Council of School Attorneys Welcomes New Leaders for 2023-2024

The National School Boards Association’s (NSBA) Board of Directors recently announced the selection of four officers and three at-large members of the Council of School Attorneys (COSA) Steering Committee. COSA is the national network of attorneys representing K-12 public school districts.

• NSBA Statement in Support of IDEA Full Funding Act

  July 10, 2023

  On July 10, Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Representative Jared Huffman (D-CA) reintroduced the IDEA Full Funding Act, S. 2217 in the Senate and H.R. 4519 in the House. The bipartisan, bicameral legislation would finally ensure Congress' commitment to fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Full funding for IDEA has long been a priority for NSBA and its members.

• Introducing NSBA's New Executive Director and CEO, Verjeana McCotter-Jacobs

  July 1, 2023

  In her first column for NSBA's American School Board Journal (ASBJ), new NSBA Executive Director and CEO Verjeana McCotter-Jacobs writes that she's "never shied away from a challenge," adding, "and make no mistake: School leaders and public education are facing serious challenges right now." McCotter-Jacobs writes about her experiences as a lieutenant colonel with the Department of Corrections and as a school board member in Prince George's County, Maryland. Her conclusion? School board service is harder than working maximum security! Learn more about Verjeana and her vision for NSBA.

• National School Boards Association Reacts to Supreme Court Decision Striking Down Affirmative Action in University Admissions

  June 30, 2023

  On June 29, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that admissions programs at Harvard and the University of North Carolina are unconstitutional because they rely in part on racial considerations. In response, NSBA Chief Legal Officer Francisco M. Negrón, Jr. said, "The authority of school districts to employ critical tools to promote diversity through locally determined policy is long-established," adding, "the High Court did not specifically discuss K-12 diversity efforts in its opinion. Preventing racial isolation and ensuring a diverse student population benefit students across all student populations in a variety of ways, including higher academic achievement, increased high school graduation rates and college enrollment rates, as well as enhanced civic participation — benefits the Supreme Court has recognized time and again,” including in a dissent today from Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson that cited NSBA’s amicus brief.

• NSBA’s American School Board Journal Recognized for Editorial Excellence

  June 27, 2023

  The National School Boards Association’s (NSBA) American School Board Journal (ASBJ) recently received two awards — a gold and silver – during the 43rd annual EXCEL Awards. Presented by SIIA, the EXCEL Awards are the largest and most prestigious program recognizing excellence and leadership in association media, publishing, marketing, and communication.

• Verjeana McCotter-Jacobs, Esq., Appointed as the New Executive Director and CEO of the National School Boards Association

  June 12, 2023

  The National School Boards Association (NSBA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Verjeana McCotter-Jacobs, Esq. as its next Executive Director and CEO, beginning July 1. With more than 30 years of experience in education, law, and public safety, McCotter-Jacobs is poised to lead NSBA in its mission to support and advocate for public school students across the nation.

• Philadelphia School Board President and Seattle Public Schools Receive Awards at CUBE 2022 Annual Conference

  May 18, 2023

  On December 9, Joyce Wilkerson, School Board President of the School District of Philadelphia, received the 2022 Benjamin Elijah Mays Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes individuals who have demonstrated a long-standing commitment to representing the educational needs of urban schoolchildren through their service as a local school board member. Additionally, Seattle Public Schools (SPS) received the 2022 Award for Urban School Excellence.

• NSBA Chief Legal Officer Quoted in Politico on Proposed Title IX Rule

  May 8, 2023

  Speaking to Politico regarding the U.S. Department of Education’s proposed rule on athletic eligibility under Title IX, NSBA Chief Legal Officer Francisco M. Negrón, Jr. discussed key questions facing school boards.

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