive Director L. Earl Franks, EdD, CAE. “School leaders are born advocates, and it’s crucial that we showcase their vision of a brighter future for every child in the U.S., and we rally the support of lawmakers to help make it a reality.” 

This advocacy day brings together members of the National Associations of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) and students from the National Student Council, a flagship program of NASSP, to advocate for policies that strengthen our nation’s public schools at a pivotal moment. The delegation will meet with more than 300 members of Congress and legislative staff. 

“What many don’t realize is that today’s students are already solving problems adults haven’t been able to fix,” said Anjali Verma, the president of National Student Council and a senior at Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School in West Chester, PA. “We’re proud to partner with school leaders as equal voices in these critical conversations. Together, we’re bringing fresh perspectives and proven ideas to address issues from the mental health crisis to the teacher shortage. It takes engagement from all parties to make real and meaningful impact.” 

“When students and school leaders stand shoulder to shoulder on Capitol Hill, they represent the true experts on American education,” said NASSP CEO Ronn Nozoe. “Congress makes decisions about schools every day but rarely hears directly from those who live the consequences of those choices. Our coalition brings the classroom to the Capitol, and together we can create meaningful partnerships that will strengthen public education for generations to come.” 

The advocates are urging Congress to maintain critical funding for: 

  • Title I grants to support schools serving large populations of students experiencing poverty 
  • Title II, Part A grants to improve educator recruitment, retention and effectiveness 
  • Title IV, Part A grants to support student mental health and safety 
  • IDEA state grants to fund special education services 
  • Career and Technical Education state grants 
  • Head Start grants for early learning and child health 

They also are opposing efforts to divert public funds to private schools. The full legislative agenda can be found here. 

Photos and interviews with school leaders, students and staff are available upon request. 

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