School BUSRide spoke with Noelle Ellerson Ng, Associate Executive Director, Advocacy and Governance, for the School Superintendents Association (AASA) and NAPT’s Federal Advocacy Liaison. She spoke about the status of several hot topics in Washington, D.C., and the legislative priorities of AASA and NAPT.
Many of our members don’t know your background. Can you give us a brief overview of where you’ve been and something you’re particularly proud of professionally?
I’ve been at AASA for nearly 18 years. I’ll celebrate that anniversary this August. By way of background, it’s actually my only “grown-up” job. I went straight from undergrad to grad school, and then directly to AASA.
My undergraduate degrees are in elementary education, special education, and political science. I then earned a master’s degree in public policy and education administration. While those degrees sound highly focused, I really refined my areas of interest through classroom and internship experiences. One of those internships, my “study abroad” in Washington, D.C., is where I discovered public policy and realized that I could contribute meaningfully to education without becoming a classroom teacher, which was never my intent. By the end of that semester, I knew I wanted to work in education policy, pursue a master’s in public policy, and eventually become a lobbyist.
Professionally, I’m proud to work for a national membership organization. Our advocacy is stronger because it’s grounded in the expertise and perspectives of our members. When I meet with policymakers on Capitol Hill, it’s not just “Noelle’s opinion on a Tuesday.” AASA, like NAPT, is seen as a credible voice because our positions are determined by our members. Lawmakers understand that we’re not just hired advocates reciting talking points, they’re hearing directly from education experts. Congress doesn’t know more than local transportation directors or school leaders about what it takes to run effective schools.
I’m also grateful to be in a role where I can make a positive impact for kids. Just because I have a teaching degree doesn’t mean I should be in the classroom. I’m far more effective for students in the position I hold now.
Things are moving quickly in Washington. As an advocate, what significant changes have you observed?
Not as many as people might think. Over my 18 years in D.C., I’ve worked through every political configuration—Democratic control, Republican control, and everything in between. The main trend is increasing partisanship. That’s largely because both the Left and Right have pushed out their moderates, making compromise even more difficult. When the ideological starting points are so far apart, reaching consensus becomes harder, regardless of who’s in the White House.
Another significant shift is how political theater plays out. In today’s 24-hour news cycle, congressional hearings often feel like auditions for viral soundbites. But at the same time, there’s a growing realization that just because there’s activity doesn’t mean there’s productivity. I’ve learned to stay aware without being alarmist. If we don’t see actual policy proposals, there’s no need to panic. I’ll stay responsive, not reactive.
Sometimes it feels like parenting my five-year-old. Take a breath, calm down, and revisit things tomorrow.
What are two or three issues you believe are crucial for our members to understand right now?
The first is federal reconciliation. While it doesn’t directly cut district transportation budgets, it does include the first federal private school voucher. That could drive a conversation about public schools being required to provide transportation to private schools, something that already happens in places like suburban Buffalo, where my sister lives. If we’re facing recessionary pressures, districts may start questioning why they’re using public dollars to fund private school services without reimbursement.
Second, reconciliation includes changes to Medicaid reimbursement for services to students who qualify. Transportation staff don’t provide medical care, but many medically fragile students rely on safe, specialized transportation to attend school. If funding for those services is cut, the ripple effects could impact how and whether those students get to school.
Third, the proposal includes eliminating direct certification for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). If that happens, districts would have to take on the burden of certifying students for free or reduced-price meals. That could reduce student participation in school, which in turn could reduce transportation needs—and lead to route or funding cuts. It’s all connected.
Other key issues include a Supreme Court case, Consumers vs. FCC, that could overturn the E-Rate program. If that happens, districts could lose essential funding for internet access, which many use to manage transportation fleets. And finally, we’re advocating strongly for funding under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which turns 50 this year. Congress likely won’t fully fund it, but we’re pushing hard to avoid cuts in annual appropriations, which would impact services for students with special needs.
What’s the status of the Learn Without Limits initiative and E-Rate funding?
That’s a separate but important topic. The Learn Without Limits initiative, proposed by former FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, had three goals: allow E-Rate dollars for hotspots, expand E-Rate to Wi-Fi on buses, and launch a three-year $200 million pilot on cybersecurity. All three were successfully launched, and NAPT was a strong ally in the Wi-Fi on buses piece. For students with long commutes or no home internet, this access is vital.
Right now, hotspots are under threat. The House is set to vote on rescinding districts’ ability to use E-Rate dollars for them. While that’s not as relevant to NAPT, it still matters because removing one element weakens the whole system. We’ll continue monitoring and reporting on this.
Are IDEA or Title I at risk of losing funding directly or through changes in state-federal dynamics?
Not directly. President Trump’s initial “skinny budget” doesn’t cut Title I or IDEA. While it level-funds IDEA Part B grants to states, which means no increase despite rising student numbers, it’s still a positive outcome in the current environment. Avoiding cuts is a win, even if it’s a low bar.
How do “state control” and “parental control” affect our work in schools?
These terms are often used vaguely and can become catch-alls. “State control” and “parental control” don’t have consistent definitions, so they take on political meaning more than policy substance. For example, the Trump Administration recently announced a return to “state control” of education, even though the 10th Amendment already grants states primary authority. Federal funding only accounts for about 10 percent of district budgets.
Similarly, “parental control” or “parents’ rights” have expanded into overly broad and unworkable mandates. From a policy standpoint, they haven’t resulted in meaningful changes. The bottom line is that school leaders already operate within a framework that involves state, federal, and parental input. These talking points may signal pressure, but they don’t represent actionable policy—at least not yet.
How can our members get more engaged in advocacy?
One thing I’m proud of at AASA is that while we’re a membership organization, our advocacy resources are open to everyone. We serve all superintendents, not just members. Our blog and social media are great places to start, and I’ll share the URL with you: https://www.aasa.org/advocacy/the-leading-edge-policy-advocacy-blog.
I also recommend downloading the AASA Advocacy app. It’s advocacy in the palm of your hand. You can engage as much or as little as you want. We teach advocacy like literacy: meet people where they are.
If someone says, “I’m not engaging in advocacy, that’s why we have Noelle,” that’s fine. But if someone else says, “I care deeply about IDEA funding and transporting medically fragile students,” they can find just that topic in the app and stay involved. Others might choose to read every blog post, respond to calls to action, or attend our advocacy conference. All of that is available through the app.
So, in short: read the blog, download the app, and engage in the way that works best for you.