ADvocacy center |
The Vision Statement of NAEF affirms our commitment to ensuring that all students have accessto robust educational opportunities. Our advocacy priorities underscore the critical role that educationfoundations play in supporting the students we serve. |
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Legislative Priorities
- Protect and Strengthen Federal Investments in Public Education
- Support
the Whole Child: Early Learning, Afterschool, and Mental Health
- Invest
in Educators and Workforce Development
- Ensure
Strong Protections and Funding for Students with Disabilities
- Empower
Local Education Foundations as Partners in Innovation
- Advance
Responsible and Innovative Use of Artificial Intelligence in Education
Legislative Updates
Ending E-rate would deal financial blow to schools, district leaders say
October 13, 2026
Reprinted from K-12 Dive
School leaders nationwide are urging the Federal Communications Commission to preserve the federal E-rate program. The agency is considering overhauling or even discontinuing the 30-year-old program that offers discounted internet service rates for schools and libraries.
On Tuesday, the public comment period closed for an FCC proposed rule that asks if E-rate policy changes are necessary given rampant concerns over screen time in schools. The FCC proposal further questions if E-rate "should be limited or sunset" because of the "extensive connectivity" that exists today.
Among the several thousand comments, many district leaders said in public comments that eliminating the E-rate program would only shift school costs for broadband services and infrastructure to local taxpayers and strain districts' increasingly tight budgets.
Federal Tax Credits for K-12 Scholarships: What We Know (and Don’t)
October 5, 2026
Reprinted from Education Week
The clock is ticking: The ambitious new federal school choice program will launch in January. And while the broad aim of the program is clear—to direct federally bankrolled money to families to spend on schooling—key details are still being hammered out.
That’s why school and district leaders, school choice advocates and skeptics, and the broad field of education experts are waiting eagerly for proposed regulations—expected at the end of this month from the U.S. Department of Treasury—to answer pressing questions about how the tax-credit scholarship program will work and who will benefit.
“Everybody’s kind of watching and waiting on this September announcement to figure out, ‘how do I respond?’” said Mike Taylor, executive director of the National Association of Education Foundations, which is helping local nonprofits affiliated with school districts prepare to serve as organizations that give out student scholarship awards. “Nobody wants to invest time in something and figure out it wasn’t worth it.”
NAEF Meeting with the U.S. Department of Labor
February 11, 2026
During NAEF’s recent visit to Washington, DC, NAEF leaders also met with representatives from the U.S. Department of Labor to discuss the growing importance of workforce development partnerships and the role education foundations play in connecting schools, employers, and communities.
The conversation focused on how education foundations help facilitate collaborative public-private partnerships that expand workforce initiatives, provide students with career exposure and real-world learning opportunities, and help align education pathways with regional workforce needs. These discussions highlighted the value of cross-sector collaboration in preparing students for in-demand careers while strengthening local economies and expanding opportunity for learners across the country.
NAEF looks forward to continuing these nonpartisan conversations focused on partnership, innovation, and expanding workforce opportunities for students.
Photo (left to right): Megan Paat, Crystal Scanio, Derrick Lindsay, Rock Hill City Council Member | Board Member, The Foundation for Rock Hill Schools, Keisha Lightner, Board Chair, The Foundation for Rock Hill Schools, Mike Taylor, and Shannon Hancock
NAEF Advocacy Visit to Washington, DC
February 10, 2026
On February 10 and 11, members of the NAEF Board of Directors were joined by leaders from NAEF member foundations in Washington, DC for a second round of meetings with legislators to advocate for strong support of public education and to share the impact education foundations are making in communities across the country.
Conversations focused on federal education funding, the Scholarship Granting Organizations tax credit, and the important role education foundations play in supporting innovation, student opportunity, and community partnerships. These meetings provided an opportunity to elevate the collective voice of education foundations and to highlight how local philanthropy and community engagement strengthen public schools and improve student outcomes.
NAEF remains committed to thoughtful, nonpartisan advocacy that supports students, educators, and communities while ensuring education foundations continue to serve as strong partners in advancing public education nationwide.
Photo (left to right): Josh Wetzel, Department of Labor, Keisha Lightner, Board Chair, The Foundation for Rock Hill Schools, Megan Paat, Shannon Hancock, Mike Taylor, Troy Selberg, Crystal Scanio, Danielle Vale, Department of Labor