The association maintains a high profile at the state and federal levels. OSBA lobbyists attend General Assembly hearings, as well as all meetings of legislative committees that consider bills affecting education. In addition, they meet with state legislators regularly to advise them of association positions.
Members can stay up-to-date on important legislative issues in a variety of ways:
- Track important bills with OSBA's BillTracker database
- Learn about OSBA's Legislative Platform, which shapes OSBA's stance on legislative activity
- Get involved in legislative activities
- Stay informed on current legislative activities with Facts-in-a-Flash, OSBA's weekly legislative e-Newsletter.
Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), the main federal law supporting public schools, is intended to support accountability of states, school districts, and schools for improving the academic performance of all.
First enacted in 1965, ESEA was scheduled for reauthorization in 2007. Instead, various provisions were extended through congressional appropriations legislation. In December 2015, Congress passed and the President signed into law the Every Student Succeeds Act as a new reauthorization of ESEA. The signing represents a significant move forward for local governance. Click here for more information on ESSA.